Touch down at Glasgow
Airport
May, 2007
posted by
Steven@dtmdeparture.com
Comments:
- On Sunday, May 20th, 2007 Author said...
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After almost a 7hour flight, there is finally a break in the clouds to reveal the rough Western coastline of Scotland about 25,000 feet below. For me, it was coming back home again after a five year hiatus. But just as I'm soaking in the view below trying to decide where we just made landfall, the clouds quickly enveloped the airplane for it's final bumpy decent into Glasgow airport.
It's so nice to step of the aircraft into a blast of cool clean fresh air on the jet way. After winding your way past departure lounges separated from you by glass, you finally descend into passport control. After a quick passport check it's off to the baggage carousel to collect your luggage. All the while our praying your bags aren't taking a vacation of their own to some other airport. Customs at Glasgow airport is as simple as, take the red lane if you have anything to declare, or the green lane for the rest of us- nothing to declare. Smoked glass sliding doors open to reveal a wall of expectant faces, name signs and anxious family members..
After a brief stop to withdraw some British pounds from the ATM, which by the way you can do with your debit card! Just know your PIN and your good to go. This saves on fee's to cash travelers cheques and is far more convenient that searching for a bank (especially on a Sunday). Next, hit the rental car desk, go through the process of sign here, here, here and here, grab the keys, without paying attention to the directions to find the car. So, after about 10 minutes of scratching your head, sheepishly go back in to the terminal and kindly ask them to repeat the directions again. Moments later you are in the car and heading down the M8 motorway towards the Erskine bridge for Loch Lomond. Take a moment before releasing that clutch to orientate your self to driving on the left side of the road. Manual transmission cars are more prominent than automatics, so make sure you advise your car rental company ahead of time, Idealy, at the time of the car reservation.
The first few days in Scotland has me heading North to a village called Ardlui, situated on the North end of Loch Lomond. Loch Lomond is certainly the worlds most famous Loch and has been much written about, both in song and verse. The area is renowned for its beauty and tranquility and offers picture postcard views around every corner. But as we got further North on the Loch, the road we needed veered of the main trunk road and became a 5 mile stretch of white knuckle twists and turns. I'd driven before on Alpine roads, but this was something totally unexpected.
They do say location is everything and the Ardlui Holiday Park certainly has that. Situated right at the Northern tip of Loch Lomond, they command impressive views. Unfortunately, the caravan park we booked into was somewhat of a disappointment. It was built around a marina, but even so, the holiday home park seemed to have seen better days. The Ardlui hotel which was I guess the crown jewel of the holiday park looked very nice, but even begging couldn't get a room at the inn. So it was back to the caravan (mobile home) just a little disappointed, but too tired to care anymore. It was a long long day.
- On Monday, May 21th, 2007 Author said...
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We decided to drive to Inverary for the day. Inverary, situated on the banks of Loch Fyne, is one of the earliest and best preserved planned towns in Scotland. Almost all of the buildings are whitewashed and of a similar architectural period. Inveraray’s current layout dates back to 1650 but the town itself has it's origins around 1453 when the 1st Earl of Argyle built a fortified keep very near the site of the present Inveraray Castle .
Today the town boasts a reasonable range of tourist shops selling the usual highland goodies of shortbread, woolen clothing,tartan rugs and plenty of whiskies. More importantly for the traveler there is a Tourist Information Center, a bank, pharmacist and an excellent fish and chip shop. Grab a bag of fish ad chips and sit down by the banks of Loch Fyne, soak in the view, and the chip fat.
Near by, and within walking distance is a French style castle featuring four imposing French influenced conical spires surmounting the stone castellated towers, this unmistakably Scottish Castle was the first of its size and type to be built (at the time of construction) in what was an extremely remote part of Scotland.
- On Tuesday, May 22nd, 2007 Author said...
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About an hour away from base camp- Ardlui, is the town of Callander in Perthshire. An attractive town situated at the confluence of two rivers and in an area of outstanding natural beauty known as The Trossachs on the edge of the Scottish highlands. Callander has your typical tourist shops on the main street, and the drive to and around the town is breathtaking. The streets at this time of the year are pretty quiet. During peak season the sidewalks are clogged with tourists. About a 45 minute drive from Callender is the small town of Aberfoyle nestled in the Perthshire countryside. Aberfoyle has a selection of arts and crafts shops with a rather large Scottish store selling everything imaginable that is well....Scottish.
Today was a special day. Not only was it last day in the Highlands before heading South, there was a birthday girl in the group. We decided to celebrate with a meal at the Drovers Inn. Built in 1709, this restaurant / hotel which still functions today serving excellent meals with an atmosphere of old Scotland. At any moment you might expect Rob Roy to come in to the lounge where an open fire and melting candles on tables provide the majority of the light and ambience.
- On Wednesday, May 23rd, 2007 Author said...
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So it was time to leave Ardlui behind and head South towards the village of Ballantrae located on the South West corner of Scotland, a small fishing village on the cosat by the Irish sea. Our residence for the balance of the trip, my Mum and Dads house. The day was pretty much shot driving. After hitting some heavy rain on the waysouth which delayed my time of arrival in Ballantrae. But that was okay, soon I'd be at my old house again.
- On Thursday, May 24th, 2007 Author said...
- From Ballantrae we decided to visit the Mull of Galloway and Scotland's
most Southerly point, about an hour away from may parents home. The drive
takes you through some delightful coastline which boasts many pretty little
ports like Port Logan and Drummore, with stunning cliff top views from
the nearby Mull, across to the Isle of Man and the Irish coast. The lack
of industry and manufacturing has kept the area un spoilt and unpolluted,
which adds to its attraction for both wildlife and visitors alike. It
is an area steeped in history – the Kirkmadrine stones are among the oldest
Christian artifacts in Scotland.
- On Friday, May 25th, 2007 Author said...
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Nursing a cold and feeling pretty miserable didn't dampen the desire to head to Kirkudbright for the day. Established as a Royal Burgh in 1455, Kirkcudbright has always been supported by a busy fishing trade. Behind the harbor the streets have housed generations of creative artists, a tradition maintained today by a flourishing colony of painters and craft workers. This has led to it being called "The Artists' Town" Other well known features of the town are the pastel colored houses and wide streets. There is a wide selection of mainly family owned shops where almost everything can be got, and parking is free all over town.
- On Saturday, May 26th, 2007 Author said...
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Lazy day today. With still feeling under the weather. We decided to go down to the Ballantrae beach for a stroll and some beach combing. This stretch of beach always gets allot of flotsam and jetsam. But todays finds where only well worn pieces of colored glass and stones. Time to go back to he house for a cup of tea.
- On Sunday, May 27th, 2007 Author said...
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Portpatrick is a stunningly attractive village wrapped around a fascinating harbor, and well worth the trip wherever you are coming from. Portpatrick's origins stretch back some 500 years. Just south of the village is the cliff top location of the ruins of Dunskey Castle, dating back to the early 1500s, while in the village itself the roofless remains of the Old Parish Church are attached to a circular tower also dating back to the 1500s. Toady, it hosts a number of craft shops and plenty of hotels serving fine pub meals.
- On Monday, May 27th, 2007 Author said...
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Time to journey back North to Glasgow Airport for the flight home. Glasgow Airport check-in times are notoriously slow! I've traveled through this airport many times and each time there seems to always be "computer problems" Who cares, I'm leaving Scotland, they can take there good time about it.
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