REGION GUIDE
Glasgow and the Clyde Valley
Stretching from the Firth of Clyde in the west, to Lanarkshire in the south and with Glasgow at its centre, the region of Glasgow and Clyde Valley is at the very heart of Scotland. The City of Glasgow, once known as 'the second city of the empire' is an exciting fusion of a city with an industrial heritage combined with being one of the most vibrant, cosmopolitan cities in Europe. A former City of Culture, with a buzzing nightlife and a rich seam of music, art and architecture running through its core, Glasgow is within easy reach of the Ayrshire Coast to the west, Loch Lomond to the north and Edinburgh to the east, and is the ideal place to make your base for any visit to Scotland.
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Glasgow City Guide
Coming Soon.....
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Getting There
By Air (To Glasgow)
- Glasgow International Airport (8 Miles from Glasgow)
- Glasgow Prestwick Airport (32 Miles from Glasgow)
By Train (To Glasgow)
Operators
- ScotRail – www.scotrail.co.uk - 0845 601 5929
- Virgin Trains – www.virgintrains.co.uk - 08719 774 222
- National Rail Enquiries – www.nationalrail.co.uk - 08457 48 49 50
By Bus (To Glasgow)
Operators
- Stagecoach – www.stagecoachbus.com – 0141 552 4961
- First Group – www.firstgroup.com – 0141 423 6600
- Buchannan St Bus Station – www.spt.co.uk - 0141 333 3708
By Car (From the South, M6)
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Take the exit onto M6 |
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98.7 mi
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Continue onto A74(M) |
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48.8 mi
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Continue onto M74 |
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29.1 mi
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At junction 4, exit onto M73 toward Stirling/Glasgow/A80/M8 |
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1.4 mi
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Take the exit onto M8 toward Glasgow/City Centre |
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Historic Sites/Heritage
The history of the region is fascinating mix of medieval and industrial, from its turbulent relationship with its nearest neighbours and the birth of a nation, through to the revolution which paved the way for Scotland’s incalculable contribution to the British empire and its status of the superpower of its day.
New Lanark World Heritage Site (New Lanark, Falls of Clyde)
One of the most important socially historic sites anywhere in the world, the New Lanark World Heritage Site is one of Scotland’s top tourist attractions and a must see when visiting this part of the world. As well as the beautifully restored cotton mill, there is an award-winning visitor centre and the village itself and all within minutes of stunning countryside around the Falls of Clyde.
www.newlanark.org/
Bothwell Castle (South of Uddingston, 10 miles from Glasgow)
One of Scotland’s finest 13th Century Castles set in a dramatic location in a winding beside the River Clyde. Established by the Moray Family, the castle has played significant roles in the War of Independence with the English. One of the highlights of this impressive property is the great tower which survives virtually intact.
http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/propertyplan/propertyoverview.htm?PropID=pl_037&PropName=Bothwell%20Castle
Paisley Abbey (Paisley)
Originally founded as far back as 1163, this imposing Abbey is right at the heart of Paisley. Rich in history, the Abbey’s claims to fame include having a major role in the War of Independence from the English, and whose monks educated William Wallace. The Abbey was rebuilt in the 13th Century and went on to be known as the ‘Cradle of the Royal House of Stewart’ from whom our current queen is descended. The Abbey is a living, working church with many daily activities and events taking place as well as being a fascinating historical artefact.
www.paisleyabbey.org.uk/
The Weavers Cottage (Kilbarchan , Renfrewshire)
Much of the most fascinating facets of the heritage of Scotland lies in its industrial past. The Weavers cottage not only provides an insight in to the history of the industry but in the loomshop you are able to see the weaving process in action. The cottage also holds an archive of over 700 Tartans woven in the village. Visitors can try their hand at weaving, spinning and pirn winding.
http://www.nts.org.uk/Property/Weavers-Cottage
Dumbarton Castle (Dumbarton)
Situated in an incredible location on top of a volcanic rock, Dumbarton Castle was for many centuries both a royal stronghold and a refuge. Thought to have held William Wallace prior to his execution, the castle has been a residence, fortress and garrison right up until the WW11. The castle itself looks imposing and the views are stunning, being able to see for miles. There is also the Governor’s House and museum which documents some of the rich centuries of history witnessed in this location.
