Newark Castle is very well preserved and stewards are always very welcoming and helpful. The…read morehistory is told in the upstairs gallery and it is a very interesting history indeed. One of the bedrooms has original wood panelling bed recesses which show grafitti of the time carved into them. It's quite shocking and sad that graffiti of this time can be found daubed on the outside castle walls! Inside the castle scottish music is played in the grand hall which gives a sense of what it was like at the time. The castle is reputed to be haunted - ask at the gift shop and I'm sure the steward will tell you the whole story as well as show you some seriously spooky pictures!

These spectacular Italianate buildings (splendid both inside and out) were finished in 1886 and the…read morebeautiful Victoria Tower (75m in height) can be seen dominating the skyline from many parts of the town. Unfortunately, the Municipal Buildings remain uncompleted to this day as a local man, Robert Cowan, refused to sell his business in front of the tower. As a result, the shop was inserted into one corner but was destroyed during a bombing raid in 1941, leaving the unusual effect still seen today. The bricks are different to the rest and this area has become known as 'Cowan's Corner'. These days the Municipal Buildings include the Town Hall and various Council offices. There are a few parking spaces nearby but it's very difficult to find a space. However, there is a large public car park only about 5 minutes walk away.

Rainbow Bridge is an integral feature of the Art Park. Located within the grounds of House For An…read moreArt Lover, the park was completed in 2008. I dig bridges, and few more so than this one. I've spent many an hour playing on it with my nieces and nephew - the kids love the perspex, multicoloured panels - they rotate and provide a great opportunity to play hide and seek. I'd highly recommend a visit - especially to burn off some of the kids energy!

I agree with the previous reviewer wholeheartedly. Ross Priory is one of the most overlooked…read morebuildings in Scotland. It is absolutely incredible. A must for visitors to Glasgow. Even the drink prices at the bar are reasonable. The only problem is, the priory is not anywhere near a train station. So you bring your car or get a train to Balloch then a taxi.

Beautiful architecture, a perfect setting, and several guest rooms make this a sublime wedding…read morevenue on Loch Lomond.

This memorial to the dead of both world wars, also known as 'The Spirit of the Crusaders', is…read morefound at the junction of Gilmore Street and High Street in the town centre of Paisley. It comprises a rectangular plinth with bronze plaques and inscriptions, the burgh arms and crosses of St Andrews and St George. On the top is a bronze knight on his horse, flanked by four soldiers. The architect was Robert Lorimer, who also designed the National Monument in Edinburgh, and it was sculpted by Meredith Williams. It's a very striking and tall monument in this central location and a reminder of the terrible losses of war. Easy to find for visitors to the town as it's very close to the railway station.

Normal I don't give write ups for war mamorials. But here goes…read more Despite passing this icon for the past several years & yet respecting the lives lost in such battles there was an internation market here from the 10th Oct. to 22th Oct. part of some galic type thing that was being held in the town hall or abbey or both that were near by. But despite the bad weather at the time that I had arrived I was lothed to spend dodging the hordes at the nearest argos down hill a bit that's always far too busy out side the shop due to the bus stops but hands for the size of the items I was planning on getting, but decided to head to head for a different argos just to try to avoid one of my mainy petty hates. Well either way I had a quick look around & had a slighlty longer look at the bits that caught my b udding eye & or interest. The international market there was a beer stall (way far too early for me for a quick pint 11:40am ish), a stall seling various types of coffee beans & granuals (I think didn't ask IF the jared stuff was granuals), burger stall going on from the signage possibly Austrailan burger stall few other types that I only glanced at momenteraly but as such IF the weather hadn't been as bad as it was at the time that I went I would have stayed longer. But the stall that was selling Turkish goods was a bit too temping for my liking & despite how many little tasters the seller was offering my I had to curb my spending at this one stall despite how good the stuff was. But other than that exept for the few permanent stores that are note worthy that are left in Paisley it has an abundance of pubs that could be described as near enough all within walking/staggering distance of the local taxi rank out side of Gilmour street station. Though despite the recent poster/drawing loacal govorment drwing on the former Arnots sight thats been emptey for near enough or over 10 year that it might be getting developed into housing & shops (all suposedly at the moment from whats advertised & what I looks like from poster)

