Strathclyde

Meaning “valley of the River Clyde”, this region of Scotland on the west coast is the largest in the country, stretching from the Highlands down to the Southern Uplands.  It takes in Argyll and Bute, Dunbartonshire, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, Ayrshire, and Inverclyde.  The area’s main city is the cultural hub of Glasgow, known for its stunning architecture and for the iconic Arts and Crafts design of Charles Renée Mackintosh.  Meanwhile, the city has an impressive array of art galleries and over 70 parks and gardens.  But this is also a county of opposites.  While North Lanarkshire is synonymous with industry such as coal mines, steel works and engineering museums, South Lanarkshire and Clyde Valley remain almost completely unspoilt.  Ancient castle, historic towns and beautiful countryside here offer fantastic scenery.