Glasgow – March 2018
As we were staying in Helensburgh, we decided it would be nice and easier to leave the car and get the train in, as Helensburgh train station was only a 10-minute walk from the Travelodge, it was about 45 minutes and we arrived into Glasgow at queen street station. Queen street station lead us out near to Buchanan Street, which researching online was the main high street, the Buchanan Galleries shopping centre was near where we had arrived on Buchanan Street.
Walking around you were always on a street full of shops, along the way we came across more shopping centres including the more designer Princess Square, Argyle arcade, which is basically jewellers, jewellers and more jewellers and the St Enoch’s shopping centre, which appeared to be an older shopping centre, sadly one end had several empty units, but as you went further there were no empty units, was busier and also included a food hall upstairs.
You'll find there is a very good variety of shops around the city centre, including Superdry, Nike, Debenhams, The Entertainer, House of Fraser, Next, Sports Direct, Boots, John Lewis, H Samuels and many, many more.
As well as shops, you'll also find a variety of places to eat, there's the typical fast food places like KFC, Subway, McDonalds, Greggs and Five Guys as well as coffee shops like Starbucks and Caffe Nero and if you're looking for a restaurant, there's TGi Fridays, Pizza Hut, Pret a Manger and some rarer ones including Hard Rock Cafe and Chaophraya, as well as many others.
On Buchanan street there was a small group entertaining everyone with bagpipes and drums (video below), very good to watch and listen, however I personally think that's the environment it's best suited and therefore wouldn't buy the cd.
As we were staying in Helensburgh, we decided it would be nice and easier to leave the car and get the train in, as Helensburgh train station was only a 10-minute walk from the Travelodge, it was about 45 minutes and we arrived into Glasgow at queen street station. Queen street station lead us out near to Buchanan Street, which researching online was the main high street, the Buchanan Galleries shopping centre was near where we had arrived on Buchanan Street.
Walking around you were always on a street full of shops, along the way we came across more shopping centres including the more designer Princess Square, Argyle arcade, which is basically jewellers, jewellers and more jewellers and the St Enoch’s shopping centre, which appeared to be an older shopping centre, sadly one end had several empty units, but as you went further there were no empty units, was busier and also included a food hall upstairs.
You'll find there is a very good variety of shops around the city centre, including Superdry, Nike, Debenhams, The Entertainer, House of Fraser, Next, Sports Direct, Boots, John Lewis, H Samuels and many, many more.
As well as shops, you'll also find a variety of places to eat, there's the typical fast food places like KFC, Subway, McDonalds, Greggs and Five Guys as well as coffee shops like Starbucks and Caffe Nero and if you're looking for a restaurant, there's TGi Fridays, Pizza Hut, Pret a Manger and some rarer ones including Hard Rock Cafe and Chaophraya, as well as many others.
On Buchanan street there was a small group entertaining everyone with bagpipes and drums (video below), very good to watch and listen, however I personally think that's the environment it's best suited and therefore wouldn't buy the cd.
Gretna Green Blacksmiths museum and chapel – March 2018
After stopping at Penrith, our next stop on our journey north was Gretna Green Blacksmiths museum and chapel, we had also visited here some years ago and my wife was keen to return. Unlike Penrith, the sun was shining when we arrived here, there was plenty of visitors already there and all the shops were open. I’d personally forgot how many shops there are, mainly gift shops, but it’s a lovely place to look around, with large free car park. We didn’t go in the museum this visit but had been in the last time, although this time we came across the Gretna Gateway Outlet Village, which is just 5 minutes drive.
After stopping at Penrith, our next stop on our journey north was Gretna Green Blacksmiths museum and chapel, we had also visited here some years ago and my wife was keen to return. Unlike Penrith, the sun was shining when we arrived here, there was plenty of visitors already there and all the shops were open. I’d personally forgot how many shops there are, mainly gift shops, but it’s a lovely place to look around, with large free car park. We didn’t go in the museum this visit but had been in the last time, although this time we came across the Gretna Gateway Outlet Village, which is just 5 minutes drive.
