This post is a continuation from my last, which you can read by clicking here.
True to Scottish form, the dry weather didn’t last long. Rain set in quickly, so I took it as an invitation to explore Glasgow instead. On the same day, I was invited to a gig – one of those small-world moments that seem to happen more often when you’re travelling.
The band had just reformed after a six-year hiatus. The lead singer’s sister was a friend of my friends – the very people I’d come to Scotland to visit. She lives in Cornwall and had travelled all the way north for the show. Of all the cities, on that day. Funny how it works out.
After a bit of research, I found a quiet place to park on the edge of the city, just outside the LEZ. £15 for 24 hours in a secure spot felt reasonable. Glasgow has come a long way over the past 20 years, but like any big city, there are areas you’d rather avoid so I chose carefully. From there, it was either a 40-minute walk along the river or a hop on the wonderfully named ‘Clockwork Orange’ subway system.
The city felt good straight away. Vibrant, friendly, and interesting. The sort of place where people bump into you and apologise sincerely – like they really mean it. There’s a lot of history here. Once known as the ‘second city of the Empire,’ Glasgow grew rich on industry and shipbuilding, only to suffer significant decline during de-industrialisation in the 1970s and ’80s.
The revival began in the 1990s, when Glasgow was named European City of Culture, bringing investment in the arts, architecture, and urban regeneration. Into the 21st century, that momentum has continued with music, design, innovation, and the redevelopment of the Clyde waterfront.
Walking through the city, you really feel that balance: down-to-earth but confident, gritty but creative. The Victorian architecture is stunning, and it makes for a refreshing contrast to Edinburgh’s more elegant – but slightly stuffier – reputation.
The gig itself was great fun (Nieves, if you’re curious), and I also spent time wandering through the excellent Kelvingrove Museum. I visited the Transport Museum and the Gallery of Modern Art, complete with the iconic traffic cone perched atop the Duke of Wellington’s statue. Apparently, locals have been placing it there since the 1980s – a small but perfect symbol of Glaswegian humour and quiet rebellion.
All of these were free to visit, along with Glasgow Cathedral and the Necropolis. It’s a very walkable city, made up of distinct neighbourhoods, with strong maritime roots along the River Clyde and a thriving food and music scene. The light metro may be small (just a circular loop in two directions) but it gets you everywhere you need to go.
A good few days escaping the rain, soaking up culture, and resting my legs before heading back to the mountains. Glasgow surprised me – in the best way.
John Alex Clarke 