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Photo of Historic university buildings with a central courtyard.

Photo Michael D Beckwith / Unsplash

Places to explore in and near Glasgow

Scotland's largest city grew rich on the Clyde — tobacco and cotton first, then the shipyards that made 'Clyde-built' a byword for quality — and its Victorian grid of red and blond sandstone still carries that confidence. The green hills press close. The volcanic Campsie Fells rise just north above Campsie Glen and Mugdock Country Park, and within an hour lie Loch Lomond, the wooded braes of the Trossachs and Ben Lomond, the most southerly Munro. The West Highland Way sets off from the northern suburbs toward the mountains.

28 places sit inside Glasgow itself. Beyond the city, 58 places within 25 km — the standouts first, nearest first within each group. 1 is a national icon.

Open the map here

In Glasgow itselfinside the city boundary, nearest first

WEST Brewery

Brewery near Glasgow

German-style brewery, bar and restaurant in the Templeton building on Glasgow Green, brewing to the Reinheitsgebot.

0.3 km W

Photo of Babbity Bowster, a pub in Glasgow, central Scotland.

Babbity Bowster

Pub near Glasgow

Merchant City pub and hotel built on the site of an old monastery, known for folk music sessions and a beer garden.

0.5 km SE

Photo of The Pot Still, a pub in Glasgow, central Scotland.

The Pot Still

Pub near Glasgow

Family-run Hope Street whisky bar stocking hundreds of single malts, a Glasgow classic.

0.5 km NW

St Andrew's Cathedral, Glasgow

Church near Glasgow

Gothic Revival Roman Catholic cathedral on Clyde Street, mother church of the Archdiocese of Glasgow.

0.6 km S

Photo of The Scotia Bar, a pub in Glasgow, central Scotland.

The Scotia Bar

Pub near Glasgow

One of Glasgow's oldest pubs near the river, a low-ceilinged folk and poetry haunt dating from the 18th century.

0.6 km S

Photo of The Clutha, a pub in Glasgow, central Scotland.

The Clutha

Pub near Glasgow

Riverside Stockwell Street music pub, a long-standing Glasgow live-music institution.

0.7 km S

Photo of Glasgow Cathedral, a cathedral in Glasgow, central Scotland.Highlight

Glasgow Cathedral

Cathedral near Glasgow

Medieval cathedral surviving the Reformation.

1 km E

Photo of St Mary's Cathedral, Glasgow, a church in Glasgow, central Scotland.Highlight

St Mary's Cathedral, Glasgow

Church near Glasgow

George Gilbert Scott Gothic Revival Scottish Episcopal cathedral in the West End with a 63-metre spire.

2.1 km NW

Photo of The Ben Nevis, a pub in Glasgow, central Scotland.

The Ben Nevis

Pub near Glasgow

Cosy traditional Finnieston bar known for its whisky range and live trad-music sessions.

2.2 km W

The Hidden Gardens

Garden near Glasgow

Award-winning sanctuary garden behind the Tramway arts venue in Pollokshields.

2.6 km SW

The Clydeside Distillery

Distillery near Glasgow

City-centre single-malt distillery in the former Queen's Dock pumphouse on the Clyde, with tours and a whisky bar.

2.9 km W

Photo of Oran Mor, a pub in Glasgow, central Scotland.

Oran Mor

Pub near Glasgow

Bar, restaurant and venue in a converted West End church at the top of Byres Road, with a Alasdair Gray ceiling mural and 150-plus malts.

3.1 km NW

Photo of The Curlers Rest, a pub in Glasgow, central Scotland.

The Curlers Rest

Pub near Glasgow

Stone-walled Byres Road pub with an open fire, the oldest pub on the street with a history back to the 17th century.

3.1 km NW

Photo of Glasgow Botanic Gardens, a garden in Glasgow, central Scotland.Highlight

Glasgow Botanic Gardens

Garden near Glasgow

West End botanic gardens famous for the Kibble Palace, a Victorian glasshouse of tree ferns and marble sculpture.

3.4 km NW

Govan Old Church

Church near Glasgow

Historic Govan kirk housing the Govan Stones, a nationally important collection of early-medieval carved crosses and hogback stones.

4 km W

Photo of Bellahouston Park, a garden in Glasgow, central Scotland.

Bellahouston Park

Garden near Glasgow

169-acre Southside park with the Sunken Garden, walled displays and the Mackintosh-designed House for an Art Lover.

4.6 km SW

Photo of Tollcross Park, a garden in Glasgow, central Scotland.

Tollcross Park

Garden near Glasgow

East End Victorian park internationally known for its rose garden and restored Winter Gardens glasshouse.

4.6 km E

Photo of Pollok Country Park, a garden in Glasgow, central Scotland.Highlight

Pollok Country Park

Garden near Glasgow

Glasgow's largest park, wooded parkland with walled gardens, Highland cattle, Pollok House and the Burrell Collection.

5.7 km SW

The Glasgow Distillery

Distillery near Glasgow

Independent Hillington distillery making Makar gin and 1770 single malt, with booked tours.

6.9 km W

Crookston Castle

Castle near Glasgow

A medieval castle in Glasgow.

7.2 km SW

Everything else in Glasgow (8) — reserves, earthworks & places to check before travelling

Worth the tripnational icons and local highlights within reach

Photo of Cathkin Braes Country Park, a country park near Eaglesham, South Lanarkshire, southern Scotland.Highlight

Cathkin Braes Country Park

Country park near Eaglesham

Glasgow's highest point at 200m on the city's southern edge, with panoramic views and Commonwealth Games mountain-bike trails.