http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/index/places/propertyresultsold/propertyoverview.htm?PropID=pl_100&PropName=Dumbarton%20Castle
David Livingstone Centre (Blantyre, Lanarkshire)
Visitor centre, museum, activity centre and gardens commemorating the life of one of Scotland’s iconic explorers. Based around the tenement in which he was born, the centre is a brilliant day out for the whole family. Using many of Livingstone’s personal effects, the museum tells the story of how a boy born into very poor circumstances ended up becoming a hero of his time. A highlight of the centre is a sculpture created by the famous animator Ray Harryhausen which depicts the time when Livingstone was attacked by a lion!
http://www.nts.org.uk/Property/David-Livingstone-Centre/About/
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Museums Galleries and Culture
Many of the museums in the region pride themselves not only on their diverse subject matter but also in many cases on the level of interactivity and hands-on experience for visitors of all ages. From museums and visitor centres on a grand scale which reflect their industrial past,to smaller, more personal museums which show a small but fascinating slice of Scottish life and history, there is something for everyone regardless of interest.
Paisley Museum and Art Gallery (Paisley)
Set in a magnificent neo-classical building in the heart of Paisley, this is a must visit for history buffs with an interest in local and Scottish history. The museum houses a world famous collection of Paisley Shawls, one of the town’s most iconic exports to the world. Alongside many exhibits to do with the history of weaving in the area, there is a superb exhibition of Scottish paintings including modern day works by celebrated artist and playwright John Byrne.
http://www.museumsgalleriesscotland.org.uk/member/paisley-museum-and-art-galleries
The Biggar Museums (Biggar)
A collection of six small museums, all fascinating in their own right and overseen by the Biggar Museums Trust. The Museums featured are the Moat Park Heritage Centre, Gladstone Court, Brownsbank Cottage, Greenhill Covenanters House, Bigger Gasworks and Lamington Trust. There is also the Biggar Albion Archive with its fantastic motoring history.
http://www.biggarmuseumtrust.co.uk/
National Museum of Rural Life (East Kilbride)
Part Museum, part working farm, the National Museum of Rural life is a great day out for the family as well as a fascinating insight into the history of rural life in Scotland. There are always different events on for children and the experience is a great way to learn about the people, the land and the tools that played such an important part in Scottish History.
http://www.nms.ac.uk/our_museums/museum_of_rural_life.aspx
Museum of Lead mining
HIDDEN TREASURES, Museum of Lead Mining, is a Visit Scotland 4 Star Visitor Attraction set in the picturesque village of Wanlockhead, which at 461m / 1531 feet above sea level is the highest village in Scotland. The village is set amid the Lowther Hills, directly on the Southern Upland Way just minutes from the amazing Mennock Pass, which offers some of the most beautiful scenery in Scotland and only 9 miles from the M74.
Uncover the treasures including a real 18th century lead mine set deep in the hillside where visitors can experience the thrill of going underground. Make your way along village paths to the two miners’ cottages and see how the miners really lived before exploring the second oldest subscription Library in Europe, which has recently gained Recognition status as being a collection of National Significance. Enter the Visitor Centre to discover a fantastic display of rocks, minerals, gold, mining and local artefacts
http://www.leadminingmuseum.co.uk/home.shtml
Summerlee Museum of Industrial life
Originally one of Scotland’s most important ironworks, the site has been converted into an incredible industrial museum and visitor centre. Set in 22 acres, attractions include a working heritage tramway, a reconstructed mine, miners cottages , a genuinely fascinating museum with shop café, play areas and lovely grounds to walk in.
http://www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=15877
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Food and Drink
With Glasgow at its centre, and stretching from the coastal waters of Inverclyde down to the Leadhills of Lanark, food and drink in the Clyde Valley Region encompasses everything from fine dining to farmers markets, artisan food producers to some of the best curries to be found anywhere in Britain. As well as local produce, restaurateurs have easy access to the wonderful larders of Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway making the region a fantastic destination for food lovers.
Check out the main listings page for Restaurants, Cafes, Delicatessens and other food retailers and producers who offer discounts in the Clyde Valley region.
Farmers' Markets
Hamilton - contact :secretary@lanarkshirefarmersmarket.co.uk
One of Lanarkshire's largest markets, Hamilton Farmers Market takes place every month and has a loyal band of happy visitors. The market is held on the 3rd Saturday of each month.
