Glasgow, Dundee and trekking up to Loch Brandy

Glasgow

There is nothing much of interest in the southern part of Scotland. As we drove through Northern England we didn't even realise we had crossed the border until we figured we had to be because Glasgow was getting so close.

Then suddenly before we knew it we were in Glasgow, Scotland's largest (and Britain's third largest) city. Glasgow is beautiful and vaguely reminded us of a smaller and older version of Melbourne. Plagued by an extremely high crime rate, Glasweigens have attempted to turn their city into Scotland's most modern to catch up with the booming popularity of nearby rival, Edinburgh.


A busy Glasgow thoroughfare


The Royal Concert Hall


Glasgow really reminded us of Melbourne


We ate our packed lunch in Glasgow which we had made before we left our hostel in Shap


Bagpiping buskers in Glasgow


Dundee and Glen Clova

That afternoon we arrived in Dundee, where we would be staying for a few days with my friend Elodie and her boyfriend Colin. Elodie is French and since it had been a few years since we had seen each other, I wasn't prepared for the Scottish accent I heard on the other end of the phone when I called! A French/Scottish accent is a strange thing.

Elodie and Colin's apartment was right in the city centre with a prime view of the River Tay.


View from the apartment in the evening and the view at night.

To kickstart our Scottish adventures, Elodie cooked us up some traditional Scottish quisine - haggis and oatcake. For the uninitiated, haggis consists mainly of sheep's heart, liver and lungs usually boiled in the animal's stomach. For the most part it tasted like pate´.


I sample the fine Scottish dish

The next day Elodie took us on our first Scottish hike. We drove about an hour to Glen Clova, one of the five Highland glens in the western portion of the Angus region of Scotland, before we started on what has to be one of the most scenic walks we have ever done.


The hills were covered in heather


The girls on the trail


The view as we climbed


We finally arrived at our destination, the beautiful Loch Brandee


Pure fresh Loch goodness!


Candice and Sally


Ahhh, Scotland!


More amazing views


The crew: Elodie, Sally, Nat, Candice

Dundee is Scotland's fourh-largest city. Like most cities in Britain, Dundee is beautiful and full of history. Here are some snapshots:


Sadly, this old church has now been turned into an Islamic Education Centre


The city centre


Desperate Dan


Sally and Candice discover Primark, mecca for cheap clothes!

Finally I sampled a taste of that good old Scottish family restaurant:-

McDonalds!

Funnily enough that night we watched the movie Braveheart on TV. Fitting, since we were actually in Scotland.


Sally, Candice and Colin hanging out

We left Dundee early the next morning to do some more Scottish driving. This time, all the way to the highlands! But we'll leave you with this interesting specimen we spotted in front of us:-


The number plate says it all

For more pictures of Glasgow and Dundee visit:- http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=52901&l=3e65a&id=681501850

The Lake District

Together with Rachel and Sally we left the city and drove North towards the Lake District, arguably one of England's most beautiful areas. The Lake District, encompassing several rural towns in Northwest England has long been a popular holiday destination and is famous for its mountains (fells).

The Lakes were a source of inspiration for many famous 19th century poets and authors such as William Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter.


The main street of Kendal


We had lunch in this park in Kendal. You can see castle ruins on the hill through the arch

We stayed at the New Ing Lodge, a haphazardly-run hostel in the village of Shap. The weather was rather dismal but it added an air of "cosyness" about it all.


Our hostel was in an old farm building (hundreds of years old)

Despite the rain, we managed some interesting walks to see what the area had to offer.


Sally, Rachel and I (Nat) trekking by Lake Ullswater


We weren't alone


Lake Ullswater


Trekking up a hill in Windemere


View of Lake Windemere from the summit


An unintentional arty pose


The girls at the ruins of Penrith Castle in Penrith


Britain: contrasts between old and new


Penrith Castle


The town of Penrith which lent its name to a suburb of Sydney

At this point we bid goodbye to Rachel who had to go back to Birmingham. Sally, Candice and I continued North towards Scotland in our trusty little rental car.

For more photos of the lake district visit http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=52892&l=02481&id=681501850