Many people’s first view of Glasgow is that it’s an industrial city, and while that’s true in part, there are also plenty of green places if you’re in need of a good dose of nature. Here are a few of the best ones to enjoy in summer.
Pollok Country Park
Located a 20-minute bus ride from the city centre, Pollok Country Park is perfect for a day trip, or even just for an afternoon. It's Glasgow’s largest park and is home to the stunning Pollok House with its walled gardens. There are also woodland walks, riverside walks, picnic areas, and pastures with Highland cows, which almost gives you the feeling of actually being in the countryside.
Botanic Gardens
The pearl of the West End, perfect for an afternoon stroll. Being a garden, it’s significantly more orderly than Mother Nature usually is. With its lush trees and many beautiful flowers, it’s a perfect place to recharge your batteries if you’re nearby and short on time.
Kelvingrove Park
Alvin Leong flickr.com/photos/leonghongrui/
Connected to the Botanics is the West End’s beautiful Victorian park. It's popular in the summer for lounging and sunbathing when the sun is out, and it’s no wonder why: with its herbaceous, azalea and rhododendron borders, riverside walks and a lawn in the shadows of lush trees, Kelvingrove Park is a lovely green place.
Glasgow Green
Ronnie Macdonald flickr.com/photos/ronmacphotos
The name says it all, really. The East End’s answer to the Botanics, Glasgow Green is the oldest park in the city. It features large lawns, pathways lined with trees and beautiful greenhouses, plus the People’s Palace and The Winter Gardens. It is even home to heavy horses, which are exercised in the park daily.
The Necropolis
Jose Francisco Del Valle Mojica flickr.com/photos/pacomexico/
Yes, this is indeed a cemetery but it is also a beautiful green park, with plenty of large trees, ivy and winding paths. Located on a hill next to the Cathedral, it also offers a stunning view of the area around Glasgow, with mountains in the distance.
Ruchill Park
Hidden up in north west, near Maryhill, this little park is a true gem. In spring it’s home to thousands and thousands of daffodils, but it’s worth a visit all year around if you’re in the area. Similarly to the Necropolis, it offers a splendid view of Glasgow, and it's significantly quieter compared to the other parks in the west.
See more things to do in Glasgow from Time Out.