Background - Couple from NZ based in London. However, my NZ-based mother-in-law is going to be back in her home town with her sisters (we call them the scottish grannies) near Glasgow over Easter.

But I don't want to waste a trip to Scotland just drinking tea and chatting (as much as I love my MIL and her sisters) when I could be seeing stuff!

Even though we have seen quite a lot of Scotland we have not seen much around Glasgow and south.

Does anybody have ideas for gran-friendly (3 of them!) day trips. We will have a rental car.

Thanks for your help!

Hi, A visit to Pollok Park at Easter is a lovely time to see the lushness of this very fine area in the Southside of Glasgow. A must whilst there is the lovely pantry tearoom in Pollok House which has been painstakingly restored to its finest glory days. Also within the park is the Burrell Collection Museum (both of which are FREE ENTRY),which houses the famous donations betrothed to the city by Sir William Burrell. I would also suggest a trip to Loch Lomond which is 40mins away by car, it truly is a must just to even drink in the scenery. However if drive past the main marina for some 5-7mins a MUST SEE is The Drovers Restaurant, which a fabulous old Scottish Inn with fine home cooking were you are greeted at the door by waiting staff in full Highland Kilt ensembles! Enjoy.......

"Near" Glasgow could cover a lot of area. What town is it?

Anyway - soem other ideas.

- A drive down into Ayrshire -- Culzean Castle, Robbie Burns connections and Crossraugel Abbey. And w/ 3 days you'd have enough time to go farther south into D&G

- A ferry over to Aran for the day or overnight

- A couple of days in the for Loch Lomond, a steamer on Loch Katrine, Rob Roy connections, Callander (nice little town w/ good shopping and a few restaurants etc), Aberfoyle w/ its touristy but actually pretty good Scottish woolen center.

Any of these would be good for the "grannies".

I think the town is called Helensborough.

Thanks for the suggestions - I will look into them all - so I can present a selection of options to the scottish grannies.

Any other suggestions are welcome.

Helensburgh is northwest of Glasgow so The Loch Lomond/Trossachs suggestion would be easier than going south of Glasgow. You MUST go to Hill House. A Charles Rennie Mackintosh-built home managed by the National Trust. It is right in Helensburgh. And the town is just over the hill from Loch Lomond.

Also - Helensburgh is convenient for going to Inveraray and on to Oban

Thanks janisj

I had better get that town name right or I may upset the in laws!! lol
Helensburgh.

- Inveraray & Oban - I presume these are towns - what do you recommend here.

BTW I will be reading my guidebook and research a little.

I'm so annoyed about this!! I was going to tell you that your mother in law would never forgive you if you didn't take her doon the watter onthe Waverley. And the blasted thing doesn't start till the end of May.

Still, you should go to Dunnoon or Rothesay by Ferry. You can sail from Kilchreggan if not Helensburgh

Inveraray is a small town w/ a castle, and the nearby Loch Fyne Oyster Bar/seafood restaurant http://www.lochfyne.com/pages/conten...&RestID=71

Oban is a ferry port/seaside town which is the jumping off spot for trips to the Isles of Mull and Iona, and for the stone circles and such in Kilmartin.

And the Rothesay ferry sheila mentions might be a "must" - probably will bring back girlhood memories.

Maybe you should look at a map of argyl/western Scotland to get your bearings.

I also would suggest a few things in Glasgow itself. The Kelvingrove, a fine old Glasgow institution, reopened this summer after an extensive renovation. The art and artifacts in this museum are well worth a visit, and might bring back some memories for the 'grannies.'

The People's Palace on Glasgow Green does a nice job of telling the history of Glasgow and its residents. The attached glass Winter Gardens include a cafe.

Day trip to the isle of Bute, especially its stately home Mount Stuart - interesting old stuff + contemporary art (phone ahead to arrange to see the installation in the chapel).

The Ayrshire Coast is still possible in a day from Helensburgh, crossing the Erskine Bridge which is about 10 miles west of Glasgow. You could even take this route to Gourock, ferry across to Dunoon then a long scenic drive back to Helensburgh.
In Glasgow the Burrell Collection and Kelvingrove Art Gallery are outstanding if the grannies like that sort of thing. If they are as fond of nostalgia as most Scottish grannies they'll love the People's Palace on Glasgow Green.