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Glasgow North Accommodation
Milngavie and Bearsden, East Dunbartonshire, Near Glasgow
To the North of Glasgow there's a good scattering of attractive towns, some with a cheery village atmosphere. They're good options as bases if you don't like staying within city centres, but still want easy access into Glasgow, and indeed north to the Highlands and east to Loch Lomond and the Trossachs.
Milngavie and Bearsden, both attractive near Glasgow village bases offer easy access into Glasgow city centre, and to Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park.
Milngavie, The West Highland Way & Mugdock Country Park, East Dunbartonshire
Milngavie (pronounced Mill-guy), is situated just 9 km to the north of Glasgow City Centre. Beginning as a medieval village, Milngavie on the banks of the River Allander was once a thriving mill centre, with mills powered by water. The refurbished 17th century flour mill, Gavin's Mill in the town is now a cafe/restaurant situated on Gavin's Mill Road next to Tescos. Tel. 0141 956 2255.
Renowned as a superb walking base, Milngavie is a starting point for joining the West Highland Way trail which weaves its way from Milngavie to Carbeth, and on upto Fort William. The shorter Milngavie to Carbeth stretch is just 5 miles. (see the West Highland Way website right for a full guide on the route). Milngavie is also a bordering town to the huge and stunning Mugdock Country Park, which offers a host of attractions including Mugdock Castle, Mugdock Loch, a Victorian mansion built by antiquarian John Guthrie Smith in 1875 (well worth a visit for its Victorian kitsch value) and things to do in the park include archer, walkng (including history and tree trails), cycling, horse riding, environmental education and various events, films and theatre and shopping/dinnig options. Mugdock Country Park, Craigallian Road, Nr Milngavie, Glasgow. G62 8EL. Tel. 0141 956 6100. (website right for details).
Milngavie also boasts a superb collection of art at the Lillie Art Gallery, Station Road, G62 8BZ. Tel. 0141 5788847 (situated adjacent to Milngavie town hall). You're in for a treat here, with works on show by the Glasgow Boys, and Scottish Colurists including Jessie King. A banker and artist himself, Robert Lillie (1867-1949) left a huge collection of Scottish art to the town, as well as funds to build the gallery. You can view some of Lillie's art here too.
To the east of Milngavie, the Auld Kirk Museum at Kirkintilloch is also well worth a visit. This Old Kirk is a Grade A listed building, and serves as East Dunbartonshire's main museum). For more details on these East Dunbartonshire attractions check the East Dunbartonshire Council weblink right.
Bearsden & Roman Architecture, Roman History, Roman Walls in Scotland
Even closer to Glasgow is Bearsden, just six miles to the north west of Glasgow city centre. Victorian and Edwardian heritage abounds here in Bearsden, known locally as 'The Cross'. Once the site of a Roman fort, Bearsden still bears the traces of its Roman past with a nearby Roman Bath House and Antonine Wall fort justa to the east of Bearsden Cross. Two stretches of the Antonine Wall stone base can be seen on New Kilpatrick Cemetery at Boclair Road.
East Dunbartonshire Council (weblink right) outline a selection of Roman remains in the Bearsden area. The Antonine Wall here dates from around AD143 and was built to serve as a barrier across central Scotland stretching from the Forth near Bo'ness to the Clyde at Old Kilpatrick.
If you're interested in tracing Roman roots and remains in Scotland, then Bearsden makes an excellent base. The Roman Bathhouse near Roman Road is an important Roman archeological site and one of Scotland's most prized ancient monuments.
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