A Year Long Pilgrimage

I didn't take any photos of Glasgow until I left as it was so wet walking into the city - all I wanted to do was get to the hotel and have a hot shower.  It was a different story the next day as I left.  The sun shone and the city was putting on a great face. Along the Clyde - autumn in all its glory There is a street beyond that drop! A bright face - reflections With a leisurely breakfast, and a meander around the centre of the city I set off on the path following the Clyde River, and passing numerous bridges that cross it.  I was intrigued by the mixture of very old buildings and very modern ones. The new and the old Glasgow Art Gallery Leaving Glasgow, along the Clyde. It was a hard day on the feet as the path was entirely on hard roads, as it was to be, I discovered, for the next few days. But with the sun shining and interesting things to see along the way I soon reached Paisley, my destination for the night.  Walking into Paisley the skyline was decorated with ...

I left South Queensferry on a beautiful sunny day, the blue sky being reflected in the Firth of Forth.  My destination was Bo'ness, but there were numerous distractions to stop me along the way. On the way to Blackness I had to stop numerous times to look back at the bridges crossing the Firth of Forth, silhouetted against the blue sky.  The path wound its way, on a very quiet road, along the coast, eventually passing Hopetoun House, referred to as Scotland's finest stately home, though now owned by a charitable organisation to preserve it as an historical monument.   It is now closed for the season, but I got glimpses of it as the path took me around it, and through the deer park. The Whithorn (or St Ninian's) Way The rail bridge ..... .... and the two road bridges An intended short stop at a lovely restaurant called The Lobster Pot, at Blackness, led to a longer late lunch before heading on my way to Bo'ness.   Blackness Castle From Bo'ness the path then ...

Well I have now begun, and completed, the Fife Pilgrims Way.   This, in Medieval times, was a route that departed from either Culcross or North Queensferry and ended in St. Andrews, but I was doing it in reverse, deciding at the end where my destination would be.  It is a route which is genrally well signposted in both directions.  The signs Map of the route Due to the exorbitant cost of accomodation anywhere in the vicinity of St Andrews I opted for a base in Dundee, and a commute to and from each stage.   This, even with the added fares, still meant I was paying around half price, and it also meant I could walk pack free,  therefore I could walk faster and further.  Day 1 from St Andrews to the village of Ceres was cold, but dry.  I was struck by the St Andrews population and their youthfulness, due no doubt to it being a university town, though following the path out of town the older population emerged as they exercised their dogs.  ...