New Cross, Top of Quarry Street (at Bairds), Hamilton
Clarkston- contact :secretary@lanarkshirefarmersmarket.co.uk
Clarkston Farmers market is one of our busiest markets, situated at the station car park in the heart of Clarkston. With up to 25 stall holders, it’s an excellent day out.
The market takes place on the 4th Saturday of each month. Check the market dates page for exact dates.
Clarkston Market, Station Car Park, Off Clarkston Road, Clarkston, East Renfrewshire, G76 8NE
Overtoun
e: dominic@lanarkshirefarmersmarket.co.uk
w: www.lanarkshirefarmersmarket.co.uk
t: 01659 50258
1st Saturday of each month; 10am-3pm; Overton Farm, Crossford.
Organised by the Lanarkshire Farmers' Market Ltd, with up to 20 producers from the local area as well as from all over Scotland and held at Overton Farm is it a splendid days outing to get away from the hustle of city life.
Greenock
e: matthewmcs2000@aol.com
t: 07802 206286
3rd Saturday of the month; 9am-2pm; Clyde Square.
This market has been resurrected by Renfrewshire and Inverclyde Farmers' Market Co-Operative, much to the delight of the locals. It is well worth a visit and now has up to 17 stalls giving the consumer plenty of choice.
Lochwinnoch
Lochwinnoch Farmers' Market
e: david.oneill@clydemuirshiel.co.uk
t: 01505 842 882
Twice a year, 1st Sun of June & December; 11am-2.30pm; Castle Semple Visitor Centre, Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park.
Held indoors and outdoors in this attractive park, this market has a wide range of producers. It is ideal as a family day out and is well worth the visit.
Milngavie
e: matthewmcs2000@aol.com
t: 07802 206286
1st Wednesday of the month; 10am-2pm; Douglas Street.
Another very important weekday market, which is extremely well supported locally. A wide variety of producers from all over Scotland in a splendid central position give this market a tremendous traditional atmosphere. With Milngavie being the start and finish of the West Highland Way, is a great market for walkers to stock up with local healthy food.
Paisley
e: enquiries@ayrshiremeats.co.uk
t: 01655 770217
2nd and last Saturday of each month; 9am-1pm; County Square (beside the main Gilmour Street train station).
Up to 30 producers bring their excellent ranges of produce, plus colour and vibrancy to this busy attractive sit. a splendid place to bring the family.
Distilleries
Auchentoshan Distillery
You don’t need to travel to the Highlands in order to experience a true single malt experience. Just outside of Glasgow, the Auchentoshan Distillery produces its own stunning range of single malt whiskeys. The distillery is open most of the year for fascinating tours of the distillation process and much more.
http://www.auchentoshan.com/
Miscellaneous Food and Drink
Alexander Taylor, The Waterside Bakery is the oldest bakery in Scotland . Established in 1820 and run by generation after generation of the Taylor family, the bakery sells a huge range of bakery products including artisan breads. There is also a café and is well worth a visit when you are in the area.
Alexander Taylor The Waterside Bakery,Strathaven, South Lanarkshire, ML10 6AW 01357 521260
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Walking Cycling and Nature
No matter where you go in Scotland, there are so many stunning and spectacular places to walk, cycle and just generally be out in nature. The Glasgow and Clyde Valley region is no exception, and what makes it so unique is that much of this stunning scenery is just a few miles outside of Glasgow itself. From city and country parks to stunning nature reserves, you are only minutes from the incredible fresh air of Scotland. Below are links to some of the walking highlights of the region.
The Clyde Walkway
The Clyde Walkway, some 40miles/65 km long, runs between Partick in Glasgow and New Lanark in South Lanarkshire and came about as a joint enterprise by the Glasgow City, South Lanarkshire, and North Lanarkshire Councils. Unlike other long distance paths it is close to urban centres with easy access to public transport, but even so good walking boots and suitable clothing is recommended.
