Things to see in Greenock, Scotland
April 28 2023 | Tagged: United Kingdom
Greenock is a historical industrial town on the Firth of Clyde, some 25 miles west of Glasgow. I went and backpacked it.
You'll be surprised how much there is to see here.
You'll be surprised how much there is to see here.
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Greenock is not the usual destination for world travellers but my buddy Neil was born and bred here and invited me to come and backpack his hometown on the premise that I write a blog post about it
How could I refuse? Everywhere is Game for Nomadic Backpacker.
With my admin finally sorted, I was happy to be to getting back on the road, though things are far from straightforward (another blog post I suspect).
After touring the Battle of Britain Bunker in Uxbridge, I took the underground to Central London and then a night bus to Glasgow.
How could I refuse? Everywhere is Game for Nomadic Backpacker.
With my admin finally sorted, I was happy to be to getting back on the road, though things are far from straightforward (another blog post I suspect).
After touring the Battle of Britain Bunker in Uxbridge, I took the underground to Central London and then a night bus to Glasgow.
It's only my 3rd visit to Scotland and would be my first time in Glasgow and after arriving at Glasgow's Buchanan Bus Station, I took a McDonald's coffee down on Sauchiehall Street and then a train directly to Greenock.
I want to focus on the Greenock of today. You can read about the history on Wikipedia.
After dropping off my bag and having another wake-up coffee we went and backpacked Greenock.
Greenock Cemetery:
James Watt Scottish inventor was born in Greenock in 1736.
He didn't invent the steam engine but he made significant changes to the design, increasing efficiency and making steam engines cheaper to run.
He didn't invent the steam engine but he made significant changes to the design, increasing efficiency and making steam engines cheaper to run.
Mary Campbell, also known as Highland Mary, was buried in Greenock. She was the sweetheart of the poet Robert Burns.
Dutch Gable House:
The Dutch Gable House on William Street, is the oldest surviving house in Greenock and dates from 1755.
The McLean Museum:
The McLean Museum is only open Wednesday through Saturday (so we returned here a few days later). Well worth the visit to learn about Greenock. The entrance is free.
Greenock began as a sleeping fishing village but became a major centre for shipbuilding, wool and sugar refining. Abram Lyle of Tate and Lyle was born in Greenock.
IBM was based here, too.
What amazes me is that the more I travel, the more I realise how much more there is to learn.
Shipbuilding ground to a halt in the mid-1980s, but Greenock remains Scotland’s largest west-coast container port, and it now has a cruise ship terminal.
The Clyde is unnavigable by bigger ships beyond Greenock. Everything is offloaded here and transferred to smaller vessels.
His Majesty’s Naval Base Clyde, commonly known as Faslane, is at the end of Gare Loch, which is just about opposite Greenock and home to Britain's nuclear subs and the new Hunter-Killer Submarines, which can often be seen in the channel before they dive. But sadly, I didn't see it during my visit.
Another person of note born in Greenock was William Kidd, the legendary pirate.
Greenock began as a sleeping fishing village but became a major centre for shipbuilding, wool and sugar refining. Abram Lyle of Tate and Lyle was born in Greenock.
IBM was based here, too.
What amazes me is that the more I travel, the more I realise how much more there is to learn.
Shipbuilding ground to a halt in the mid-1980s, but Greenock remains Scotland’s largest west-coast container port, and it now has a cruise ship terminal.
The Clyde is unnavigable by bigger ships beyond Greenock. Everything is offloaded here and transferred to smaller vessels.
His Majesty’s Naval Base Clyde, commonly known as Faslane, is at the end of Gare Loch, which is just about opposite Greenock and home to Britain's nuclear subs and the new Hunter-Killer Submarines, which can often be seen in the channel before they dive. But sadly, I didn't see it during my visit.
Another person of note born in Greenock was William Kidd, the legendary pirate.
Cowan's Corner:
The open area at the right-hand corner of the Municipal Buildings is known as Cowan's Corner, after a local businessman who refused to sell his property when the council was acquiring the land needed to build the award-winning design, and subsequently, the original design had to be changed.
Victoria Tower:
Part of Greenock Town Hall, built in 1886, standing 75 metres high the Victoria Tower dominates the Greenock skyline.
The Custom House:
The Custom House was built between 1817 and 1819. Every ship had to pay duty.
Greenock is home to the world's first Burns Club, with many of the founding members having known Robert Burns himself and is housed in the Custom House.
As mentioned above, Burns' love Mary Campbell (Highland Mary) died in Greenock and is buried in Greenock Cemetery.
Robert Burns composed Auld Lang Syne and one of his notable poems, Tam O'Shanter.
He is regarded as the National Poet of Scotland and on January 25, his birth date, Burns Night is celebrated worldwide.
Greenock is home to the world's first Burns Club, with many of the founding members having known Robert Burns himself and is housed in the Custom House.
As mentioned above, Burns' love Mary Campbell (Highland Mary) died in Greenock and is buried in Greenock Cemetery.
Robert Burns composed Auld Lang Syne and one of his notable poems, Tam O'Shanter.
He is regarded as the National Poet of Scotland and on January 25, his birth date, Burns Night is celebrated worldwide.
Wellpark Mid Kirk:
Known locally as Toon Kirk, it was built in 1758 with a 44.5 metre (145 feet) high steeple modelled on St. Martin's-in-the Field Church in London.
The Gallows:
This horseshoe marks the spot where public hangings took place.
The James Watt:
This was the Tontine Hotel and dates from 1801. In 1892 it was sold and became the Greenock Post Office. It is now the James Watt, owned by Wetherspoon.
The Esplanade:
If the weather is calm, a walk along the esplanade is well recommended. You can walk to Gourock and beyond.
Birthplace of Lieutenant HR "Birdie" Bowers:
Henry Robertson Bowers was one of Scott's polar team on the ill-fated Terra Nova expedition of 1910–1913 to the South Pole. You pass this house on the way out of town.
Memorial Cross:
Anchor-shaped memorial erected in memory of the Free French forces who fought in World War II and homage to the Maillé Brézé which exploded off Greenock.
Lyle Hill:
Named after Abram Lyle of Tate and Lyle fame. Great views!
Then we cut a path across the golf course back to town.
For a taste of life in Greenock, you could try the Bullseye Sports Bar Greenock where we stopped off for some refreshment though admittedly I wouldn't have gone there without Neil. Without being rude, Greenock is a tough town. It reminded me of Alice Springs where things could very easily get out of hand, if you know what I mean.
A few more photos around town:
For a taste of life in Greenock, you could try the Bullseye Sports Bar Greenock where we stopped off for some refreshment though admittedly I wouldn't have gone there without Neil. Without being rude, Greenock is a tough town. It reminded me of Alice Springs where things could very easily get out of hand, if you know what I mean.
A few more photos around town:
