We had high hopes for breakfast at Faulty Towers #2, but …. how can you screw up muesli and toast?
We were on the road a bit after 9am and headed to The Helix and The Kelpies.
The Helix is a recreational green space created during the upgrade of the canal system at the point where the Forth and Clyde Canal joins the River Carron. The canals through mainland Britain are a legacy from the industrial revolution, where they were used to transport goods throughout the land. These days they are used in the booming canal boat tourism industry, allowing boats of between 17 and 22m long to navigate a vast system that stretches the length and breadth of mainland Britain and Ireland (both of them).
There are about 3500km of canals and in places the canals are big enough to allow the passage of canal boats up to a massive 70m long. In the early days a canal was built in Manchester that allowed canal boats of up to 183m( that’s 600 ft in old measurements) long navigate a section of canal 58km long. These day the majority of canal boats are 2.1m wide x 17m long and they can navigate the entire system at a leisurely maximum speed of 6.4km/hr.
The Kelpies are 30m high sculptures of two horse heads. In Scottish folklore, “Kelpies” are shape-shifting water spirits with the strength and endurance of 100 horses. They were designed by a Scottish artist, Andy Scott as a tribute to Scotland’s and the local areas engineering capabilities, and opened in 2013. They dominate the local landscape and can be easily seen from the adjacent motorway. They are simply magnificent to see. I found it interesting that they have designed the area so that a canal runs directly between the two heads.
From there we drove to Glasgow, did all our washing and then checked into our hotel.
After putting our stuff in our room, we went out for lunch and then onto The Lighthouse, Scotland’s National Design and Architecture Centre. We went there for the view! ? we had read that you could get amazing panoramic views over Glasgow from the top floor. But when we got there the top floor was closed. I noticed that a sign on a wall said L3 Mackintosh Centre / City views. So we went up to L3 and found a spiral staircase leading to the skies, or so it seemed, it was so high. We were game and climbed the 134 steps to the top and were rewarded with an amazing 360 view over the city.
After that we walked back to our accommodation via Glasgow Central Railway Station, an impressive looking building from the outside, not so much on the inside. We then called into the Grand Central Hotel next-door to the station. A very old world looking hotel, with a grand staircase and an enormous chandelier hanging in the void around the staircase.
The walk back was interesting, you can see that this was a city of some wealth in years past, but these days it is looking a bit tired and in need of revitalisation, and a good clean!
Tomorrow we explore more of this city.
Number of Views :1073