It starts in busy city streets and ends in a spectacular gorge complete with waterfalls. Its western terminus was once one of the busiest ports in the British Empire and its second city. Its eastern terminus is the New Lanark World Heritage Site, and there are a great number of places of interest to explore along the way. Those interested in very long walks can link the Glasgow end with the West Highland Way by using the Kelvin Walkway to Milngavie.
http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/glasgow/clyde-walkway.shtml
Clyde Valley Woodlands
Carved by ice and water from the surrounding gently rolling landscape, the steepness of the gorge sides here has protected the trees from felling. These ancient woodlands have clung to these gorge sides for centuries, providing a sanctuary for a wealth of wildlife. Bright with flowers in the spring, in the autumn raspberry, blaeberry and brambles provide food for badgers, birds and people alike. Some less common plants grow in the wetter areas and dead tree stumps are home to rare beetles and hoverflies.
http://www.nnr-scotland.org.uk/clyde-valley-woodlands/
Lochwinnoch
As one of the few wetlands left in west Scotland, Lochwinnoch is an ideal day out for all the family. It's the perfect spot to watch whooper swans, wigeons and a wide variety of ducks during the winter months. In spring, you won't want to miss the elaborate displays of the great crested grebes.While you're here, look out for otters, and pop into the visitor centre for a light snack or a browse in the shop which has an array of bird feeding products, books, gifts, clothing, toys and binoculars and telescopes.
http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/l/lochwinnoch/scopes.
Upper and Lower Nethan Gorges
Upper Nethan Gorge is a diverse woodland with locally uncommon species such as the broadleaved helleborine, wood mellick and pendulous sedge. Wildflower-rich grassland in and around the woodland provides a valuable nectar source for insect life.
Lower Nethan Gorge reserve is part of the Clyde Valley Woodlands National Nature Reserve and is one of the best examples of semi-natural woodland still surviving in the Clyde Valley. Rich ash and elm woodland grows on the steep slopes, supporting a wide variety of plants.
http://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/reserve/lower-nethan-gorge/
Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park
Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park is the largest regional park in Scotland, home to Castle Semple, Lunderston Bay, Haylie Brae and charming hill and woodland walks. This stunning park offers amazing scenery, wildlife including being home to the Hen Harrier, one of Britain’s rarest birds, a huge variety of outdoor activities and beautiful locations, walking , cycling, picnicking and relaxation.
www.clydemuirshiel.co.uk/
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Golf and Sporting Activities
Whether your passion is golf, the traditional pursuits of hunting, shooting and fishing or Adventure Sports for the adrenalin junkie, you are genuinely spoilt for choice in this stunning region of Scotland. Scattered throughout you will find golf-courses set among stunning scenery, a myriad of parks,country estates and outdoor activity centres where you can participate in everything from clay-pigeon shooting to quad-biking and from water-skiing to wakeboarding.
Search our business listings on the main page for details of Pearl Discounts on sporting activities in Glasgow and the clyde Valley.
Football
Obviously Celtic and Rangers take much of the limelight when it comes to football in the West of Scotland but if you want to see some great quality football at a fraction of the price of an Old Firm fixture then it is worth visiting one of these two Lanarkshire rivals:
Motherwell FC and Hamilton Academicals FC (or The Accies)
At the time of writing Motherwell are 3rd in the Scottish Premier league and the Accies are in the Scottish 1st division. Whichever ground you visit you are guaranteed to experience football in the raw which makes for a memorable afternoon.
http://www.acciesfc.co.uk/
http://www.motherwellfc.co.uk/
Horse Racing
Hamilton Park Racecourse
If you fancy a flutter or just the sheer exhilaration of having twenty horses thunder past you at 40 miles an hour, then a visit to Hamilton Park Racecourse makes a great day out. Set in award winning grounds with excellent facilities and a lovely atmosphere, spending a summer’s afternoon and evening at the racecourse is a very pleasant addition to your itinerary.
www.hamilton-park.co.uk/
Sporting Events (25th August 2012)
The Great Scottish Swim (Strathclyde Park)
A superb outdoor swim taking place at Strathclyde Country Park, near Glasgow Choose from 3 distances - 1 mile, ½ mile or 2 miles Perfect challenge for all swimming abilities, from first timers to Olympic champions Experience the thrill of open water swimming, safe in the knowledge expert kayakers and safety boats are with you every stroke of the way Entry prices ½ mile £20, 1 mile £27 and 2 mile £32 (includes event pack, medal and T-shirt) Wetsuit only event Scotland’s biggest outdoor swim 1 mile, 2 miles and ½ mile swim in Strathclyde Country Park, North Lanarkshire - venue for the 2014 Commonwealth Games Triathlon An inspiring event to get the nation of their sofa and into the water See some of the world’s top swimmers compete against one another, across the same course as the masses, in the elite race Free for spectators Highlights shown on TV
http://www.greatswim.org/Events/British-Gas-Great-Scottish-Swim/
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Days Out and Family Activities
If you are venturing beyond Glasgow in the Clyde Valley Region (and we recommend that you do!) there is an enormous variety of places to go and things to see for all ages. Fantastic walks, activity centres, parks and adventure playgrounds are just a sample of what’s on offer.
