July 2019 – Claire's Blog

31st July 20199th August 2021

Ferry to Bute

Wednesday 31st July 2019

After breakfast at the hotel we took our luggage to the car and popped into next door grand central station for a few photographs. We have been watching a programme on BBC Scotland called “Inside Central Station” which is all about Glasgow Central Station so wanted to see it for ourselves.

We didn’t have chance to see that much of Glasgow itself but before we left we went to GSC, to go up the Glasgow Tower. The tower is 127meters tall (523 steps), weighs 500 tonnes, free standing and can be turned by 5 able bodied people, from the top you have 360° view over the Glasgow and the Clyde. It holds the world record for the tallest fully rotating freestanding structure in the world.

View down the Clyde from top of the Glasgow Tower

Too bright to tell but this is us at the top of Glasgow Tower.

We grabbed a sandwich at the cafe to take with us, I had a travel sickness tablet and we headed to Wemyss Bay to catch the ferry across to Rothesay on the Isle of Bute.

Ferry on it’s way to take us to Isle of Bute

By the time we got on the ferry it was starting to rain and we were surrounded by thunder and lightning all the way across. It didn’t take too long to arrive in Rothesay, just over 30 minutes.

It was only a couple of minutes from the ferry to the apartment booked for a couple of nights. We met Lesley at the apartment. From the lounge we can see out over the sea front and where the ferry comes in and out. There is a CoOp downstairs which will be useful.

We went for a walk in the evening, though it was still a bit drizzily, most places were closed but there are quite a few places to eat. Gavin went for an Indian take away and I had chip shop chips which we both took back to the apartment and ate watching the ferries coming and going.

30th July 20199th August 2021

Over the Border

Tuesday 30th July 2019

It was time to say goodbye to England and hello Scotland as we made our way up the motorway with Gavin behind the wheel to Glasgow. It had been raining on and off the whole journey but it stopped, temporarily, as we crossed the border. We had to make good time as we had afternoon tea booked for 1.30pm.

We didn’t have any problems as thought we might with the Glasgow one way system and easily found the NCP car park, and our hotel for the night, Motel One, was almost next door. We were early for check in but they had two rooms available so could leave all our luggage and head off for our afternoon tea at the Willows tea rooms which was just a few minutes walk away.

Note the empty cake stand, afternoon tea was yummy

Gavin saw this tent which was outside the tea rooms and couldn’t resist boasting.

We found a lovely basement Italian restaurant that was a short walk from the hotel for dinner, I had a pasta dish while Gavin went with the steak. After dinner it had started to drizzle again but we went for a walk down to the Clyde by the time we got there (only few minutes) it was pouring. I’d given Gavin my small pop up umbrella to keep him dry but my fold up mac proved not to be as waterproof as I would have liked!

29th July 20199th August 2021

Sunshine and Holidays

Monday 29th July 2019

We left later than hoped for so missed out on lunch in Kendal, but we did arrive at our overnight stop in Romney’s apartment in time for dinner.

Studying the plan for next day’s journey

We had dinner in the gastro pub next door, as with last time I chose the cumberland sausage and yorkshire pudding, this time Gavin went with the burger option.

As we are much earlier in the year for our holiday this year, it was still light and we had a table over looking the pub gardens of the beautiful evening.