The Glengoyne Highland Single Malt distillery, just a thirty-mile drive from the city and set among the hills of Campsie, is well worth a visit. Established in 1883, the distillery has a fascinating history that will keep you amused for hours. It is found on the A81 between the towns of Killearn and Strathblane.
A drive from Glasgow to the western coast, a pleasure in itself, will give you the opportunity to make the short trip to the islands of The Hebrides. Comprising two main groups, the Outer and Inner Hebrides, the islands have a fascinating history that dates back to the Mesolithic era. The influence of cultures such as the Norse, the Celtic and the English makes experiencing the diversity of the islands, long regarded a favourite place for artists, a compelling one.
Fortunately, Glasgow is the closest mainland city and the vast majority of the islands are reachable via ferry. The Northern Lights are visible from the islands on a fairly frequent basis.
No visit to this part of Scotland will be complete without taking the trip to Loch Ness for some monster-spotting. While the loch is actually the second largest in the country (after Loch Lomond), it is of course most famed for its mythological inhabitant, Nessie.
At nearby Drumnadrochit you will find the Loch Ness Centre and Exhibition, which has a wealth of information on the natural and legendary history of the loch. There are also various boats trips available that give visitors the opportunity to search for the monster themselves. The loch is about four hours drive from Glasgow Airport.
Made famous by ex-Beatle and resident Paul McCartney, the Mull of Kintyre remains one of the most beautiful spots in the whole of Britain. Located at the tip of southwest Scotland's Kintyre Peninsula, the Mull of Kintyre lies around 10 miles from Cambeltown and features the famous Mull of Kintyre Lighthouse.
From the Mull, visitors can make out the Antrim coast of Northern Ireland and even Malin Head in the Republic of Ireland on clear days. The Mull can be reached from Glasgow via the A78 to Ardrossan before taking ferries to Brodick and then to Claonaig.
Making the short trip to Stirling will be well worth the effort just for the castle alone. Regarded as one of the most significant and largest castles in Scotland, Stirling Castle is located at the top of Castle Hill and is surrounded by steep cliffs on all sides. Partly dating from the early fourteenth century, the castle has a long and fascinating history that includes the crowning of Mary Queen of Scots. It is also said to be haunted by one of Mary's servants. Stirling is just 36 miles (45 minutes) from Glasgow Airport and can be reached via the M80.
