There are so many reasons to head to Glasgow and wider Scotland this summer as part of your campervan or motorhome holiday.
From July 23 to August 3, the Commonwealth Games 2014 sees more than 70 nations and territories competing in 17 sports in many venues across the city. Even if you don’t have tickets there are plenty of sporting events that offer free spectating, including triathlon, road cycling and the marathon.
Glasgow 2014 for free
On July 29, catch the Glasgow 2014 mountain biking riders at Cathkin Braes, on the edge of the city. Many areas are free for spectators and you will enjoy being up close to the cross-country riding action.
Free to watch is the men’s and women’s Road Cycling Time Trials on roads in and around Glasgow on July 31. The action starts at 10am and noon at Glasgow Green.
The men’s and women’s Commonwealth Games cycling road races take place on August 3 and again this is a free to see event. The start and finish lines of the event is at Glasgow Green.
Catch live Glasgow 2014 sporting action for free throughout the day on the big screen at Glasgow Green.
See Glasgow 2014 for more details.
Festival 2014 in Glasgow
Alongside this amazing sports competition is a fantastic Festival 2014 programme, filled with many free events. Glasgow Green, Kelvingrove Park and the Merchant City have a host of free events including sports, music, arts, culture and drama.
Family fun at Glasgow Green
Mela at the Green on July 30 promises to offer a fabulous spectacle offering a selection of music from Scotland’s biggest multi-cultural festival and also featuring the BBC 2 Young Folk Award winners.
The Wee House, The Back Garden and The Shed are the free to try activity zones for families on Glasgow Green.
The Merchant City area of Glasgow is also hosting a Games-long festival including live music and markets.
The Family Zone is located in King Street, Parnie Street, Chisholm Street and Osbourne Street. There are numerous family activities on August 2 and 3, such as circus skills, drumming, mask making and story telling.
Kelvingrove Park in Glasgow’s west end is also hosting lots of free entertainment thought the Games. How about joining the Big Sing, offering everyone who loves to sing the chance to join in a huge choir led by a choirmaster. This event takes place on July 30 at 2pm.
A Farewell Ceilidh takes place at Glasgow Green on August 3.
On August 3 from 5pm there will be Closing Ceremony celebrations in Kelvingrove Park.
See the Festival 2014 guide.
Showcasing Generation arts
Another free arts programme that will take place at the same time as Glasgow 2014 and runs until November 30 across the whole of Scotland is GENERATION.
Generation celebrates 25 years of contemporary arts in Scotland and boasts more than 100 artists over 60 venues.
Generation events hotspots include:
Head to Caithness Horizons, Thurso, Highlands, until October 11 to see the exhibition, Artist Rooms by Douglas Gordon. Three films and a text-based work by former Turner Prize winner Douglas, of Glasgow will be used to explore the ambiguities of human life in this exhibition.
The Lamp of Sacrifice exhibition
In Glasgow at the Gallery of Modern Art you’ll discover The Lamp of Sacrifice, 286 Places of Worship, Edinburgh, by Nathan Coley. This is a fascinating display of made-to-scale model churches made from cardboard and runs throughout the summer and on to February 1, 2015.
Running until August 1 is The White Whale by Nick Evans, at The McManus, Dundee. Nick uses one organic shape to make multiple casts to create his signature white plaster sculptures, which are inspired by the Gothic architecture of The McManus itself.
Orcadia & Other Stories by Walker & Bromwich, takes place at The Pier Arts Centre, Stromness, Orkney, until August 23. Some 15 years of production have gone into creating this display, which reflects the archaeology, mythology and ancient culture of Orkney, as well as recent island innovations.
Head to the wonderful Isle of Bute to Mount Stuart House for an exhibition by
Lorna McIntyre. Running until October 31, Lorna’s display features sculptures inspired by the 12 signs of the zodiac stained glass windows at Mount Stuart.
Refractory And Refrigeration is the unusual title of the arts display by John Shankie at The Park Gallery, Falkirk, from August 2 to October 26. John commemorates the 100th anniversary of the start of WW1by gathering local recollections and exploring the themes of memorial, celebration, reflection and restoration.
See Generation for more details.
Glasgow – and Scotland – are THE places to be on your campervanning holiday this summer.