8 km S

Photo of Paisley Abbey, a church in Renfrewshire, central Scotland.Highlight

Paisley Abbey

Church near Paisley

Great medieval Cluniac abbey founded in 1163, burial place of Marjorie Bruce and the early Stewarts, still an active parish kirk.

10.8 km W

Photo along the John Muir Way, a long-distance trail running from Helensburgh to Dunbar, Scotland.Highlight

John Muir Way

Scotland's Great Trail

A coast-to-coast across Scotland's waist, from Helensburgh to the conservationist's birthplace at Dunbar.

10.8 km NE · spans 9 counties

Photo: Campsie Glen, a viewpoint near Lennoxtown, East Dunbartonshire, central Scotland.Highlight

Campsie Glen

Viewpoint near Lennoxtown

Wooded ravine with waterfalls in the Campsie Fells above Lennoxtown, a popular short walk.

13.2 km N

Photo of Auchentoshan Distillery, a distillery near Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire, central Scotland.Highlight

Auchentoshan Distillery

Distillery near Clydebank

Lowland distillery on the western edge of Glasgow, uniquely triple-distilling all its spirit, with tours 25 minutes by train from the city.

13.5 km NW

Photo of Strathclyde Country Park, a country park near Bothwell, North Lanarkshire, central Scotland.Highlight

Strathclyde Country Park

Country park near Bothwell

Large North Lanarkshire park around a man-made loch with watersports, a Roman bathhouse and Scotland's biggest theme park.

15.5 km SE

Photo of Whitelee Windfarm, a visitor attraction near Eaglesham, East Renfrewshire, central Scotland.Highlight

Whitelee Windfarm

Attraction near Eaglesham

The UK's largest onshore windfarm on Eaglesham Moor, with a visitor centre and 130km of open trails.

17.5 km S

Photo of Chatelherault Country Park, a garden near Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, southern Scotland.Highlight

Chatelherault Country Park

Garden near Hamilton

Five-star country park around William Adam's ornate 1730s hunting lodge, with formal parterres and ancient Cadzow oaks.

18.3 km SE

Photo of Glengoyne Distillery, a distillery near Killearn, Stirling, central Scotland.Highlight

Glengoyne Distillery

Distillery near Killearn

Scenic distillery straddling the Highland Line at Dumgoyne north of Glasgow, unpeated Highland malt with well-regarded tours.

18.4 km NW

Photo of Finnich Glen, a gorge near Croftamie, Stirling, central Scotland.Highlight

Finnich Glen

Gorge near Croftamie

A seventy-foot sandstone slot canyon running blood-red water over a mossy pulpit rock — famous from Outlander, and genuinely dangerous to enter.

21.7 km NW

Photo of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs, a National Park in Scotland.Iconic

Loch Lomond & The Trossachs

National Park near Stronachlachar

Scotland's first national park, where the Highlands begin — bonnie banks, wooded glens and Ben Lomond within reach of Glasgow.

22.4 km NW

Photo of Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park, a visitor attraction near Lochwinnoch, Renfrewshire, central Scotland.Highlight

Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park

Attraction near Lochwinnoch

Scotland's largest regional park spanning Renfrewshire's moors and coast, with a visitor centre at Castle Semple.

24.2 km W

Photo of Loch Lomond, a National Scenic Area in Scotland.Highlight

Loch Lomond

National Scenic Area near Rowardennan

The biggest loch in Britain by area, half Highland and half Lowland, with an easy first hill above Balmaha

24.8 km NW

Also nearbygood places nearby, nearest first

Photo along the Clyde Walkway, a long-distance trail running from Glasgow to New Lanark, Scotland.

Clyde Walkway

Scotland's Great Trail

Forty miles up the River Clyde from central Glasgow to New Lanark and the Falls of Clyde

0.7 km SW · South Lanarkshire, North Lanarkshire & Glasgow

Photo of the Forth & Clyde Canal, a 35-mile canal running from Grangemouth to Bowling, central Scotland.

Forth & Clyde Canal

Canal

Scotland's coast-to-coast canal of 1790, reopened in 2001 and turned by the Falkirk Wheel and the Kelpies into modern landmarks.

1.1 km N · spans 5 counties

Photo along the Forth & Clyde and Union Canal Towpath, a long-distance trail running from Bowling to Edinburgh, central Scotland.

Forth & Clyde and Union Canal Towpath

Scotland's Great Trail

Sixty-six miles of canal towpath coast to coast across central Scotland, from Bowling on the Clyde to Edinburgh

3.9 km NW · spans 7 counties

Rouken Glen Park

Garden near Giffnock

Historic 143-acre park south of Glasgow with a walled garden, waterfall and glen walks.

7.9 km SW

Bearsden Roman bath-house

Frontier wall near Milngavie

Bearsden Station,Roman bath-house 400m NE of

8.1 km NW

Barshaw Park

Garden near Paisley

Popular Paisley public park with a walled sensory garden, boating pond and a rare-breeds animal corner.

9.2 km W

Greenbank Garden

Garden near Clarkston

National Trust for Scotland 2.5-acre 18th-century walled garden at Clarkston with over 3,600 plant species.

9.3 km S

Photo along the West Highland Way, a long-distance trail running from Milngavie to Fort William, Scotland.

West Highland Way

Scotland's Great Trail

Scotland's classic walk — from the edge of Glasgow along Loch Lomond and over Rannoch Moor to the foot of Ben Nevis.

9.9 km NW · spans 4 counties

Mugdock Country Park

Garden near Milngavie

270-hectare country park on Milngavie's edge with a walled garden, two castles, loch and woodland trails.

10 km NW

Everything else within 25 km (36) — reserves, earthworks & places to check before travelling

Ordered by how far each place is worth travelling for, then by distance. Distances are straight-line to the nearest edge of each place — paths wind, of course.