Glasgow Vacations And Charles Rennie Mackintosh

Scotland is an incredibly popular place to visit and one of the most exciting cities to visit is Glasgow. Glasgow has a vast array of visitor attractions covering an enormous diversity in tastes. While there are many modern attractions many people visit the city to take in the sights of the city’s spectacular architecture including the many works of the famous Art Nouveau architect and designer Charles Rennie Mackintosh.

Charles Rennie Mackintosh was born in Glasgow in 1868. He worked as an architect from the age of 16 and in 1890 he was a winner of the Alexander Thomson Travelling Studentship which allowed him to take a tour of Italy. After he returned, in 1893, he gained his first big project, the Glasgow Herald Building.

Around Glasgow you will see many Charles Rennie Mackintosh buildings and of special note is the breathtaking Glasgow School of Art which is considered his very finest work. Another couple of places well worth visiting are the House for an Art Lover and Hill House (in Helensburgh). Two other places associated with Mackintosh are the lighthouse and Queens Cross Church which I look at in more detail below.

The Lighthouse

The Lighthouse is Scotland’s Centre for Architecture, Design and the City, and opened as part of Glasgow’s status as UK City of Architecture and Design in 1999. The renamed building, originally housed the offices of the ‘Glasgow Herald’ newspaper, and was remodelled by Charles Rennie Mackintosh in 1893-95. This was Mackintosh’s first design, for a major public building. One of the most stunning features of The Lighthouse is the view over Glasgow City from the Mackintosh Tower, which is accessible via a helical staircase from the third floor. There is also another modern viewing platform, which forms the buildings sixth floor, and is only accessible via a lift.

Queens Cross Church

Glasgow’s Queens Cross Church, though no longer an active church, is famous for being the only church ever designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh that was completed. Many people know it as the Mackintosh church and it first came into use in 1899 and was decommissioned in the 1970′s. It is now open to the public and home to the Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society.

One could hardly visit Glasgow without taking the time to visit the incredible medieval Glasgow Cathedral. With the majority of stonework dating back to the 13th and 14th centuries it is the only surviving (the Scottish Reformation) complete example of a cathedral from this period in Scotland. Though the main work was not completed until the 15th century most of the work after this was restoration work except for the wonderful stained glass windows which are superb examples from the 20th century.

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Taking A Cultural Vacation In Glasgow

It is a great shame that the majority of visitors to Edinburgh (the capital city of Scotland and the nation’s top vacation destination) fail to visit the wonderful city of Glasgow which is only a short distance away.

The number of people taking city breaks and weekend breaks in Glasgow is increasing each year but the majority of visitors are arriving to enjoy the city’s fantastic nightlife. Below I shall introduce you to three of the multitude of places to visit if your tastes are more cultural.

The Glasgow School of Art: The building was originally founded in 1845 as the Glasgow Government School of Design, but in 1853 the school changed it’s name to The Glasgow School of Art. Originally it was located at 12 Ingram Street, but moved in 1869 to the McLellan Galleries. In 1897 work began on a new building to house the school on Renfrew Street. It was this new building that Charles Rennie Mackintosh designed, which was completed in 1909. The school actually spreads across 10 buildings, and it is The Mackintosh Building, or ‘The Mac’, as it is affectionately known, that is the heart of the campus. The Mackintosh Building also houses the Mackintosh gallery, which holds many different exhibitions throughout the year.

The Hill House: The Hill House was designed and built for the publisher, Walter Blackie and his family, in 1902-1904. The house nestles high above the Clyde Estuary, in the picturesque Victorian town of Helensburgh, about 30 minutes drive from Glasgow, close to Loch Lomond. The Hill House is considered to be one of Charles Rennie Mackintoshs finest examples of domestic architecture, and most famous works of art, second only to Glasgow School of Art. Mackintosh also designed most of the interior rooms, furniture and other fixtures and fittings. Mackintoshs wife, Margaret Macdonald played an integral part in the lavish project and produced the fabric designs and a customised panel spanning the fireplace in the drawing room.

The Museum of Transport: The Glasgow Museum of Transport Technology is located in the Kelvin Hall, opposite the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in the West End of Glasgow City. Kelvin Hall was built in 1927, and originally used as an exhibition centre. In 1987 the use was converted to house the Museum of Transport and the Kelvin Hall International Sports Arena. It one of the most popular museums of transport in the UK attracting 500,000 visitors a year. The museum houses many exhibits of national and international importance. All forms of transport are featured, from horse-drawn vehicles to fire engines, from motorcycles to caravans, even toy cars and prams.

