Glasgow Guide for Tourist
ENTERTAINMENT AND NIGHTLIFE
Glaswegians have a reputation for partying hard. The List (£2.20 at newsstands) has detailed nightlife and entertainment listings for both Glasgow and Edinburgh. The infamous Byres Road pub crawl slithers past the University of Glasgow area, starting at Tennant’s Bar and proceeding toward the River Clyde. SUisge Beatha, 232 Woodlands Rd. serves over 100 kinds of malt whiskey. (Whiskey £1.30-1.60. Open M-Th llam-llpm, F-Sa 1 lam-midnight, Su 12:30-llpm.) Go to BBabbity Bow-ster, 16-18 Blackfriar St. for football talk and good drinks. (Open M-Sa lOam-mid-night, Su 1 lam-midnight.) Horseshoe Bar, 17-21 Drury St. boasts the longest continuous bar in the UK. (Open M-Sa 1 lam-midnight, Su 12:30pm-midnight.) At the club Archaos, 25 Queen St. students drink 2-for-l whiskeys. (Cover £3-7. Open Su, Tu, and Th-Sa llpm-3am.) Indie music pleases younger crowds at Cathouse, 15 Union St. a 3-story club. (Cover £3-5, student £1-4. Open W-Su llpm-3am.)
STIRLING
The third point of a strategic triangle completed by Glasgow and Edinburgh, Stirling has historically presided over north-south travel in the region; it was once said that “he who controlled Stirling controlled Scotland.” At the 1297 Battle of Stirling Bridge, William Wallace (of Braveheart fame) overpowered the English army, enabling Robert the Bruce to finally overthrow the English at Bannockburn, 3km south of town. To reach Bannockburn, take bus #51 or 52 from Murray PI. in Stirling. (Visitors center open Apr.-Oct. daily 10am-5:30pm; Feb.-Mar. and Nov.-Dee. 10:30am-4pm. £3.50, children £2.60. Battlefield open year-round.) Stirling Castle has superb views of the Forth valley and recalls a history both of royal residence and military might. (Open Apr.-Oct. daily 9:30am-6pm; Nov.-Mar. 9:30am-5pm. £7.50, concessions £5.50.) Argyll’s Lodging, a 17th-century mansion below the castle has been impressively restored. (Open Apr.-Sept. daily 9:30am-6pm; Oct.-Mar. 9:30am-5pm. £3.30, concessions £2.50. Free with castle admission.) The 19th-century Wallace Monument Tower, on Hillfouts Rd. 2.5km from town, offers incredible views. You can also admire the 1.5m sword William Wallace wielded against King Edward I. Take bus #62 or 63 from Murray PI. (Open July-Aug. daily 9:30am-6pm; Sept. 9:30am-5pm; Oct. and Mar.-May 10am-5pm; Nov.-Feb. 10:30am-4pm; June 10am-6pm. £5, concessions £3.80.)
Trains run from Goosecroft Rd. (s (08457) 484 950) to: Aberdeen (2hr.; M-Sa every hr. Su 6 per day; £31); Edinburgh (50min. 2 per hr. £5.30); Glasgow (40min. 1-3 per hr. £5.40); Inverness (3hr. 3-4 per day, £31); and London King’s Cross (5lAhr. every hr. £44-84). Buses also run from Goosecroft Rd. to: Edinburgh (l’ihr. every hr. £4); Fort William (2%hr. daily, £15); Glasgow (40min. 2-3 per hr. £4); and Inverness (3Mhr. every hr. £13). The tourist office is at 41 Dumbarton Rd. (475 019. Open July-Aug. M-Sa 9am-7:30pm, Su 9:30am-6:30pm; Sept.-Oct. and Apr.-May daily 9am-5pm; Nov.-Mar. M-F 10am-5pm, Sa 10am-4pm.) At the clean and friendly Willy Wallace Hostel 0, 77 Murray PL, a delightful staff fosters a fun atmosphere. (446 773. Internet access. Dorms £9-13.) The comfortable Forth Guest House , 23 Forth PL, is near the train station. (471 020. All rooms with bath. Singles £20-40; doubles £2045.) Postal Code: FK8 2BP.
LOCH LOMOND
Immortalized by the famous ballad, the pristine wilderness surrounding Loch Lomond continues to inspire; lush bays, wooded islands, and bare hills compliment the beauty of Britain’s largest lake. Hikers adore the West Highland Way, which snakes along the entire eastern side of the Loch and stretches north 152km from Milngavie to Fort William. At the southern tip of the lake is Balloch, the area’s
largest tourist center. Attractions and services at the new Loch Lomond Shores in Balloch include a giant-screen film about the loch, a National Park Gateway Centre, a tourist office, and bike and canoe rentals. ( 722 406. Shores open June-Sept. 10am-6pm, Oct.-May 10am-5pm. £5.) One of the best introductions to the area is a Sweeney’s Cruises boat tour, which leaves from the tourist office’s side of the River Leven in Balloch (lhr.; every hr. 10am-5:30pm; £5.20, children £2.50).
Trains arrive on Balloch Rd. from Glasgow Queen St. (45min. 2 per hr. £3.20). Scottish Citylink buses ( (08705) 505 050) arrive from Glasgow (45min. 3-5 per day, £3.60). First ((0141) 423 6600) buses arrive from Stirling (l’Sir. 4 per day, £3.80). Tourist offices are at Loch Lomond Shores (see above) and in the Old Station Building. (753 533. Open July-Aug. daily 9:30am-6pm; June-Sept. 9:30am-5:30pm; Apr.-May and Oct. 10am-5pm.) The ESSYHA Loch Lomond , 3km north of town, is one of Scotland’s largest hostels. From the train station, follow the main road for 800m; at the roundabout, turn right, continue 2.5km, turn left at the sign for the hostel, and it’s a short way up the hill. ( 850 226. Dorms £12-14, under-18 £10-12.) Camp at the luxurious Lomond Woods Holiday Park O, on Old Luss Rd. up Balloch Rd. from the tourist office. ( 750 000. Spa facilities. Bikes £10 per day. Reception 8:30am-8pm. Tent and two people £9-15; additional guests £2.)