Helensburgh – March 2018
The Travelodge we were staying at was in Helensburgh, so after dropping the car at the hotel, we walked along the front to look around Helensburgh town. It’s not a very big town and sadly not enough of variety of shops in our opinion, there are several charity shops, a few restaurants and unfortunately just didn’t quite meet the expectation we had and had hoped for, although we are sure that on a lovely warm summers day, walking along the seafront would be much different.
The Travelodge we were staying at was in Helensburgh, so after dropping the car at the hotel, we walked along the front to look around Helensburgh town. It’s not a very big town and sadly not enough of variety of shops in our opinion, there are several charity shops, a few restaurants and unfortunately just didn’t quite meet the expectation we had and had hoped for, although we are sure that on a lovely warm summers day, walking along the seafront would be much different.
Edinburgh – December 2016
We had visited Edinburgh many years ago, when the new tram system had just started being built, but from what we could remember we weren’t that impressed, however we decided it would be nice to visit when the Christmas market was on. We drove up to Edinburgh on the Sunday and stopped off at Durham, which is a lovely place to visit (check out our review here), we left Durham at about 4pm, so it was dark and we (well mainly me) had decided to go a different route up the A68, which during the day would have been a nice scenic route, however in the dark and with slower traffic in front of us it took longer and we were glad to arrive at the Premier Inn A1 Musselburgh.
To get into Edinburgh, we chose to drive to the Newcraighall Park and Ride, which was only 10 minutes from the hotel and then get the train in, travelling after the early morning rush it was fine.
When we got off the train, we headed straight for the Christmas Market, which was set on a hillside next to the station and it was nicely set out walking along each row and down to the next, before arriving at the bottom. We had also bought tickets for the Christmas Tree Maze, which was a lot smaller than we expected and was more for kids than adults, but the market itself had a nice selection of stalls. The other ticket we had bought was for the big wheel and having done the big whell in Weston-Super-Mare, I was happy to do this one, despite my fear of heights, however once we started moving, I started to feel uncomfortable, however I did manage to get some photos.
We walked along Princes Street, which appeared to be the main area for shops and then headed for George Street which runs parallel with Princes Street, here was the Street of Light, which were already switched on when we got there, it was a giant structure down the middle of the road and although it was good, we had got there earlier than when we had tickets for, so we carried on walking down George Street, which is a lot quieter than Princes Street.
By the time we had reached the end of George Street, we were both really cold and decided we weren’t prepared to stay in Edinburgh as long as we had initially planned and therefore headed back to the station and went back to the hotel and then went out to Fort Kinnaird Retail Park later for tea at TGI’S.
We would consider returning to Edinburgh, but in warmer weather, when we would be happy to walk further and explore more.
We had visited Edinburgh many years ago, when the new tram system had just started being built, but from what we could remember we weren’t that impressed, however we decided it would be nice to visit when the Christmas market was on. We drove up to Edinburgh on the Sunday and stopped off at Durham, which is a lovely place to visit (check out our review here), we left Durham at about 4pm, so it was dark and we (well mainly me) had decided to go a different route up the A68, which during the day would have been a nice scenic route, however in the dark and with slower traffic in front of us it took longer and we were glad to arrive at the Premier Inn A1 Musselburgh.
To get into Edinburgh, we chose to drive to the Newcraighall Park and Ride, which was only 10 minutes from the hotel and then get the train in, travelling after the early morning rush it was fine.
When we got off the train, we headed straight for the Christmas Market, which was set on a hillside next to the station and it was nicely set out walking along each row and down to the next, before arriving at the bottom. We had also bought tickets for the Christmas Tree Maze, which was a lot smaller than we expected and was more for kids than adults, but the market itself had a nice selection of stalls. The other ticket we had bought was for the big wheel and having done the big whell in Weston-Super-Mare, I was happy to do this one, despite my fear of heights, however once we started moving, I started to feel uncomfortable, however I did manage to get some photos.
