Getting ready for picnic season in Glasgow

The April showers may have put a bit of a dampener of things but summer is still well and truly on its way, which means one thing. Picnics!

Ok, summer means a little bit more than that, but it's picnics that really get us excited. There's just nothing better than packing a bag full of your favourite food, some nibbles and maybe even a barbecue, then heading to a park with a blanket, football and frisby.

It's this time of year when Glasgow really comes into its own. The city has more than 90 amazing parks and gardens to choose from but there are a few places that the staff at our Glasgow hostel head to time and again for a spot of picnic action. Here they are:

Pollock Country Park

The award-winning Pollock Country Park was named Best Park in Britain in 2007 before winning the Best Park in Europe award the year after and it is the only country park that lies within the boundaries of Glasgow.

The largest green space in the city, it is three miles south-west of the town centre and is reachable by public transport. With so much going on it is a great place to spend the day, particularly if you bring a picnic basket along.

Steeped in local history as the former home of the famous Maxwell family, it is inhabited by many different species of animals and has its own stable courtyard with horses, as well as some beautiful walled gardens and a play park.

It is a brilliant place for walks and has a collection of woodland trails to explore in addition to an orienteering course and some great picnic areas.
Pollok Country Park, 2060 Pollokshaws Road, G43

Finlaystone Country Estate

Located in Port Glasgow with amazing views over the Firth of Clyde, Finlaystone Country Estate is a Scottish Natural Heritage visitor attraction that makes for a brilliant day out.

The only downside to Finlaystone if you're staying in a hostel in Glasgow is that it's a bit far away and might be difficult to reach if you don't have a car, but if you can get there it is definitely worth it.

The picnic areas are top notch and raise the bar with a selection of barbeque sites, while the estate also has a visitor centre, tearoom and shop.

Exploring the grounds can easily fill an entire day and there are inspiring play areas and walks aplenty to enjoy. If you fancy an impromptu picnic off the beaten track, Finlaystone is home to some great waterfalls, just don't forget to pack the blanket. Entrance costs £4 for adults and £3 for concessions.
Finlaystone Mansion House, Langbank, Port Glasgow, PA14 6TJ. 01475 540 505

Alexandra Park

The popular park to the east of the city spans a massive 42 hectares and is full of great picnic spots. Though it has a dedicated picnic area, we sometimes prefer to spread out a blanket by the side of the duck pond so we can feed our crusts to the birds.

Alexandra Park is worth visiting in its own right though, complete with bowling greens, play areas and even a nine-hole golf course to enjoy. A huge 40-foot high cast iron Walter McFarlane Saracen Fountain is an impressive feature that has stood in the park for nearly a century.

Visitors can easily get to the park by bus or rail, with Alexandra Station no more than five minutes' walk away.
Alexandra Park, 10 Sannox Gardens, G31 3JE

Hogganfield Park

If you fancy a spot of bird watching while munching your picnic then Hogganfield Park is definitely the place to go. The park is about three miles north-east of the city centre and is home to a big loch that hosts many rare species, including some migrationary birds that just live there during summer.

The shallow loch is a great place to set up your picnic and there is even a sandy beach running alongside it, as well as picnic tables dotted around the park.

An orienteering course can be found there too if you fancy a bit of an adventure, while the Lethamhill Golf Course sits alongside it.
Hogganfield Park, Cumbernauld Road, Robroyston, G33

Linn Park

The second biggest park in the city, Linn Park is literally packed full of great picnic spots. Spread over 82 hectares, a river flows through the middle so there are loads of spots along the banks to set up base and while away an afternoon.

It features some great woodland and riverside trails and also has an 18-hole golf course to enjoy. There are two play grounds (the one next to Old Castle Road is more suitable for big kids) to enjoy too, while the varied terrain is a thriving home to some diverse wildlife.

The park is open all year round from dawn until dusk and is easy to get to from the city centre. Trains to either Cathcart or Muirend put you around 15 minutes' walk away, while various buses running from the city centre will drop you off on its doorstep at either Clarkston Road or Carmunnock Road.
Linn Park, Glasgow, G44 5TA

Read more Glasgow hostel news

← Return to news