Pollock House

 

We went to Pollock House, a National Trust property, built in 1752, for the Stirling Maxwell family. The family had owned the huge estate since the 12th century. Most of the estate has been sold off over the centuries, but quite a big chunk remains that is run by the City of Glasgow. The family still live in the 3rd floor and attic, where the female servants were housed. I'm sure they have been renovated.

In order to get ready for all the walking ahead of us, we had breakfast at Cafe d'Jaconelli.

It's the oldest establishment on Maryhill Rd, almost 100years old, and is famous for ice cream. Billy Connelly, Robert Carlyle, Ewan MacGregor were all regulars when they lived in Glasgow. I turned my back on ice cream for breakfast and went for a full Scottish, probably the only one I'll have all trip. Sigh.

We had a lovely walk through the park.

And spent quite a bit of time touring the gardens. I have always longed for a walled garden and box hedges.

The house is famous for it's Spanish art work. We didn't recognize most of the names. We decided to walk through the park to the Burrell Collection. As we didn't have the wee charmer with us this trip (the family is in Banchory for a family do), we could view at our leisure. However, our legs were beginning to protest. Sheelagh waited for me outside as I asked for directions. I came flying out the door

repeating a phrase made famous by good friends on our South Downs walk

"THERE'S A BUS!"

And so there was. And, it was there again when we came out of the Collection after a couple of hours. If God had intended us to walk, He wouldn't have given us buses.