So there you have it, three world class cultural visitor attractions in Glasgow. So next time you are planning a vacation in Scotland why not consider this interesting city as a base. One word of warning though, book your hotel or accommodation early as there are periods when it is difficult to find vacancies.

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Vacation In The Highlands Of Scotland

Over on the west side of Scotland, on the very north west fringe of Europe, you will find the dramatic Scottish Highlands. The reason this part of the world is so dramatic is the compound effect of massive geological shifts and the actions of glaciers, weather and man. Staggering mountain scenes are brought to a stunning climax when the sun sets, when the sky can become all manner of shades of reds, yellows and purples. These factors are just some of the many reasons why the area is such a popular vacation destination. One of the busiest towns in the Highlands is Fort William which could be described as the area’s outdoor capital.

When you first arrive at the largest town in the Highlands, Fort William, you will most probably be driving along the main road which replaced the seafront many years ago. Thankfully the town’s High Street has kept some of it’s character but most visitors to Fort William are not really here for the town, they are here to indulge in all manner of outdoor sports in the surrounding area. Top of the list for most is Ben Nevis the UK’s highest peak which can be seen towering over the town.

While a large number of folk visit Fort William to tackle the heights of Ben Nevis, the real beauty of this Munro is that it has a generally easy ascent on one side and a tough one on the other. At the foot of the mountain, in Glen Nevis, there is an excellent information centre where you will find all kinds of information about walking in the area. If you are planning to attempt to reach the summit it is important that you equip yourself accordingly as the weather can change in an instant and snow can appear at any time of the year. It is fact that more people die on Ben Nevis each year than die on Mount Everest.

If you are not the type to go climbing mountains then maybe you will appreciate the more leisurely way in which to see the finest sights of the area, by taking a ride on a steam train from Fort William to Mallaig. The West Highland Railway is said to be the finest most beautiful train journey in the United Kingdom.

For fans of the Harry Potter films a visit to the Highlands of Scotland would not be complete without taking a trip on the Jacobite steam train. The Jacobite is the steam engine used to play the part of Hogwarts’ Express and one of the most recognised parts of the route is over the Glenfinnan Aqueduct which has been rechristened by fans as the “Harry Potter Bridge”.

The Glenfinnan Monument is another view for which you should keep your eye out for. Built in 1815 the monument is a memorial to the cause of the Jacobites, those who fought and died in the 1745 Jacobite rebellion and the raising of the standard by Bonnie Prince Charlie which marked the start of the conflict.

When the steam train reaches Glenfinnan Railway Station it will remain there for about twenty minutes which will give you enough time to take a quick look around the lovely museum in the grade II listed building or grab something to eat in the old dining car which has excellent homemade food.

While you can take the Jacobite steam train to Mallaig one way you can make a whole day of it by returning later that afternoon. There is certainly plenty to make a full day but the main point is to enjoy the most beautiful train journey available in the UK a second time.

Taking Vacations In Swansea

Are you sick of the same old same old when it comes to your annual vacation? Are you looking for somewhere different to visit? Do you want to lounge on a beach in the hot sun or do you want a lively and vibrant city break in a city such as Swansea?

Swansea is a large (the second largest by size of population) city in the small country of Wales in the UK. Located on the coast the city is within short reach of a number of fantastic locations suitable for all manner of vacation. Those in search of a spectacular beach will actually be spoilt for choice with some of the finest beaches in Britain just minutes away.

As well and the breathtaking beaches in the area Swansea has a multitude of tourist attractions which help make it such a popular vacation destination. You have all the bonuses of the open sea together with the awesome countryside minutes away plus all of the modern amenities and entertainment facilities you would expect in a modern city.

Swansea Beaches

Swansea is also the name given the the local county and the region is famous for its many high quality beaches, especially those in Three Cliffs Bay, which is often nominated as the best in the UK. Rhossili Beach and Oxwich Bay also prove highly popular but there are a great many more superb beaches including Mumbles Beach, Caswell Bay, Slade Bay and Blue Pool Bay.

Many tourist flock to the beaches to enjoy the sun or go swimming in the sea. These are fine for families and the like but for the thrill seeker Swansea Bay may be more suitable. The bay is used extensively for all manner of water sports, primarily sailing but also popular are water skiing, surfing, wind surfing and virtually every other type of water sport.

Other Attractions

As mentioned you will find modern entertainments such as the cinema and the likes. If you want something a bit more cultural then there are a few superb museums to visit, the the National Waterfront Museum is highly popular. If you are interested in Dylan Thomas then a visit to the Dylan Thomas Centre is a must but you may also want to visit the park in which he played as a child (Cwmdonkin Park). If you want lively nightlife then head to Wind Street where you will find plenty of bars, pubs, clubs, restaurants etc.

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