Rambles round Glasgow

[Sharon]

http://www.electricscotland.com/history/glasgow/

by Hugh Macdonald c. 1854


Rambles Round Glasgow

Preface


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IT is almost unnecessary to mention that the series of articles of which the present volume is composed were originally published, with the signature of "Caleb" attached to them, in the columns of the Glasgow Citizen newspaper, where they appeared at intervals during the course of three successive years. The Rambles were written with the intention of conveying to the readers of that journal some knowledge of the principal landscape features of the country within a circle of from eight to ten miles round Glasgow, with a resumé of the Historical, Biographical, and Traditional associations of the various localities included within the scope we have indicated. The district of which Glasgow is the centre, while it possesses many scenes of richest Lowland beauty, and presents many glimpses of the stern and wild in Highland landscape, is peculiarly fertile in reminiscences of a historical nature. In the latter respect, indeed, it is excelled by few localities in Scotland,—a circumstance of which many of our citizens seem to have been hitherto almost unconscious. There is a story told of a gentleman who, having boasted that he had travelled far to see a celebrated landscape on the Continent, was put to the blush by being compelled to own that he had never visited a scene of superior loveliness which was situated upon his own estate, and near which he had spent the greater portion of his life. The error of this individual, however, is one of which too many are guilty. We have thousands amongst ourselves who can boast of their familiarity with the wonders of other lands, yet who have never traced the windings of the Clyde, the Cart, or the Kelvin, and who have never dreamed of visiting the stately ruins of Bothwell, or of penetrating that sanctum of Gothic magnificence, the crypt of our own venerable Cathedral! To such parties we would say, that admiration, like charity, should begin at home; and that there are many things of beauty and of interest to be met with in the course of a brief ramble among the environs of our own city.

To those who may desire to familiarize themselves with the topographical features, the historical associations, and the antiquarian remains of the country round Glasgow, the present volume will, it is hoped, prove in some respects a useful companion and guide. The information which it embodies is the harvest of many a pleasant excursion through woods and fields, of many a delightful research among curious old tomes and chronicles of the past. Its composition was, in truth, a labour of love. Daring the peregrinations to which it had many valued friendships, many genial acquaintanceships were formed; and the best wish which we can frame for the readers who may honour us by following in our footsteps is, that they may everywhere experience as much civility, as much kindness, and as much hospitality as fell to our own share. Should such be the case, reader and author will alike have pleasure in the remembrance of RAMBLES ROUND GLASGOW.

H. M'D.
92 John Street, Bridgeton.
July 26, 1854.

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Could be the basis of some good...gotto say it in the spirit ....rambles!!

Time to dig out the bobble hats and plus fours??

[Ronnie]

Yes, yes, yes (as Molly Bloom once said).

There are lots of reprints of this book in the second hand book shops for a few quid.

Sign me up.

Another great source of strolls is From Glasgow's Treasure Chest, written by James Cowan in the 1940s, and originally published as articles in the Evening Citizen under the name Peter Prowler (ahem!).

Best, Ronnie

[Sharon]

Its a nice fat round 150 years since Hugh did his walks, so it seems like a good time to walk them again.

And wouldn't it be nice to do a contemporary write up of the walks now?

Although we'd be hard pushed to match Hughs wonderfully descriptive style.