A few hours to spend in/around Glasgow ...

[roisin]

We are overnighting in Dumbarton (?!)
Dss (7 and 9) if given the choice will want to go to the Science Centre again, but I don't think we have enough time to do it justice.
I would love to go to the Kelvingrove, but I'm not sure that's realistic either.

Do you think the Burrell Collection would entertain us all for a few hours?

why not the kelvingrove? after the brand spanking new refurbishment? i cant wait to see it

Some ideas on another thread .

What about the transport museum (free)? Kelvingrove is ideal as it is free too so even if you only see half of it it doesn't matter. Kelvingrove much more fun for 7 and 9yrs than Burrel IMO as is the transport museum.

Handy Info Site

Loch Lomond is only a 20 min drive down the road from Dumbarton, its lovely and we go there whenever we are up there. In fact we are planning to go at end of August when visiting friends.

Roisin, I live very close to the Burrell/Pollok Park and often take my DS who's only 2 so much smaller than your boys. A brilliant new adverture play park has just opened across the car park from the Burrell. It has things for my DS but I think a lot of the things are better for older children - excellent rope slide thing and a trampoline that's set into the ground. The Burrell has a nice cafe but the tea room at Pollok House is better I think - lots of home baking.

I think they would get a lot from Kelvingrove. I haven't been yet and am v. keen but we will wait until after the school holidays. Why do you think it's not feasible?

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From Dumbarton, I would go to the visitor centre on Loch Lomond for a short visit, nice cafe, wonderful playground and in the summer a little mini fair. There is also a land train that takes you for a little ride along the shores.

From there either I would probably go across to Balloch country park and spend some time having a lovely walk along the shore of the loch.

If you want to venture a little further than Balloch, then go up the LHS of the Loch to the Lodge Hotel, there is a wonderful bar come coffee shop there with views right onto the loch, and then you can go down to the foreshore and have a wonderful walk - really is Scotland at it;s best.

Can I just ask why you are staying in Dumbarton??? It isn;t the most picturesque of places (I was brought up there)!

Went to Kelvingrove last week and planning to go back agian this week - well worth a visit. It's also in the west end which is closer to Dumbarton.
Pollock Country Park is gorgeous and the weather is spot-on just now.
Expectantmum is right though - Loch Lomond is closer and really lovely, though kelvingrove will kep your boys occupied for longer!

Xob, did you find it very busy? I am so keen to go but thought we would until after the holidays when it might be quieter.

It was busy, but it was great! It's not like it was hard to get around or anything - theres loads of space and theres lots of interactive installations for the kids. Theres a fab cafe too and your right on Kelvingrove Park, so you could always have a wee picnic if you wanted.
I really really enjoyed it - I used to go there when I was wee and the massive refurbishment has really enlivened the whole place. And best of all, it's free! So I would just pop along Kiki! I'm going on Thursday!

Thanks Xob, my dad used to take us when we were wee, a great place for a rainy day.

We were there (Kelivingrove) on the 2nd Saturday after it opened and it wasn't too busy in the morning and OK in the afternoon.

Great to here about the playground at Burrel, add thet to my list.

Peoples Palace is good too and has a great playground next to it or Scotland Street School Museum it is free too. But for two boys aged 7 and 9 I strongly suggest the Transport Museum, right across the road from The Kelvingrove.

Sorry, I feel as though I should explain myself a bit more:

We are en route to Mull (from Cumbria) - staying pretty much middle of nowhere, so whilst Loch Lomond is the sort of thing we'd normally head for on this occasion we probably want to take the chance of a bit of "culture"

Why did we end up in Dumbarton? Hmm... Dh booked the Travellodge as a 'catch all' in case we didn't find anything else. We've been trying to book a little place at the top of Loch Lomond, but it hasn't worked out. Now everything seems pretty booked, so that's what we're stuck with - but it's just a bed for the night, that's all.

We went to Glasgow at Easter and had a fantastic time. I'm desperate to go to the Kelvingrove, but we will only have a few hours, by the time we've got up there and got into Glasgow. I would just be frustrated to only have a little time there, and the boys would be too I think. So I think we'll put that one on hold until we go there again to stay for a few days.

Hmmm, then I think I would skip Kelvingrove until you have more time and go for the Burrell instead.

It is good from a child's pov as some of the artefacts are extremely old and rare. If they've done the egyptians at school then they will find a lot of exhibits to observe.

It is extremely well laid out, with nice cafe and some nice outdoor space to stretch their legs

It is also very convenient for the M8!

Easy way to get in to the centre is to park up at Ibrox and get the underground, Kelvinhall U station is 5 min from Transport Museum and Kelvingrove

Don't know if it's open during the holidays but for your kids I'd recommend the Hunterian museum in Glasgow University, great place for a couple of hours and small cafe too. Great for kids who like dinosaurs, Egyptian mummies and lots more! My boys esp. 8 yr old loves it!

Good alternative to Kelvingrove if you haven't the time for it.

IMO the Burrell is a bit of a treck from Dumbarton right over to the southside if you haven't much time. Also hate to admit but we all found the Burrell really boring!

But we could go to the Burrell on the way iyswim.

I just want to go to Glasgow again now. I wonder if I can persuade dh for us to have a few days there on the way back. I know he's got some time off booked.