Vacations In Glasgow

Monday, October 26, 2009 ·

By Karl Fraser

Glasgow is a great place to have a vacation if you wish to explore the lowland of Scotland and this article examines some of the reasons why you should consider this a fascinating destination worth further investigation.

Scotland is well known for such things as bagpipes, kilts and tartan and these items are closely associated with the turbulent history of the small nation in the United Kingdom of Great Britain. Scotland's history is often described as bloodthirsty at the very least an certainly the breathtaking scenery is littered with evidence of the nation's struggles through the ages and many such landmarks and ancient sites attract a great many visitors each year.

If you want to see as many of these incredible historic sites as possible you will often need to travel vast distances, especially if you are to explore the Highlands. If you want to explore the lowlands of Scotland then few places rival Glasgow as the best place in which to base yourself during your vacation. There are plenty of historic sites in the city itself and many more are easily accessible. I will introduce the reader to three such places to visit, Newark Castle, Crookston Castle and Glasgow Cathedral.

Glasgow Cathedral

St. Mungo is the patron saint of Glasgow and the city's most ancient Cathedral is dedicated to him. Glasgow has much to thank the saint for as it was he who first built a church there in the seventh century thus setting the foundations of this important city. St. mungo died in 612 and his original building was extended, altered and eventually replaced during the twelfth to thirteenth centuries. The Cathedral was consecrated in the year 1197, making it one of only a small number of medieval ecclesiastical buildings still standing following the destruction during the years of the Scottish Reformation and it is one of Glasgow's most important landmarks.

Crookston Castle

Crookston Castle is a twelfth century ringwork fortress and keep made of stone. The castle was built by Sir Robert de Croc and, in the fourteenth century the castle and it's lands came into the possession of Sir Alan Stewart and then the 1st Lord Darnley, Sir John Stewart. The castle has a strong association with the tragic Mary Queen of Scots who married Henry Stewart, Lord Darnley (her second husband).

Newark Castle

George Maxwell built Newark Castle, in 1478, overlooking the Firth of Clyde on a commanding position on the south shore. Over the years massive structural changes were made to the building, not least by, Sir Patrick Maxwell who, in 1597, created a new north range. Some elements of the original castle can still be seen and the castle is now in the care of Historic Scotland.

There are plenty more places to visit in and around Glasgow and, if you want to travel a little further, you can easily reach such cities as Stirling and Edinburgh which also feature excellent castles and historic buildings. Glasgow really is an excellent place in which to base yourself during a Scottish vacation.

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