DESTINATION:
Glasgow, Edinburgh and the Borders
In the field of art and architecture Glasgow and Edinburgh are innovative and culturally rich cities. In Glasgow, although little survives of the medieval town centre, it is the building work carried out from the Victorian period onwards that has come to define the cityscape and give Glasgow its very particular architectural style. From Alexander Thomson, famed for the introduction of classical elements to the Glaswegian style, to the lauded Charles Rennie Mackintosh, who was so crucial in the development of the Art Nouveau movement, there is a huge amount to explore.
Edinburgh, on the other hand, has long guarded its heritage and as such it is still possible to view the new alongside the old. Edinburgh's ancient town, including the famous Castle, were originally confined within a high wall, and therefore built to dizzying heights. Well ahead of its time when it was begun in 1767 to designs by James Craig, Edinburgh's New Town belongs to the same noble Georgian period of architecture as Bath and Dublin. The gracious streets and squares exude an air of 18th century comfort and affluence with neo-Classical architecture including work by the famous Adam family such as the Georgian House on Charlotte Square.
Recommended duration – Glasgow and Edinburgh can be visited as single destinations but, depending on the focus of the tour, an itinerary combining visits in both cities can offer a wider ranging and more diverse programme. As a single destination a tour can be operated on 3 nights. A combination of both cities would require a minimum of 4 nights.
KEY VISITS (Recommended)
GLASGOW
- GLASGOW CATHEDRAL – the present building was consecrated in 1197 and has been an active place of worship ever since. Unusually, it belongs to the Crown and is maintained and cared for by Historic Scotland.
- HUNTERIAN ART GALLERY & MACKINTOSH HOUSE – collections feature paintings by Whistler and several turn-of-the-century ‘Glasgow Boys’ such as Horne, Guthrie, Walton and Mann, whose loud colours and radical themes were the first challenges to Edinburgh’s cultural supremacy.
- HOUSE FOR AN ART LOVER – an extraordinary building designed by Mackintosh in 1900 for an international competition but only fully completed in 1996. Some of Mackintosh’s finest interiors have been created using the skills of Scottish craftspeople.
- WILLOW TEA ROOMS – the most complete remaining example of a Mackintosh tearoom with interesting reproduction furniture.
- KELVINGROVE ART GALLERY and MUSEUM – constructed for the Glasgow International Exhibition of 1901 although the origins of the collection go back to 1834. Extensively restored to its original splendour it now houses over 8,000 exhibits.
- HILL HOUSE – Mackintosh’s domestic masterpiece, and the largest house designed by the architect. Hill House is currently undergoing a lengthy restoration project which began in June 2019.
- BURRELL COLLECTION – an astonishing array of treasures amassed by Sir William Burrell, a wealthy ship owner, which includes medieval stained glass, stone arches, Flemish tapestries, oriental jades, embroideries, carpets, Degas pastels and paintings and drawings from the 15th to 20th centuries. Currently under restoration.
- POLLOK HOUSE – built in 1752 and displaying furniture from the Glasgow Museums’ collections and one of the finest collections of Spanish paintings in Britain, including works by Goya and El Greco, and other European Masters such as William Blake.
- DUMFRIES HOUSE – ancestral home of the Marquis of Bute, this Palladian mansion was constructed in the mid-1700s to designs by the brothers, John, Robert and James Adam and is today renowned for its unique collection of eighteenth century rococo furniture.
- DRUMLANRIG CASTLE (Dumfries) – built more than 300 years ago by William Douglas, 1st Duke of Queensberry, and one of the finest examples of late 17th century Renaissance architecture. It houses one of Scotland’s finest private art collections, furniture, silver and tapestries.
- STIRLING CASTLE – where many important events from Scotland’s past took place and an excellent example of Renaissance architecture.
- ARGYLL’S LODGING – Scotland’s finest 17th century townhouse just outside the walls of Stirling Castle. It was built as the residence for a great nobleman serving the royal court and houses precious painted decorations and wonderful period furniture.
EDINBURGH
- SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT BUILDING – constructed in 1999 to innovative designs by Enric Miralles to house the Scottish Parliament, using a mixture of steel, oak and granite.
- SCOTTISH NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY – the gallery is a grand, neo-gothic palace in red sandstone which sits proudly on the city’s skyline. Following a dramatic refurbishment, the Gallery now offers 17 new displays each exploring different aspects of the story of Scotland and her people including portraits of famous historical figures through to more recent pioneers in science, sport and the arts.
- HOLYROOD HOUSE – the Queen’s official residence in Scotland. Situated at the end of the Royal Mile in the shadow of Arthur’s seat this baroque palace is closely associated with Scotland’s turbulent past and perhaps best known as the home of Mary, Queen of Scots.
