Family Car Trip to Glasgow: 6 Spots to Go Around the City

The largest Scottish city, Glasgow is a great place to spend a vacation or even a short weekend. Do you like traveling with the whole family? Then, taking a 9 seater car hire Glasgow would be a great way to explore the city’s many attractions. A large hire car is the best thing you can think of for easy transportation from place to place. You can walk in local parks, enjoy unique architecture or simply admire the surrounding picturesque landscapes – this will be a great set for total relaxation at any time of the year.

Glasgow has a fairly convenient location. The city is close to the most popular attractions, where everyone will find something to do. So, where to go around Glasgow? Check out some tempting ideas…

Culzean Castle

Culzean Castle is an ancient building on the coast of South Ayrshire, and an important architectural monument of Scotland. The first written mention of the castle dates back to 400 years, but it’s quite possible that it was built much earlier. Today, the infrastructure on the territory of this ancient defensive structure includes museums, restaurants, hotels, and souvenir shops. The premises of the castle can also be hired for weddings or other celebrations.

You can get to the castle from Glasgow by car hire just in an hour. On the territory of the castle, mass events are constantly taking place, for example, traditional pipers’ concerts.

 

Benmore Botanical Garden

 

The garden is nestled amidst spectacular mountain landscapes at the southern tip of Loch Eck. Nowadays it’s part of the Edinburgh’s Royal Botanic Gardens.

Getting there with your hire car includes a ferry crossing, but you can also take a detour – the entire route length from Glasgow is 74 miles. An alley of giant California redwoods, planted in 1863, runs along a long driveway to the house, where you will be rewarded with the opportunity to wander around more than three hundred species of rare plants. 

Another attractive local point is Puck’s Hut, a wooden memorial erected in honor of Isaac Bailey Balfour who had the idea to plant the gardens. If you want to find something else interesting – then set off to the nearby Argyll Forest Park.

 

Loch Lomond and the Western Highlands

Loch Lomond is famous not only for its stunning landscapes, but also for being a center for water sports. In addition, the Highlands offer golf courses on one of the finest plains in Scotland.

You can go for a walk or explore the area by bike or hire car. The highland routes are well marked and won’t let you get lost. You can also take a cruise on the famous lake and enjoy the picturesque scenery from the water. On a 1-day trip, you can visit Kilchurn Castle, Inveraray City and Stalker Castle on Loch Laich.

 

Castle Semple Country Park

Castle Semple Country Park is an excellent place to walk and have fun in nature with the whole family. Here you can stroll through picturesque places and see many of Scotland’s natural attractions, visit an old church, have a picnic, go windsurfing, boating or yachting.

The park is located 20 minutes’ drive from Glasgow, so reaching it in a hire car will be the most convenient and fastest way.

There’s also an exhibition hall. During the tour, you can learn a lot of interesting things from the history of Scotland, about the flora and fauna of these places and not only.

On the territory of the park you’ll find a large tourist center, where you can get all the necessary information about the possibilities of spending leisure time in the park.

 

Snow Factor

Now skiing or snowboarding in Scotland is possible at any time of the year and in any weather, because a modern indoor winter sports park is open all year round in Glasgow. The total length of the slope is 168 meters.

The park is located in Glasgow, 8 miles away from the city center. Getting there is not difficult at all, plus there’s a large parking spot for your car hire.

In the park, everyone will be able to go sledding. Within the walls of the park is a large indoor ice climbing wall, which is equipped for both beginners and experienced climbers.

 

Clyde Valley National Preserve

Clyde Valley National Preserve is an important natural landmark in Scotland. This place is great for hiking any time of the year. Beautiful forests, waterfalls, and winding paths – all this will allow you to take a break from the bustle of the city and touch the nature of Scotland.

This national reserve is located in the city of Carluke, within a 40 minutes’ drive from Glasgow. It offers stunning views of snow-covered mountains in winter, while in summer, in the reserve you can pick berries and mushrooms, as well as watch rare animals and birds.