I was shocked to read this book. Although the Lonely Planet series is generally very good, this edition made me really doubt whether what they say in other guides is actually true.I now stay in Glasgow, but am not a native. I was shocked to read what they had to say about the city. They couldn't have got it more wrong. Telling all tourists to say they support Partick Thistle, come on! I am neither a supporter of Rangers or Celtic, and have never once been asked what football team I support, and I have lived in the city for three years. It makes you wonder really whether they have visited the city that they write about.
Glasgow is the most vibrant city in Scotland, and according to the National Geographic, the most vibrant in Europe. It was European City of Culture in 1990, UK City of Architecture and Design in 1999 and European Capital of Sport in 2003. This does not sound like a city that is entrenched with bigotry. Whats more, it has the best curry reataurants in the UK, not to mention one of the best variety of other restaurants as well. It has the best shops in the British Isles outside of London. It has a very trendy nightlife. This is the city that exists, not the one that the Lonely Planet guide portrays.
I feel that as this guide does not do justice to the city, I should perhaps do a bit of selling of it.
If you want the true Irish experience, come to Glasgow, not Dublin or Belfast. Glasgow has the class of Dublin, mixed in with the friendliness of the rest of Ireland. If you want the best most manageable shopping, come to Glasgow, not London. If you want a very trendy city, don't go to London or Paris, come to Glasgow. If you want a bit of sporting competition, come to Glasgow. Who knows, you might even enjoy a Rangers-Celtic match.
Glasgow is the friendly city! Not what Lonely Planet says. If you want to visit the westcoast of Scotland, don't listen to what the guide books have to say. Just visit it.
I ask the question, did the people from Lonely Planet actually visit Scotland, and espescially so, did they actually visit Glasgow?
And, don't say you support Partick Thistle. After all over 100 different nationalities make their home in Glasgow. Not everything is about Rangers and Celtic.
Come and visit us. Don't read about it in this guide.
We own a guest house in Stonehaven, Scotland and my motivation for purchasing this book was to put it in the Guest's Lounge as a resource for tourists to the area. Unfortunately, for a book that is supposed to be specialising in Scotland, found it a bit lacking in coverage. Even the Rough Guide to Britain (which has 4 countries to cover) managed to get the attractions in and around Stonehaven in! (e.g. Harbour, Dunnottar Castle, Birdwatching etc).
I'm off to purchase Scotland - The Rough Guide. Hopefully it'll be more useful for our guests...
S&y
