Glasgow is Scotland’s largest, and most lively, city with excellent shopping opportunities and an incredible nightlife. For the more bohemian visitor there are countless places to visit in the West End which features boutiques, bars, tea rooms, cafés, restaurants and clubs as well as some excellent Glasgow bed and breakfast accommodation. In the article below I will introduce three visitor attractions in Glasgow which should be of interest to those people who have an interest in the world of art; the Burrell Collection, the House For An Art Lover and the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum:

Burrell Collection

Sir William and Lady Burrel gifted The Burrel Collection to the city of Glasgow, in 1944 and the collection can be found at Pollok Country Park which is found in the south of Glasgow This beautiful collection of art works is made up of over 9,000 items of art. The collection is incredibly diverse containing a selection of modern artistic sculptures plus a collection of Islamic art. You will find paintings by Degas and Cezanne. As well as paintings and sculptures one can enjoy the incredibly beautiful collections of stained glass, tapestries, English furniture and alabasters. As well as all this, the Burrell Collection also displays an immensely important collection of medieval art plus collections from ancient China and Egypt.

House For An Art Lover

The House For An Art Lover is one of the most popular visitor attractions in Glasgow. The Art Nouveau House was originally designed by Glasgow’s most famous architect, Charles Rennie Mackintosh (with the help of Margaret Macdonald, who was also his wife).

Actually the design was created for a 1901 competition to make plans for a ‘House for an Art Lover’, however, the entry by Charles and his wife was disqualified on the grounds that it was submitted after the closing date. Luckily, more than one hundred years later the house is found in Bellahouston Park due to the efforts of the architect Professor Andy Macmillan and the engineer Graham Roxburgh. Construction started in 1989, halted for a short amount of time but restarted in nineteen ninety four thanks to a collaboration between the Glasgow School of Art and the Glasgow City Council.

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum

The Kelvingrove Art Gallery is one of Scotland’s finest museums and art galleries and where you will find one of the greatest civic art collections in Europe, but also it is one of the most popular free tourist attractions to be found in Scotland.

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum can be found in the West End of Glasgow, on the banks of the River Kelvin, on Argyle Street. The gallery was built using the traditional Glaswegian material of red sandstone in a Spanish Baroque style. The gallery was designed by E.J. Milner Allen and Sir John W. Simpson and opened its doors to the public for the first time in nineteen hundred and one. The collections of the museum were originally from the McLellan Galleries and the old Kelvingrove House Museum.

If you are thinking about a short break in Glasgow you will find a large selection of online hotels and guest houses offering Glasgow bed and breakfast accommodation. You will find a comprehensive range of Glasgow hotels at http://www.glasgowhotelscotland.com/

For quite a few years now a group of the so-called “budget airlines” in Europe have been embroiled in a price war attempting to offer the cheapest fares to a huge number of cities throughout Europe. It’s quite normal to read that one of the major low cost airlines such as Easyjet or Ryanair has an offer of return flights from Britain to Spain, Germany or France for £1 (approx $1.45). There could be airport landing fees and taxes to be added to the fare, but it remains a real bargain if you’re looking to see a number of cities throughout Europe. The downside of these cheap flights is that they frequently fly to the smaller local airports instead of the more well known biginternational ones. This sometimes means that a flight that is advertised to a major European city actually lands some 50 miles away. In fact there are a number of plus-points with this situation, the smaller airports will normally offer a much faster service on check-in and luggage because they are catering for a much smaller number of flights. The disadvantage is that public transport serving these airfields can be scrappy at best and a very popular alternative is hiring a car from the airport. Here are a variety of the wonderful cities that we’ve visited with flights from the budget airlines. We’re sure that you’d enjoy a visit to any of these scenic, you can rest assured that they have plenty to offer to visitors to their shores.

