Here and Now Pods

Stirling (half an hour’s drive) is dominated by a hilltop medieval castle that was the childhood home of Mary Queen of Scots and other monarchs. Check out the Great Hall and the Queen’s Inner Hall, with its splendid tapestries, then move on to the Stirling Smith Art Gallery & Museum, with its collections of watercolours and pewter artefacts. Wildlife enthusiasts make a beeline for Argaty Red Kites (half an hour), a rewilding estate where they can watch red kites’ feeding sessions or go on beaver tours where they can learn all about how these animals shape their environment. There are also woodland hides from where you can observe red squirrels and woodpeckers. Glasgow (one hour) is home to the world-class Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, with collections ranging from Ancient Egypt to local designer and artist Charles Rennie Mackintosh. There are more Egyptian artefacts at the Hunterian Art Gallery, or you might prefer to spend a few hours strolling through Kelvingrove Park or shopping on Sauchiehall Street.