Scotland Guide
Glasgow
Clydeside
"The Clyde made Glasgow and Glasgow made the Clyde" runs an old saying, full of sentimentality for the days when the river was the world's premier shipbuilding centre, and when its industry lent an innovation and confidence that made Glasgow the second city of the British Empire. Despite the hardships heavy industry brought, every Glaswegian would follow the progress of the skeleton ships under construction in the riverside yards, cheering them on their way down the Clyde as they were launched. The last of the great liners to be built on Clydeside was the QE2 in 1967.
Such events are hard to visualize today as derelict warehouses, crumbling docks and overgrown wastelands crowd the river's flanks and shipbuilding is restricted to a couple of barely viable yards. Glasgow has often been accused of failing to capitalize on its river, and it's only in the last few years, with a flurry of construction, that it's once again becoming a focus of attention. Striking riverside buildings including the titanium-clad Armadillo concert hall and GlasgowScience Centre have become icons of the city's forward-thinking image.
The Waverley
Telephone: 0845/130 4647
Website: www.waverleyexcursions.co.uk
One of Glasgow's best-loved treasures is the Waverley, the last seagoing paddle steamer in the world, which spends the summer cruising "doon the watter" to various ports on the Firth of Clyde and the Ayrshire coast from its base at Glasgow Science Centre. Built on Clydeside in 1947, she's an elegant vessel to look at, not least when she's thrashing away at full steam with the hills of Argyll or Arran in the background. Call or check the website for current prices and itineraries.