Glasgow, Scotland

Glasgow, once the butt of so many jokes about the slums of the Gorbals has undergone a Renaissance and is now a fascinating, architecturally divine city supporting a huge number of visitors throughout the year. The chic West side of the city is home to the fourth oldest university in the U.K.. Situated on a hill in the middle of the Medieval region of the city, its students add greatly to the vibrant, fun loving and cosmopolitan atmosphere of that area. The low cost carriers use Prestwick Airport some 51 km (35 miles) north east of the city centre and you will find a good road between the airport and the city centre. This is a popular sightseeing area, so the best idea is to rent a car at Prestwick before setting out on your journey. An uncrowded 30 minute journey from Prestwick on the M77 motorway takes you to the centre of the city. Glasgow is an ideal base for an adventure in the Trossachs National Park. A mere 13 mile (20 km) journey out of Glasgow and you might find yourself enjoying sensational countryside seated upon a pony, whereas a 50 km (30 mile) drive east using another excellent motorway will find you in Edinburgh together with its amazing festivals, Princes Street shopping, the historic Castle and Holyrood Palace.

Florence, Italy

Without doubt one of the most hauntingly beautiful cities in Europe, Florence is served by the airport at Pisa, which is 50 miles (84 km) west of the city. Hire a car at Pisa airport and you’ll be perfectly positioned to explore Pisa’s leaning tower, majestic Florence and a selection of some of the most picturesque countryside in the whole of Europe, that of the majestically beautiful Tuscany. Thus it is hardly surprising that Florence is high in the popularity stakes when looking at European cities. Once you arrive at the city of Florence you will find that most of the centre of the city is pedestrianized thus preserving the many ancient statues and architectural treasures from the vibrations and pollution caused by hectic traffic. As a result you are overwhelmed by a sense of peace and quiet as you meander from one monument to the next. You do not need to walk too far before being hit by the ghastly, ear piercing roar from Florence’s legion of scooter riders. Apart from the Ponte Vecchio all of the bridges into the city centre are noisy, polluted places, thus providing an added incentive to keep to the narrow alleyways and tranquil sanctuaries of Florence’s beautiful piazzas.

Tours, France

Tours is the perfect centre for touring France’s beautiful Loire valley and its magnificent chateaux The perfect centre for exploring the Loire Valley renowned for its serious array of palatial residences, the city has quite a few of its own charms. Although the little airport is only a couple of miles from town, it’s pretty much essential that you rent a car in the Loire Valley to fully explore some of the most stunning towns and villages to be found throughout France. A large number of cultural treasures can be found along the banks of the Loire. The Loire valley is a UNESCO World Heritage site and offers scenic countryside, lots of flamboyant castles plus a good scattering of historic villages. Formerly the “Retreat of Kings” back in the days of the Renaissance and the middle ages, the Loire Valley was a firm savourite of the French monarchy. Former working fortified castles were converted into palatial and elegant trophy residences and these are now the region’s main tourist attractions. The historic towns that line the river banks are a magnet to tourists from all over the world. Towns such as Chinon, Tours and Orleans have lots to see and do whilst the most popular of all the chateaux is maybe that on the estate of Chambord. Throughout the area you will discover small, family owned vineyards offering a variety of tasty wines at budget prices. Look out for the word “degustation”, which means sampling I guess, and provided that ‘Le Patron’ is not enjoying a long leisurely lunch you will be offered a warm welcome and he will be delighted to lead you through a tasting of all his wines. Of course, it is vital that you take a tee-totaller as your driver, some of these tasting sessions can get very serious!.

The town of Perth is also commonly called to as the  ‘Gateway to the Highlands’. Situated on the River Tay’s banks, the town of Perth was, for centuries, the capital of Scotland and during medieval times the bustling little town was known by local folk as St. John’s Toun or Saint Johnstoun. Perth’s name, or Peairt in the Gaelic, is derived from the Pictish word for a copse. Today  this idyllic little town is an excellent location as a base for a touring vacation with a large number of Perth bed and breakfast to choose from.

Whether stay for 1 week or 2 you will discover that there very many exciting things to do and see in Perth and the surrounding region. Tourist attractions include; shopping, restaurants, sport and leisure pursuits and historical attractions and other entertainments. It was not that long ago that the town was an extremely successful port chiefly involved in the export of whisky, leather, bleached products and linen. These days the tourist industry provides much needed wealth and much appreciated employment for the young of the area who are happy to take employment in the many guest houses and hotels in Perth and similar businesses.

One of the most famous attractions, which is easy to get to from Perth, is Scone Palace, one of the finest historical country homes to be found in Scotland. Here folk can learn about the very interesting history of Scone Palace, where at one time, Scottish kings were crowned for example, Robert The Bruce who took to the throne in 1306.