We walked along Princes Street, which appeared to be the main area for shops and then headed for George Street which runs parallel with Princes Street, here was the Street of Light, which were already switched on when we got there, it was a giant structure down the middle of the road and although it was good, we had got there earlier than when we had tickets for, so we carried on walking down George Street, which is a lot quieter than Princes Street.
By the time we had reached the end of George Street, we were both really cold and decided we weren’t prepared to stay in Edinburgh as long as we had initially planned and therefore headed back to the station and went back to the hotel and then went out to Fort Kinnaird Retail Park later for tea at TGI’S.
We would consider returning to Edinburgh, but in warmer weather, when we would be happy to walk further and explore more.
North Berwick
There's a small car park in the centre of this little town, many shops to look 'round, including an old sweet shop. There are two beach areas, separated by a kind of pier with a visitor centre on. One side has a beautiful long beach with a some a grass area ideal for picnics, the other side has a large section of the sectioned off into a kids pool. In between the two areas is a rocky section that goes partly out to sea. You can walk up some steps and follow the pathway over the rocks, which leads you to a further point over a metal walkway, but it only small and can be quite breezy. Along this rocky section are several benches for you to sit and watch if world go by. Overall this is a great place with quite a lot of open space, definitely worth visiting!
There's a small car park in the centre of this little town, many shops to look 'round, including an old sweet shop. There are two beach areas, separated by a kind of pier with a visitor centre on. One side has a beautiful long beach with a some a grass area ideal for picnics, the other side has a large section of the sectioned off into a kids pool. In between the two areas is a rocky section that goes partly out to sea. You can walk up some steps and follow the pathway over the rocks, which leads you to a further point over a metal walkway, but it only small and can be quite breezy. Along this rocky section are several benches for you to sit and watch if world go by. Overall this is a great place with quite a lot of open space, definitely worth visiting!
Loch Lomond
_ Inverkip Marina
Along our travels, we seem to be attracted to anywhere with boats, not that I could afford one of my own, but there seems to be something appealing to watching the boats bobbing on the water, so naturally a marina is usually a very pretty place to look at and sit and watch the day go by. While travelling around in Scotland, we drove past this Marina and decided to turn ‘round and go for a look. The setting was beautiful and the lucky people living in the houses on the marina complex, must have had a fantastic view to wake up to on a morning. We walked around the marina, wishing we lived there; it was very peaceful, very smart, clean and tidy.
Along our travels, we seem to be attracted to anywhere with boats, not that I could afford one of my own, but there seems to be something appealing to watching the boats bobbing on the water, so naturally a marina is usually a very pretty place to look at and sit and watch the day go by. While travelling around in Scotland, we drove past this Marina and decided to turn ‘round and go for a look. The setting was beautiful and the lucky people living in the houses on the marina complex, must have had a fantastic view to wake up to on a morning. We walked around the marina, wishing we lived there; it was very peaceful, very smart, clean and tidy.
Dundee
This is a fairly big town and very standard to most towns, with plenty of shops and it also has 2 shopping centres.
This is a fairly big town and very standard to most towns, with plenty of shops and it also has 2 shopping centres.
Loch Ness
This is a very beautiful scenic area of scotland and there are quite a few laybys on the A82, for stopping to take pictures, but it would be worth having a drive along the B road on the other side of the Loch. There is a visitors centre approximately halfway down the Loch, with gift shop.
This is a very beautiful scenic area of scotland and there are quite a few laybys on the A82, for stopping to take pictures, but it would be worth having a drive along the B road on the other side of the Loch. There is a visitors centre approximately halfway down the Loch, with gift shop.
Kinloch Rannoch
There is a perfect little beach at the waters edge, with parking, which gives you a fantastic view of loch.
There is a perfect little beach at the waters edge, with parking, which gives you a fantastic view of loch.
Queens View at Loch Tummel
This is a fantastic little tourist spot, car parking, a small cafe and shop, but the view of the Loch is Fantastic!!
This is a fantastic little tourist spot, car parking, a small cafe and shop, but the view of the Loch is Fantastic!!