Glasgow Gallivanting: December 2024

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The Unthanks in Winter: our last concert of the year, City Halls 1/12/24

December, unsurprisingly, was another busy month. We had the usual round of Christmas lunches and dinners and went away for Christmas itself – but more of that later. What did I find around Glasgow during the rest of the month?

It seems, looking back, that the weather was nearly always cold, windy, foggy, or wet – or any combination of the four. Before Christmas, for example, we had a very eerie canal walk just at the time that the Stockingfield Bridge was lighting up for the evening. Bella the Beithir was looking lovely as usual.

Bella at dusk
Stockingfield Bridge at dusk

After Christmas, we did the same walk in reverse in the rain, which had its own charm. Looking down from the aqueduct, even Maryhill Road looked pretty.

Stockingfield Bridge at dusk
Maryhill Road from the aquaduct

Still by the canal, we found another new (to us) sculpture at Claypits Nature Reserve, Aspiration.

Aspiration at Claypits

The River Kelvin also had gifts for us: a kingfisher sitting patiently while several people stopped to take its picture, and another of the mysterious GlaIKIT signs which tell of forgotten events in Glasgow’s history, in this case the strange story of Sir Tristan Farquhar and the Kelvinside Kelpie. I think we’ll take that with a pinch of salt!

Kingfisher
The strange story of Sir Tristan Farquhar and the Kelvinside Kelpie

There were some beautiful reflections, and a self-care heart on the part of the riverside path nearest to us.

Indoors, I visited Kelvingrove twice, once for a Christmas Market and once for a very touching exhibition in the small Community Gallery called Boxes of Hope. Ten refugee and asylum seeking women each created a decorated box containing an object which symbolises hope to her. One woman chose a bicycle because she came from a country where women weren’t allowed to ride bikes. Joining a cycling group gave her new confidence and hope. Another chose baby clothing in the hope that she could be reunited with her children. There were also some posters with stories about what hope looks like. I particularly liked the one that featured the library.

Christmas Market at Kelvingrove
Libraries give hope
Nahla’s pedals of hope
Zeinab’s baby clothing

Glasgow University’s ARC building had an exhibition about pantomime in Scotland. Oh yes it did!

Stanley Baxter
Jack Milroy?

Back outdoors, the cyclist kept cycling. Sometimes he got a bit of sunshine.

Near Neilston
Near Neilston

Sometimes he got a bit of mist – but he always seemed happy.

Campsie Glen
Campsie Glen

Also happy were the penguins who clearly had fun at Christmas.

Christmas
Christmas
Christmas

And so did we! We stayed for a week in the old Coach House at Drummond Castle. Our apartment was beautifully decorated and we certainly appreciated the Christmas themed welcome pack, complete with Prosecco. While there we were able to access the castle grounds and gardens, which were absolutely stunning, while also having easy access to other walks in the Perthshire countryside. We had a lovely time.

Our apartment top left
Decorated for Christmas
Christmas Welcome Pack
Castle from the gardens
Gardens from the terrace

There’ll be more to come on Drummond at a later date. In the meantime, all that remains is to thank you all for your friendship in 2024 and to hope that it continues in 2025. Happy New Year!

Scotland, UK , , ,

71 Comments »


  1. Your December was very busy! You managed to get out and about quite a bit despite the dreary weather. I love John’s photos of his bike rides, in the sun and the mist. The Boxes of Hope exhibition looks fascinating as well.

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  7. Hi Anabel – Bella was/is looking rather fetching in the gloom … gosh way too much gloom – but now … who knows what’s coming and I’m down south. The exhibition looked fascinating … while your Christmas at Drummond – what a great idea … Happy New Year and long may the cyclist be cycling and finding some sun – cheers Hilary

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  10. What a wonderful post full of interesting activities. I love the kingfisher and the penguins. The Coach House apartment and the scenery where John biked look beautiful. I look forward to reading more about your stay in Drummond. Happy New Year and best wishes to you and John for a wonderful 2025.

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  12. What a beautiful location to spend Christmas! I like your misty photos of the canal and the riverbank, they’re very evocative. Glad to see the penguins having a grand old time over Christmas. Hope you also had a wonderful Christmas. Wishing you and John all the best for 2025, Happy New Year 🙂

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  16. Well travelled considering the poor weather conditions this month. Years ago the best and most surprising TV at Christmas was The Unthanks. (Rachel and Becky anyway.) going round English rural villages and highlighting all the weird and wonderful winter festivals that still exist to this day. In some cases traditions going back centuries. It was an education and a very interesting programme. Very lucky to see and photograph a static Kingfisher. Bob. BSS.

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  17. What a wonderful post of great activities. I’m not surprised that your December was a busy one. I continue to love seeing the penguins and glad they participated in Christmas fun.

    Our last month has also been VERY wet, but no snow yet, and it has been unseasonably warm, at least for this part of the world.

    Wishing you a wonderful 2025 ahead.

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  19. Something for everyone, Anabel- I like the pantomime dames! And the penguins, of course, and I hope that 2025 will be kind to you and the cycling man. He doesn’t seem to mind the weather.

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  20. Happy New Year to you both! Looks like you spent a lovely Christmas together, nice to be away, even from Glasgow with all it’s interest. I enjoyed the story of Kelvin the Kelpie. No doubt he isn’t around anymore, having been eaten by the giant crocodile 🐊 along with Sir Farquhar. The picture of Bella is a stunner and how nice to find an obligingly still kingfisher. 🙂 x

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  22. Yay for the penguins! And lovely misty photos. Drummond garden is stunning. What a great place for a Christmas break. We popped in to have a wander on our way to Dunkeld in 2016.

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  23. Looks like an interesting month, and to spot a kingfisher along the Kelvin! I used to live on Napiershall Street and loved to walk along the river. I remember rescuing my now husband from a squirrel attack once, but no interesting birds.

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  24. Quite a mixed month but there’s some lovely stuff here. Lucky you seeing the kingfisher, I’ve never seen one yet even though I often walk in places where they live. The gardens at Drummond look lovely even in winter, I’m looking forward to reading all about your Christmas break.

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  25. Your lovely eclectic mixed bag as usual. I love the idea of the Boxes of Hope, and I’m so jealous of your hearing Unthank in the flesh. All this and some good atmospheric walks too! Happy and Healthy New Year!

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  27. How lovely that the kingfisher stayed still long enough to be photographed – they so rarely do! And it was fun seeing the penguins’ Christmas antics of course 🙂 As a one-time librarian I really appreciate you sharing that poster too.

    Drummond looks like a lovely place to spend Christmas, I look forward to hearing more about it. Happy New Year to you both 🎉

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  28. Thanks so much for this, Anabel. I’m collecting bits & bobs for what I hope will be a trip to Glasgow/Edinburgh/Shetland next fall to replace the aborted 2020 trip I’d planned. I’ve added Bella the Beithir and the ARC to the list for Glasgow and will keep my eye out for the penguins.

    Any tips whether ’tis better to go by ferry or air to Shetland in mid-October?

    Cheers to the new year and many more Gallivanter posts!

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    • That sounds a great trip! We have been to Shetland twice, both times by overnight ferry from Aberdeen to Lerwick. We found that more convenient because we could take our own car. That was in summer though – I don’t know what it might be like in October, and I’ve never flown there so can’t comment on flights. Happy New Year to you!

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  30. What a lovely December. I am sorry to have missed you when I ventured north over Christmas, but I did at least spend time with plenty of Kelpies – mine were very friendly ones

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