Approximately 3 miles away, from Perth, you will discover the 16th century Elcho Castle, which has the most glorious views over the River Tay. Elcho Castle dates back to around 1570 when the Wemyss family commissioned it’s construction who were it’s owners until the year 1929. Elcho Castle is now in the capable hands of Historic Scotland.

Only a small distance west of Perth can be found the fine medieval structure of Huntingtower Castle. Situated in stunning the castle has, over the centuries, undergone many  minor redevelopments and alterations. It began life as 2 separate and distinct towers however constructed pretty close together.

As well as the tourist attractions discussed above the town of Perth has many more, meaning that it is an awesome place for a vacation for you and your family. Other visitor attractions and places, worth seeing, to be found in Perthshire include the following; Kinnoull Hill, Perth Ice Rink (for curling etc.), Perthshire Visitor Centre, the Black Watch museum in Balhousie Castle and Perth Art Gallery & Museum.

If you are considering a weekend break in Perth you will discover plenty of online Perth hotels and guest houses and you will discover a massive listing at http://www.perthhotelscotland.com/

Dundee has been the site of a settlement for as far back as the time of the Picts. Dundee, the fourth largest city to be found in the nation of Scotland, has had a long association with trade and commerce. The 3 primary industries, in Dundee, were “journalism, jute and jam”.  Though the city can be described as city which is post-industrial it has an economy which is mixed and a large proportion of its inhabitants are employed in the manufacturing sector (compared to the rest of the country), about thirteen and a half percent. Recently the tourist industry has started to become a vital part in the economy of the city and there are a fair number of guest houses providing bed and breakfast in Dundee and in the text below I introduce readers to 3 attractions in Dundee; Verdant Works, Sensation Science Centre and Discover Point Visitor Centre:

Discover Point Visitor Centre

Discovery Point is a immensely interesting and award-winning visitor attraction in Dundee which introduces the tale of the most heroic  voyages of exploration ever done, the story of the famous Antarctic explorer, Captain Robert Falcon Scott, and the ship he used on his first voyage,  the RRS Discovery. the Discovery was launched on March the twenty first, nineteen hundred and one from the town’s Panmure Shipyard. Captain Scott and his crew set sail for Antarctica on August the 6th nineteen hundred and one, reaching there in January 1902. The RRS Discovery is the major element of the visitor centre having been fully restored from top to bottom. Steep stairs and narrow passageways can create problems in getting about for some, luckily, visitors will find there is an audio visual presentation on the dockside.

Sensation Science Centre

If you are in search of a tourist attraction which the whole family can enjoy, then Sensation Science Centre in Dundee is the ideal solution. Sensation Dundee is the only UK science centre which focuses upon the five senses of the human body. You can discover the miracles of sciences  through the use of the senses of the body with the aid of over 80 hands-on interactive exhibits. You will also find live scientific experiments and on the spot demonstrations, which demonstrate how common ingredients found in the home can be used to create amazing effects. Visitors interested in surgery are able to try their hand at keyhole surgery. Sensation brings science to life in lots of interesting ways.

The Verdant Works

Verdant Works  was, in the past, a working jute mill. At it’s height, in the 1860’s and 1870’s, the industry in Dundee employed around 50 thousand people in over sixty factories spread across Dundee. Nowadays,  Verdant Works brings this industry to life, by using a wide range of displays including, interactive computers, original machinery and film shows. This incredible museum was once home to 3 enormous steam engines which powered seventy looms and nearly 3,000 spindles.  There was also 500 people working there, spinning and preparing jute for it to be weaved across the road in a different factory. Restoration of the mill commenced in nineteen ninety two and it opened its doors to the public for the very first time on the sixteenth of September nineteen ninety six.

If you are planning a short break in Dundee you will discover a large amount of online hotels and guest houses offering bed and breakfast in Dundee. You will discover a comprehensive range of Dundee accommodation at http://dundee.hotelreservationhelper.com/

Inverness, the capital of the Scottish Highlands, was granted city status in two thousand and one and at this moment in time is the only Highland city. Strangely Inverness has no statutory boundaries which causes problems with people estimating population. The situation is exaggerated because of the fact that the population of the city is sharply increasing, Inverness has the highest growth rate in Great Britain. One thing we can say for certain is that Inverness has a very content population, Inverness was ranked 5th in a survey taken, by the Telegraph (2008), of 189 UK cities for quality of life. Following on we can say that Inverness is a pretty cool place in which to spend time and this is most probably one of the facts which make the city amazingly popular with tourists. Crucially there is a great deal of Inverness bed & breakfasts with the majority of it being able to be booked online.

