Hidden Glasgow 1. The Green City

Yay my very first Hidden Glasgow post!

One of the first things I noticed when we moved here is the amount of green space in and around the city centre, it's quite amazing really. So that's my first surprise.

Even though a lot of people live in tenements (now usually quite posh, large and very expensive) they have access to free, sprawling green areas. Pollok Park (photo ^Highland Cattle at Pollok Park Chris Upson and > Moo n Coo) is only about 10 minutes drive from the city centre, yet is home to a herd of Highlan' Coos, some gorgeous draught horses, an old mill, a stunning contemporary museum and art gallery, an historic home, seemingly endless walking paths, forests, mountain biking trails... well let's just say this isn't a park but a P.A.R.K.

Most cities would love to have one amazing park like this in their midst, but for Glasgow it's just the beginning! Glasgow Green is over at the Southeast border of the city centre. It has a monument commemorating the years that locals strung up their washing on the green, as many people lived in one small room (I heard a story from some Glasgow friends of their happy, contented little friend, he and his nine brothers and sisters, along with their parents shared a room. And not just to sleep, that was it! He literally slept in a drawer, which sounds funny but it's so harrowing, it's hard to imagine). Glasgow Green also contains the 'People's Palace', complete with a Victorian Glass house, just stunning on a chilly morning. The rest of the building contains a social history museum, including child-sized laundry just in case you didn't believe how harsh life must have been in 19-20th C Glasgow. A little unsavoury now, the green is bordered by the mighty Clyde river, and is a great spot for cycling, picnicing, and avoiding freaks.

Far more pleasant is Rouken Glen Park (photos) which is up the road from us! That's Southside for those who aren't familiar. A huge pleasure lake complete with swans and ducks is a favourite with the kids. Keep exploring and you'll find a truly stunning waterfall, which I'm told is spectacular when it freezes in Winter. Gently rolling hills contain alternating grassy fields and woody wildernesses, perfect for hide and seek. I do wish I could convey the scale of these parks, they go for blocks and blocks. And winter just changes the landscape to a sea of white - overwhelming for Sydneysiders who have never had to live in snow (the girls had never even seen it).

Keep going South, about 15 mins past our house, (about 30 mins from the city) you are in The Country. It's quite remarkable just how soon the houses give way to cows, fields and slopes. Keep heading this way and you'll hit Calderglen Country Park. Don't let their publicty turn you off: Formerly part of the Calderglen and Torrance Country Estates, the park extends along a scenic wooded glen forged out by the Rotten Calder River, a tributary of the River Clyde. Don't worry, Rotten Calder River is just a name... it's not really a river. This park includes a wee zoo (complete with Aussie animal section, the sound of the kookaburra's laughing was good for the soul) and plenty of woodland walks.

These are just a few of my favourites. Glasgow is a city full of open public green (orange or white, depending on the time of year!) spaces, which is a pretty good way to live, in my book. The kids are out there on sledges in the snow, kagouls & wellies (raincoats & gumboots) in the rain. No hats in the Summer, but hey, you can't have it all. And it doesn't happen THAT often, after all!