ALL PHOTOS CLICK FULL SCREEN.
After a wander about the Partick shops and the bus station gable end murals next to Partick Underground we headed up Byres Road, another major shopping street that gets more upmarket the further up it you go towards the Botanic Gardens although we headed up it via the new buildings on the right of it belonging to the University of Glasgow.
They are still adding new features currently in this area in spring 2026 so this plaza seating and this clock had arrived along with the cherry/apple trees, seen here, flowering right on cue for our visit. It was so nice and sunny we had lunch here. Not many other places to sit along Byres Road.... or in Partick.
Health and Well Being building.
Math and Stats building. And more buildings here to come in the near future.
A selection of artwork here also on the various hoardings. This is just one of many.
We also had a look at a selection of old photographs in the adjacent Church Street as some of the older buildings here, featured in the last post, operated as a hospital for the area. Dealing with broken limbs in this one.
Nurses common room. Usually too busy, I'd imagine, to be in it much.
Hillhead District. Similar to neighbouring Partick but slightly more upmarket with the same red sandstone four storey tenements.
Near the top of Byres Road, between Hillhead Underground Station and the local library, on both sides of Byres Road, is the Lanes District. Set back off the traffic heavy main shopping street is an eclectic mix of bars, restaurants and independent shops, some of which you can see advertised here. It's a while since either of us, hill-walking friend Alan or I, had been in Byres Road or the lanes and I knew from fellow blogger Anabel , thank you, ( The Glasgow Gallivanter) that some new artwork had been placed in them since my last visit. That neither of us had seen. ( He used to be a hill-walking friend but I can't be motivated going up random hills nowadays on a list after 50 years doing just that and luckily he is that rare individual in hill-walking circles. Someone that enjoys a range of interests other than hills every week....
These were mostly Glasgow scenes. Finnieston Crane and the River Clyde, above.
Barrowland. Glasgow's famous East End ballroom and music venue, praised by bands worldwide for its unique lively atmosphere and enthusiastic audience participation. ( in a good way :o)
City Centre View.
Hummingbird mural. One I forgot from the U of G campus area.
Other side of Byres Road and more tucked away lanes to explore.
Restaurant wall mural.
Ashton Lane. Student bar hangout as the university is at the other end of it. It's years since I've been in a pub and I get all my clothes and everything I need from charity shops at a fraction of the price, as does Alan. I'd imagine it's students and a surrounding middle class neighbourhood that keeps places like this afloat year round as they are the only ones with spare money. I do ok but only because I watch what I'm spending and with costs rising daily; fuel, food and everything else, any money I do have is spent on things I really need. Essential stuff only. Any treats are usually under £5 that I buy myself. And I'm perfectly happy with that... most of the time. It's what I'm used to. Don't expect anything else.
Ashton Lane again. One thing UK wide that might be happening is less folk going to university and more young people training for trades/ apprenticeships, if they can get them that is. Rather than being saddled with £15,000 to £20,000 worth of debt and Ai mainly affecting middle class jobs you can earn a good wage as a plumber, electrician, bricklayer/builder, joiner or scaffolder. As these type of jobs are fairly safe from Ai due to their unpredictable complexity in each building entered and all you need is hard graft, drive, and ability to make a decent living at it. Future proofed for a few decades at least with in demand skills... until the robots improve a large amount... and become more human.
Still in Ashton Lane. I hit it lucky here as usually it's got students, tourists or delivery vehicles in the way of a good photograph any other time I've been down it.
Bar Brel.
I've never been in any of these places... or in any Glasgow or Edinburgh hotel, or in any restaurant. The UK economy is perfectly safe in my hands.... leave it to me. I'll get it back to zero :o)
One of the reasons the Covid lockdowns didn't bother me much. If you didn't have children to entertain and keep amused, or someone die/end up ill in hospital, it was mainly a middle class and upper class lockdown. Visiting second homes, trip abroad and eating out/ theatres etc. My life mainly went on as normal, Just quieter walks alone. But it was Spring so still amazing. Just me and nature. As always.
And spring is here again after five months of winter. Mild but soggy and dull.
Ruthven Lane signs.
Who knows, maybe High Street banks, High Street shops, real money, and free car parks will linger on... for a few more years at least, just like paper books and vinyl records. Apparently Sauchiehall Street and Glasgow's 'Style Mile' is being studied at present to see if it can manage to rejuvenate it's once famous shopping district with 'mixed use facilities' to replace some of the abandoned stores there. Although more convenient one obvious downside of online shopping trends and retail parks. Seen a car park recently, for an Edinburgh city park that was £4:50 an hour to park there beside it. Max of 4 hours for £16 to £18 to walk your dog plus a stiff penalty charge if you stay longer. The future.. but here now. All over Edinburgh. Nearly every city street there you would want to park a car in has a parking meter.
Hopefully Glasgow will not follow Edinburgh any time soon. No wonder Edinburgh is a prosperous city!
Here endeth the Glasgow walk from the City Centre to the Botanic Gardens. On a nice day a very interesting and varied walk. Even on a dull day worthwhile. Plenty to see.