Inverness is also often called the gateway to the Highlands of Scotland for the obvious fact that it is best placed to make the most of the Highland public transport system and a large amount of visitor attractions are relatively easy to get to. Probably the best way to reach them is by going on a tour or day trip. A few tour companies visiting places such as, Urquart Castle, Loch Ness or Culloden or for the more adventurous visitor it is possible to visit Orkney and John O’Groats in a single day. It is also possible to go on a small selection of city tours, such as those run by City Sightseeing.

A small amount of visitors stay in two different cities or towns in the Highlands of Scotland as an example Inverness and, later, Fort William. Fort William is more popular with sports people especially ramblers, mountaineers and hill walkers who take their chances getting to the top of Ben Nevis which is only a short distance from the town’s center. In a similar way to Inverness bed & breakfast in Fort William and rather like all bed & breakfast accommodation in Scotland it is commonly cheap, excellent value for money and incredibly tidy, clean and comfortable with the best hospitality.

An important thing to remember is that the airport for Inverness is, roughly, 7 miles away at Dalcross. You can catch a bus or hail a cab to the small and busy airport which is not too expensive. If you will be needing a map of the area then you should get one of the free ones at the tourist office, on Castle Wynd. While you are in Inverness you should make a point to visit Inverness Museum and Art Gallery, Inverness Castle, the ’stone of tubs’ and Mercat Cross especially the Castle Garrison Encounter, a fun interactive experience.

Ever since Inverness became a city Fort William has been the largest town in the Highlands. Fort William is a massively popular tourist center with a great many people arriving to climb or just view Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in Scotland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain. In the article that follows I discuss a small number of different places well worth a visit if you are taking a weekend break in Fort William.

The Thought Invoking West Highland Museum

The West Highland Museum in Fort William was founded in 1922. A group of people from Lochaber wanted to create a museum, about life in the Highlands, for the people of the Highlands. The current building was purchased in 1926 from the British Linen Bank, and is situated in Cameron Square, just off the Hight Street. Fascinating and small is how some people describe the museum. The collections in the museum present a fascinating insight into life in the West Highlands throughout the years. Folk from all walks of life are represented, through the superb collections of photograph’s, artefact’s and picture’s

The Historic Old Inverlochy Castle

In fort William there are two Inverlochy Castle’s, the Old Inverlochy Castle and the newer Victorian, chateau-style Inverlochy Castle, constructed in the village of Torlundy (which is now a luxurious hotel). The Old castle was said to have been constructed between 1270-1280, by John “the Black” Comyn, Lord of Badenoch and Lochaber, and chief of the Clan Comyn. Although the castle is in ruins, the layout has not altered much since it was first erected. Lord Abinger made alterations and enhancements to the house, in preparation of a visit by Queen Victoria. Old Inverlochy Castle is still an important part of English and Scottish history, due to the part it played during the Civil Wars of the 1640’s.

The Fascinating Jacobite Steam Train

A trip on the Jacobite Steam Train, is an exciting way to experience the enchanting scenery of the Highlands. The Fort William to the port of Mallaig journey takes one on a magical trip through the glens. One of the most sensational parts of the ride is going across the Glenfinnan Viaduct, which the majority of travelers will be familiar with because of the fact that it was used in the movies of the exploits of Harry Potter and his friends. The 84 mile excursion takes you past Loch Nevis, Loch Morar and Ben Nevis, with a stop in Glenfinnan before reaching Mallaig. There is about an hour and half in which to explore Mallaig, before the return journey, back to Fort William. This journey has repeatedly been described as, one of the Great Railway Journeys of the World.

