Glasgow
Glasgow is a port city on the River Clyde in Scotland’s western Lowlands. It’s famed for its Victorian and art nouveau architecture, a rich legacy of the city’s 18th–20th-century prosperity due to trade and shipbuilding. Today it’s a national cultural hub, home to institutions including the Scottish Opera, Scottish Ballet and National Theatre of Scotland, as well as acclaimed museums and a thriving music scene. It’s only a 50 minute train or bus ride from the apartment and well worth a visit!
(This Landscape and others are displayed by kind permission of Samuel Quinn Photography – PictureSQue – https://www.facebook.com/PhotographybySamuelQuinn/ – all prints are available to buy as canvases)
Portpatrick
Portpatrick is a seaside town on the western shore of the Rhins of Galloway peninsula – approximately 50 miles South of the Loft. It’s a pretty town of pastel-coloured houses, set around a small bay with cliffs forming the backdrop. A former port for transportation to and from Northern Ireland, Portpatrick is now a peaceful holiday resort with a lovely wee harbour where you can sit and watch the world go by……
Sea angling is a popular here, as is walking, with options including a short stroll along the cliffs to Dunskey Castle. The Southern Upland Way starts here and continues for 212 miles, all the way to the east coast. There are also 2 golf courses – Dunskey – an 18 hole test of golf and an easier 9 hole course called the Dinvin http://www.portpatrickgolfclub.com/
Portpatrick Folk Festival is a three-day celebration of folk music which takes place in September and within the town, there are some great places to eat, and several shops offering a variety of wares.
The Isle of Arran
The Island of Arran is often referred to as Scotland in miniature and for an island only 2o miles long and 10 miles wide it packs in a lot! It’s a great day away – catching the early ferry from Ardrossan (only 20 miles north of The Loft) to Brodick – where you can either jump on a seasonal bus tour around the island or take your car with you.
Amongst the many things to see and do are:
- Taste your way around the Island – for a relatively small island, Arran packs in lots of flavours and you can sample them as you travel around. It offers creamy cheeses, refreshing beers, traditional oatcakes, tempting chocolates and delicious ice cream. Book a tour at the Arran Distillery to discover the secrets behind the distilling process before sampling a dram of malt whisky or the creamy liqueur Arran Gold.
- Explore the Arran Heritage Museum in Brodick http://www.arranmuseum.co.uk/
- Take part in the many outdoor leisure pursuits on offer, from climbing Goatfell (at 874 metres it is the highest point on the island), to playing golf at one of the 7 courses Arran has to offer, to cycling (bikes are available for hire) and pony trekking – there’s plenty to see and do!