For discounts on a range of activities check out the main listings page.
Country Parks
Calderglen Country park (Strathaven Road, East Kilbride, Glasgow G75 0QZ)
One of the premier visitor attractions in Lanarkshire, Calderglen Country Park is a brilliant day out for all the family. Containing fantastic nature trails and walks, an ornamental garden, play areas and of course, the famous Children’s zoo. Here, children can have a truly dynamic and interactive experience including talks and lessons in animal husbandry or they can simply coo over the mix of wild and domestic animals including meerkats, wallabies, kookaburras, guinea pigs and rabbits.
http://www.visitlanarkshire.com/attractions/garden-and-parks/Calderglen-Country-Park/
Strathclyde Park (Hamilton Road, Motherwell Ml1 3ED)
Another great day out for all the family where you can do everything from the sedate to the strenuous. The park is a well-known watersports venue where you can do everything from canoeing, kayaking, and hiring pedalos to something more adrenaline-filled such as water-skiing. The park is also great for walking and cycling and then you also have the added attraction of M&D’s, Scotland’s best known theme park.
Valley International Park( Crossford, Clyde Valley)
Set amongst 90 acres of stunning forestry and countryside, Valley International Park is the former Carfin Estate which has been transformed into a brilliant venue for a family day out. As well as soft play areas and beautiful walks, the big highlight for all the family is the Narrow Gauge Railway which travels throughout the estate through forests and tunnels, and gives passengers plenty of opportunity to see some beautiful views and a variety of wildlife.
Clyde Muirshiel Regional park (Near Port Glasgow)
Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park is the largest regional park in Scotland, home to Castle Semple, Lunderston Bay, Haylie Brae and charming hill and woodland walks. This stunning park offers amazing scenery, wildlife including being home to the Hen Harrier, one of Britain’s rarest birds, a huge variety of outdoor activities and beautiful locations, walking , cycling, picnicking and relaxation
www.clydemuirshiel.co.uk/
Whitelee Windfarm Visitor Centre (Eaglesham Moor,Near Glasgow)
Just 20 minutes from central Glasgow, Whitelee has lots to offer for visitors of all ages.
Whitelee Windfarm is located on Eaglesham Moor just 20 minutes from central Glasgow. The windfarm has 140 turbines which can generate 322MW of electricity, enough to power 180,000 homes. Entry to the windfarm and visitor centre is free and with an interactive exhibition and over 70km of trails, there is a lot to explore!
Over the past ten years Whitelee has been carefully planned and designed to work in harmony with the existing environment and after three years of construction the windfarm is fully operational and producing clean, green energy.
Whitelee’s trails are great for cycling, walking and even horse riding. However, we do ask that you follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code at all times.
Whitelee is also home to a 25 square kilometre area of habitat management, one of the largest in the UK with lots of interesting species to spot like merlin and black grouse.
www.whiteleewindfarm.co.uk/
The Time Capsule (Coatbridge Near Glasgow)
Known as Scotland’s Water Park, this centre is a brilliant day out for all the family. With swimming pools, water slides and flumes called the Tornado Tantrum, and the Storm Chaser, you are guaranteed a great but very wet time. The ice rink is currently undergoing reconstruction and will be reopen for business in October 2012
www.thetimecapsule.info
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Hidden Gems and Special Mentions
Here you will find a list of things to see and do that are not always found in the guide books. Quite often they will be recommended by our advertisers and maybe slightly off the beaten track but are well worth a look. These little hidden gems often prove to be memorable highlights of people’s trips to the region. There are also certain attractions and places to visit within the region that are just so fantastic that they deserve a special mention and are listed below.
The Coates Observatory (Paisley)
Coats Observatory is the oldest public observatory in Scotland and was gifted to the people of Paisley by Thomas Coats and designed by Glasgow Architect John Honeyman, Coats Observatory opened in 1883 and has been welcoming everyone with an interest in astronomy ever since.