There is plenty of accommodation in Fort William available to book online but you will find a comprehensive list of hotels in Fort William at http://www.fortwilliamhotelscotland.com/

The city of Stirling has played an important role in the history of Scotland, especially during crucial moments. In and around Stirling has an incredible selection of excellent visitor attractions and a multitude of photographic opportunities. In the following article I introduce three places to visit in Stirling; Stirling Old Town Jail, Stirling Castle and Argyll’s Lodging:

Stirling Castle

Set two hundred and fifty feet above the city of Stirling, and surrounded on 3 sides by shear cliffs is Stirling Castle. The castle is very important in the history of Scotland, there have been several coronations within the castle, including that of Mary Queen of Scots in 1543. The castle was also witness to a violent murder in 1452. The eighth Earl of Douglas was victim to James II in 1452. Stirling Castle is the home of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, although they are, unfortunately no longer garrisoned there. However, the regimental museum of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, can be found within the castle.

Stirling Old Town Jail

The Stirling Old Town Jail we see today is not the first jail in Stirling, for four hundred years, Stirling’s prisoners were secured in the Old Tollbooth Jail. This jail was awfully overcrowded, and smelled dreadful, with 24 prisoners to a cell, and no sanitary facilities. The Tollbooth jail was condemned, due to the inhuman living conditions there, and in 1847 the new jail opened. Although the jail was classed as a custodial jail, from 1888 to 1935, it was also the only military jail in Scotland. Today the Stirling Old Town Jail is a visitor attraction, and was only restored in the 1990’s. As well as guided tours, there is a glass paneled lift that rises to a viewing deck at the top of the jail. From here you is able to look out across the Forth Valley, and gaze upon the Highland mountains.

Argyll’s Lodging

Argyll’s Lodging is found on Castle Wynd, situated in the middle of Stirling and is Scotland’s best existing renaissance house. The house was constructed circa 1630, by Sir William Alexander, originator of Nova Scotia and Viscount Canada. Sir William Alexander who was appointed Secretary of State for Scotland, and was then appointed the first Earl of Stirling. Argyll’s Lodging became the property of the Argyll family on his death and was added to by the ninth Earl in 1666. The rooms which include the dining room, laigh hall, bed chamber and drawing room, have all been restored and furnished, as they would have looked when the ninth Earl lived there, around 1680.

If you are considering having a short vacation in Stirling you will find plenty of online Stirling hotels and guest houses and you will discover a huge range at http://stirling.hotelreservationhelper.com/

Perth, the ‘Fair City’ in Scotland an ex royal burgh is situated at the head of the Tay estuary. Between the 12th and 15th centuries Perth vied with Dunfermline to be the capital city of Scotland. In the article below I introduce three places to visit in Perth, Scotland; Scone Palace, Elcho Castle and Huntingtower Castle:

Scone Palace

Today, Scone Palace is the home of the Earls of Mansfield, and a popular attraction to travelers from around the globe. The palace is an integral part of Scotland’s history, as the kings of Scotland were once crowned there. Robert the Bruce was crowned at Scone Palace, in 1306, as well as Charles II when he took possession of the Scottish Crown in 1651. There is a beautiful and mysterious mood to the palace, which is justifiably so.In the past the site served as an important meeting place of the Picts and there was also an early Christian church on the site.

Elcho Castle

Located around 3 miles from Perth, with breathtaking views across the River Tay, is Elcho Castle. Elcho Castle is one of the prime examples of Sixteenth century constructions in Scotland today. The Wemyss family authorized the erection of the castle in the 1570’s. The land had been in the family since 1468, when it was assigned to them by King James III. In 1633, the leader of the family was given the titles of Earl of Wemyss and Lord Elcho. Elcho Castle and it’s lands remained in possession of the Wemyss family until 1929. At this time, the 11th Earl of Wemyss, granted the castle to the nation. The castle has recently been renovated and is now in the hands of Historic Scotland.

Huntingtower Castle

Found just west of Perth is the medieval Huntingtower Castle. Even though the structure is medieval in origin, it has been significantly redeveloped throughout most of it’s history. The Ruthven family were occupiers of the castle and lands from the C12th to the C17th. During this time the castle consisted of 2 separate towers, erected 3 meters apart. When the Murray family took occupancy, later on in the 17th century, they decided to merge the two towers, making the house appear more like a regular country abode. The bridging work between the two towers is still clearly visible today, on both the inside and the outside of the building.

If you are considering having a holiday in Perth you will discover a large selection of online Perth hotels and guest houses and you will discover a huge selection at http://www.perthhotelscotland.com/