- QUEEN’S GALLERY – which hosts a programme of changing exhibitions from the Royal Collection.
- NATIONAL GALLERY OF SCOTLAND – home to Scotland’s greatest collection of European painting and sculpture from the Renaissance to Post-Impressionism.
- NATIONAL MUSEUM OF SCOTLAND – opened in 2016, it houses ten ambitious new art, design and science galleries containing over 3,000 items, many of which are displayed for the first time in a generation.
- ROYAL YACHT BRITANNIA – one of the world’s most famous ships. Launched in 1953, it proudly served Queen and country for 44 years, sailing over one million miles in the course of Royal duty.
ALTERNATIVE VISITS
GLASGOW
- RIVERSIDE MUSEUM – the new home of Glasgow’s Transport Museum. Located in a much acclaimed building designed by Zaha Hadid, the exhibition space encompasses not only previous exhibits displayed in the former Transport Museum but also charts Glasgow’s maritime history.
- ARDGOWAN HOUSE – a late 18th century property which has been owned by the Shaw Stewart family for over 600 years, located in a wonderful position overlooking the Firth of Clyde. The landscaped parkland was laid out by James Ramsay in 1797 and the interiors furnished by Gillows of Lancaster using artefacts collected on successive Grand Tours.
- CULZEAN CASTLE – dating from the 1560s it was transformed in the 18th century into a neoclassical mansion.
- LOCH LOMOND – part of the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, there are footpaths and cycle trails and the ancient village of Luss, with its stone cottages.
EDINBURGH
- BOWHILL HOUSE – built in 1708 by Lord Bowhill and completely remodelled in 1812, it is home to a superb series of family portraits by artists such as Gainsborough and Reynolds and fine landscapes by Claude and Ruysdael as well as an exceptional Canaletto of London, which form part of the Buccleuch Collection, one of the greatest private art collections in the world.
- JUPITER ARTLAND – a contemporary sculpture garden, set in the 80 acre woodland grounds of Bonnington House. Included within the permanent collection are works by international sculptors Anish Kapoor and Antony Gormley, alongside specialist commissions by Ian Hamilton Finlay, Andy Goldsworthy and Charles Jencks among others.
- GLAMIS CASTLE – the castle stands in extensive grounds and is home to the Earls of Strathmore and Kingshorne. It has been a royal residence since 1372 and Her Majesty the Queen Mother lived here during her childhood.
- SCONE PALACE & GROUNDS (Perth) – the Palace is the home of the Earl and Countess of Mansfield and boasts an illustrious past. It was the centre of the ancient Celtic Church 1500 years ago and it has been the seat of Parliament, and the site of the coronation of Kings, including Macbeth, Robert the Bruce and Charles II. The State Rooms house an excellent collection of various objets d’art including items of Marie Antoinette, paintings by Sir David Wilkie, Sir Joshua Reynolds and Johann Zoffany, and a fine collection of porcelain.
- CULROSS PALACE – (National Trust for Scotland) – built between 1597 and 1611 for Sir George Bruce, the palace allows the visitor to relive domestic life of the 16th and 17th centuries. A visit can also include Culross Abbey, founded in 1217. It is now in ruins but the monk’s choir forms the present parish church. There is also a medieval terraced garden.
- DALMENY HOUSE – a Gothic revival mansion which has been aptly described as one of the greatest treasure houses of Scotland as it boasts superb collections of porcelain, tapestries and fine paintings by Gainsborough, Raeburn, Reynolds and Lawrence together with the exquisite Mentmore Rothschild collection of 18th century French furniture.
FURTHER AFIELD
BORDERS
- FLOORS CASTLE – located within the heart of the Scottish Border country, this castle houses an outstanding collection of 17th and 18th century furniture, magnificent tapestries, Chinese and European porcelain and many other works of art. The extensive parkland and gardens overlook the River Tweed and provide a variety of wooded walks.
- PAXTON HOUSE – designed by John and James Adam and built between 1758 and 1762, the house boasts an outstanding collection of Chippendale furniture, a fine collection of regency furniture and the largest picture gallery in a Scottish country house, which often has works on loan from the National Galleries of Scotland.
- MELLERSTAIN HOUSE – one of Scotland’s finest stately homes, Mellerstain is an outstanding Georgian mansion set in acres of parkland and a unique example of Adam design, housing a fine art collection including paintings by Aikman, Gainsborough, Ramsay and van Dyck, as well as period furniture, china and embroidery collections.
- ABBOTSFORD HOUSE – the former home of Sir Walter Scott, built with the proceeds of his phenomenal literary career and in which he gathered a large library, a collection of ancient furniture, arms and armour, and other relics and curiosities, especially those connected with Scottish history.