The observatory also has a planetarium which gives visitors a tour of the night sky without having to leave the comfort of their chair.
Throughout the winter months, Coats Observatory opens to allow visitors the opportunity to view the wonders of the night sky up close through powerful telescopes housed in the building. See the moon, the planets and other astronomical wonders as never before!
http://www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/ilwwcm/publishing.nsf/content/els-jcp-coatsobservatory
Lunderston Bay
The nearest sandy beach to Being Glasgow’s nearest sandy beach it is a popular destination on the Clyde – a great place to have a picnic, make sand castles on the beach, fly a kites, watching the sailing boats, enjoy the sea air, coastal views and walks. Great bird watching. Children’s play area.
Lunderston Bay currently (2011) has the MCS Good Beach Guide Award for clean water.
For those keen to leave the car at home Sustrans cycle route 75 passes through the site providing a mostly off road cycling route from Gourock towards Inverkip
The Countryside Rangers, based at the Greenock Cut Visitor Centre, patrol the site, provide an environmental education programme, offer advice about local walking routes and wildlife.
http://www.clydemuirshiel.co.uk/park-sites/lundy-bay/
Little Sparta Trust
Set in the Pentland Hills near Edinburgh, Little Sparta is Ian Hamilton Finlay’s greatest work of art. Imbued with a high idea content, the garden is created from the artistic fusion of poetic and sculptural elements with those of the natural landscape which is shaped and changed to become an inherent part of the concepts realised at Little Sparta.
While works of art are commonly viewed in galleries, public parks and streets, museums and private houses, it is perhaps a unique achievement to have created a garden which is itself a major artwork encompassing within it both horticultural elements and individual works in such materials as stone, wood and metal.
Finlay’s intentions are moral and philosophical as well as poetic. The themes dealt with in the garden are those which underlie the structures of society. The French Revolution, pre-Socratic views of the nature of the world. The Second World War, the sea and its fishing fleets are among the sources of metaphor and image which are realised in the garden’s art works which now number over 275.
http;//www.littlesparta.org.uk/home.htm
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Events
Whether you are a history buff, nature lover, sports-enthusiast or just want to experience the richness of Scottish culture, you are bound to find an array of things to do, no matter what time of the year you come to visit Scotland. Below you will find a sample of events taking place in 2012 – Be sure to check the page for updates and also check out our live blog and Facebook links on the main page.
March 9th –March 17th
Aye Write (Glasgow and Surrounding, Various Venues)
Welcome to the 7th Aye Write! Book Festival. The programme for 2012 is upon us for what has become a much loved fixture for book lovers everywhere.
Along with the usual mix of top author events, this year’s festival will include the Aye Write! Schools Programme; weekend family events; Scottish Poetry Slam; and a wide range of reading and creative writing workshops to ensure there is something for everyone.
Our latest change is the addition of the controversial John Ashton discussing his recently published work Megrahi - You Are My Jury.
http://www.ayewrite.com/pages/default.aspx
15-March-1st April
Glasgow International Comedy Festival
Over the last decade the Glasgow Comedy Festival has brought the biggest comedy names in the world to Glasgow. Along the way they've showcased the best of our home-grown talent too. This year is no different. There is a programme packed fuller than ever with the best stand-up comedy you can get.
This year features stars like Michael Winslow and Doug Stanhope from the US, household names like Dara O’Briain and Ardal O’Hanlon, and top Scots like Jerry Sadowitz, Rory Bremner and rising star Daniel Sloss. There are some great events to look out for too from the Legendary Arnold Brown Comedy Interviews to the charity gala Stand Up For Palestine with Frankie Boyle and Gary Tank Commander.
http://www.glasgowcomedyfestival.com/
April 20th-7th May
Glasgow International Festival of Visual Art (Various venues around Glasgow)
Visual art happens all year round in Glasgow but for two weeks every two years, Glasgow International Festival of Visual Art puts it firmly in the spotlight. From artists’ studios through to major museums, by way of a vast range of venues new and old, the Festival is the perfect moment to get to know more about contemporary art and how and where it takes place in Glasgow.
Packed with events, talks and tours as well as major world-class exhibitions, some by artists living in the city and others by leading international figures, the GI Festival offers a unique moment in the British cultural calendar and presents Glasgow’s art scene at its liveliest and best, including significant commissions of new work such as the the major public art project Lowlands by Susan Philipsz (for which the artist was nominated and went on to win The Turner Prize 2010.