Great place for all us Urbex explorers - Castle is great and if you are feeling adventurous...or…read moresuicidal someone has put up a rope swing with a tyre inside the castle attached to the rotting metal staircase that used to go up to the high tower - Stairs are equally dodgy to get up to the high point on the tower roof so only for the brave of heart or stupid or those with a death wish...like me! Apart from this there are hundreds of trails that take you up into the forestry commission trails and the views are great, hidden steps that take you down into the lost and forgotten gardens; there is even a fairy tree that someone has fitted little doors to and magic talismen hanging from the branches. The castle is fenced off but there is always an opening to get into grounds and getting inside the castle itself is a tap in although not good for the ankles as the whole thing is full of rocks and falling masonry so be careful - photography wise there are too many trees inside and outside to get any good photos but if you have a quadcopter I would strongly recommend it to get some great shots from above the main tower looking down and traversing the outside. Apparently there is a ghost of a woman who was supposed to have been murdered by the staff when it was an insane asylum that prowls the castle at night so take your night vision lenses and prepare for a scare lol! There are also many other abandoned ruins around - The old Golf course clubhouse is near the new Celtic training ground which I believe was built on the old golf course - even got a photo of the old Golf Club scoreboard and there is an abandoned warehouse in the woods on the road down to the Celtic entrance as well as an abandoned well deep in the forest which is hard to find but well worth the effort! All in all a rather interesting Urbex day out and will keep you fit as the trails are all uphill and quite long and tiring for us oldies, so wear a pair of wellies and bring a torch if you want to go further and deeper down into the dungeon of the Castle! When we were there yesterday the place was absolutely stowed with other Urbex explorers from as far as America and Canada and inside the castle there were numerous couples doing the same thing so make some friends like we did on the day - always a good day out when you meet new and interesting people!

Photographers heaven!…read more I spent many of days and nights camping and exploring this castle, doing a lot of history research on the grounds and the building. It's such a wasted building now with vandals setting fires etc. The building is now a dangerous listed building and quite possible be pulled down in due course, such a shame to see a once beautiful building wasted. Very spooky at times but well worth the treck up to it.

This impressive and striking old building is a familiar sight in this part of the city. One of the…read morehistoric Merchant City buildings, it was built in the 1920s and designed by A. Graham Henderson as part of the redevelopment of Glasgow Cross. It has a very grand façade fronted by two large Ionic columns and featuring some interesting scupture by Benno Schotz. These days (rather a shame I think) the ground floor is simply a large furniture store. It's found at Glasgow Cross between London Road and the Gallowgate in the southeast corner of the Merchant City.

I think they done well ride my bike from glasgow to gourock without havin not having a track.read more

Probably the place I most enjoy returning to. There are a lot of nostalgic reasons why I love this…read morespot but, those aside, it is a beautiful place to walk - just over a mile long with glorious views across the famous River Clyde to the mountains of Argyll. It's away from the main road so not too busy, just a few cars, and the pavement is very wide, as is the road. The large detached houses on the other side are very fine and there are trees and a few attractive flower beds here and there. It's nice to hear the river lapping against the edge of the wall beside the railings and watch the ships and boats going up and down. Video link: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=wmUWdKTFVP8

I walk through this beautiful wooded area everyday to work when I take the train. The woods are…read moresituated on the top of a steep hill, connecting Henderland Road and Ravelston Road by many trails and paths. The woods have many different kinds of old large trees, wild flowers and large thickets of berries. As you walk along the paths you feel like you are in a hallway of singing birds. I'm sure there are various wildlife that lurk in here too. Lovely carvings in trees must be from a local carver or a community project. If you are looking for a weekend place for a stroll or a unique place to walk the dog around Glasgow, Cairnhill Woods is a good choice.

This is a very striking medieval landmark which you'll find at Glasgow…read moreCross on the east side of the Merchant City area. It is actually all that remains of a larger building which comprised a debtors' prison, the town clerk's office and the council hall. It was built in 1636 and stands 7 storeys and 126 feet high, being an extremely prominent landmark within the city. This area was, at one time, the centre of Glasgow (now considered to be George Square owing to the first railroad terminus being built at Queen Street). On the steeple you'll see some of the oldest sculpture to be found in Glasgow, including a shield which portrays the city's coat of arms. It has recently been renovated and repaired at a cost of £200,000, and I think it looks quite beautiful! I know that, at one time, it was possible for tourists to view the interior (and views from the top!) but I can't find out if it's allowed today. Perhaps someone will tell me, or I'll ask at a tourist information centre.