Glasgow Commonwealth Games - what else in area?

[Chocolategirl7]

Coming up to Glasgow for the Commonwealth Games in July / August with DS9 and DD6. We are staying just outside Glasgow for two weeks and I'm looking for ideas of what to do in the second week- when we have no tickets left.
I thought a day out to Great Cumbae /Millport and a cycle round the island would be good but what else can we do without resorting to shops / cinema and without spending too much money.

I grew up near Glasgow but have been away more than 20 years!

Loch Lomond is nice - rowing boats, canoes etc

Kelvingrove museum and the Burrell collection if it rains (best plan for rain )

The science centre is good though quite pricy

Pollok house - stately home + highland cattle, nice grounds

Transport museum (in its new building)

You could perhaps do some of the West Highland Way

The campsites aren't far - Dumgoyne hill is a manageable climb

Mugdock Park just outside Milngavie is good for children ( they will have free activities during the hols) and would also recommend the Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre in Glasgow.

If/ when it rains how about the Grosvenor Cinema just off Byres Rd or the Hunterian Museum at Glasgow Uni?

Finlaystone is only 20 mins from Glasgow and is really good value. Loads to do on a nice day and a good cafe too.

I love a cycle round Millport, it's great fun. Nip in to Gourock outdoor pool on your way back from Glasgow (it is well heated!!).

The Greenock cut is a nice walk and good geocaching if you enjoy that. Muirshiel visitor centre has nice walks too and Castle Semple visitor centre has some nice lochside or forest walks or you can hire bikes and kayaks.

The Titan Crane in clydebank is only open weekends but has good views and is quite interesting if you don't mind heights!

A day trip to Arran. Walk from the ferry to Brodick castle and visit the castle and the grounds. Although this is a bit further afield.

My two like the Botanic Gardens. They also love Dumbarton Castle, we get in free with our English Heritage membership but don't think it costs too much.

Loch Lomond is nice too, if you go to Balloch there is Lomond Shores, with shops and cafes, also an aquarium, boat trips, canoeing and during the holidays there are a few small fairgound rides and a mini golf. You can also go to Balloch Castle Country park.

Yes to geocaching too, a free way of livening up any day out if you've got a smartphone or GPS.

Where are you staying? Loads of walks around North West, could maybe even drive up to Lennoxtown for a walk through the hills :)

A trip on the Waverley paddle steamer.

Kelvingrove

Transport museum by kelvingrove.

Isle of Bute. Ettrick/Kilchattan/Scalpsie bays are all nice. Scalpsie has seals. There's Rothesay castle. Bute's rather bigger than Cumbrae for a 6yr old to manage cycling though so you might need to put the car on the ferry assuming you'll have one.

Riverside Museum, Glasgow Science Centre, Kelvingrove Museum.

Where are you staying?

the campsites and - Campsies

The peoples palace and glasgow green where there is a brilliant sandy play area.

Take a day trip to Troon for gorgeous beach or Largs for gorgeous ice cream (nardinis... Yum!).

Wonder world indoor play area in kinning park is brilliant too.

Loch Lomond and loch katrine. Take the steamship sir Walter scott on loch Katrine then walk/cycle the 5 miles to inversnaid and take a second boat trip on loch Lomond.

We're going up for the Commonwealth Games too, but are staying further out.

If there's a sport you're particularly following, they're doing live sites at the games. We went to them at the Olympics and they were fab. It was free to get in, but you had to buy all food and drink inside. They had street entertainers, live music, activities for children (free) and paid activities like zorbing, zip wires etc... If it is anything like the Olympics, and the weather is good, you can certainly spend a good few hours there.

We're also planning a day trip to Edinburgh, and then we're going to spend a few days relaxing by the pool (we're staying at a holiday park).

Don't forget there's also the free events like the road racing too.