For a full, event-packed 18 days during 2012, the Festival will again present some of the best in contemporary art in an array of spaces and locations, including key venues such as the Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA) and Tramway, through to artist-run collectives and newly discovered spaces in the city.
http://www.glasgowinternational.org/
1st June -24th June
West End Festival (Various Venues around the West End of Glasgow)
Following another successful year in 2011, this coming June sees the 17th anniversary of what is undoubtedly now Glasgow’s most popular festival, and one of the top 3 or 4 in Scotland. Over a million people have attended free and paid events since the event started in 1996, and we have plans to make the event better than ever in 2012 and beyond. It will be the highlight of the Glasgow calendar!
The West End Festival is an independent event that takes place in the west end, but it’s not just for the west end. WEF has grown from small beginnings in 1996 to a major festival and has now run as long as Mayfest, which ended in 1997. It is partly produced by its founder and director Michael Dale, but much of it is self-produced by one or other of the many talented people who choose to live and work in this great city.
http://www.westendfestival.co.uk/
22nd-24th June
Solas Festival (Wiston Lodge, Near Biggar)
Solas Festival will be held at Wiston Lodge from 22nd to 24th June.
Artists confirmed so far include Raghu Dixit, Grousebeater Sound System, Stanley Odd, Adam Stearns and the Glass Animals and Rory Butler.
There is also a stellar line-up of poets including the esteemed Aonghas MacNeacail, Radio 4 broadcaster, Stewart Henderson and European Slam Champion, Harry Baker.
And if you need something to mull over, we've got great speakers including Carol Craig, Gerry Hassan, Linda de Caesteker and Andy Wightman.
There will also be a full programme of things that you can get involved with: open mic, creative arts, kids' programme and film-making.
You'll find more on the ever-expanding line-up at
www.solasfestival.co.uk.
27th June-1st July
Glasgow Jazz Festival
More info to come soon.
http://www.jazzfest.co.uk/
12th July -16th July
Pride Glasgow (Various Venues around Glasgow)
Pride Glasgow, Scotland's largest Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual and Trans Pride Festival returns to the heart of Glasgow during the Fair Weekend
http://www.prideglasgow.co.uk/pg2012/
6th August – 12th August
Piping Live (Various Venues around Glasgow)
This week sees Glasgow become the heart of the Piping world with events happening around the clock. So make sure you join in the world's biggest international piping festival.
Piping Live! Glasgow International Piping Festival will be back from 6-12 August. They are currently working on making the festival line-up as exciting as possible and will be making a big announcement in April
http://www.pipinglive.co.uk/
25th August 2012
The Great Scottish Swim (Strathclyde Park)
A superb outdoor swim taking place at Strathclyde Country Park, near Glasgow Choose from 3 distances - 1 mile, ½ mile or 2 miles Perfect challenge for all swimming abilities, from first timers to Olympic champions Experience the thrill of open water swimming, safe in the knowledge expert kayakers and safety boats are with you every stroke of the way Entry prices ½ mile £20, 1 mile £27 and 2 mile £32 (includes event pack, medal and T-shirt) Wetsuit only event Scotland’s biggest outdoor swim 1 mile, 2 miles and ½ mile swim in Strathclyde Country Park, North Lanarkshire - venue for the 2014 Commonwealth Games Triathlon An inspiring event to get the nation of their sofa and into the water See some of the world’s top swimmers compete against one another, across the same course as the masses, in the elite race Free for spectators Highlights shown on TV
http://www.greatswim.org/Events/British-Gas-Great-Scottish-Swim/
18th -28th October
The Biggar Little Festival (Various Venues around Biggar)
A family-friendly festival in the historic market town of Biggar - a small town at large!
Join them to celebrate music, dance, arts and crafts, literature, and drama. Biggar will be filled with an eclectic programme of workshops, exhibitions, children's events, performances, a craft and food fair, and festival clubs.
Discover what brought well-known performers such as Ian Rankin, Kevin Bridges, Old Blind Dogs, Fred McCauley and Alexander McCall Smith to the festival in previous years.
Take your pick from more than 50 events spread across 16 days in October. Many events are free!
http://www.biggar-little-festival.com/
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