Snapshots from Glasgow

Glasgow is a city I didn't expect to fall in love with. It's definitely not one I'd have visited if I hadn't had to go for work. I think a lot of people shun Glasgow in favour of Edinburgh and while I do think the capital is the prettier of the two, Glasgow has its fair share of beautiful buildings. Especially if you look up! It's definitely has a lot more to offer than the image of an ugly, run-down, drizzly city I had unfairly built up in my head. It did rain a lot though, and for context that's coming from someone who lives in Manchester.

I only really had the evenings to explore so there wasn't much time to visit any museums or do a great deal of sightseeing, but I managed to squeeze in an open top bus tour with some friends (expensive, but highly recommended), spend an evening walking up to the Necropolis (all fun and games until I ran into somebody in a gimp mask swigging wine from the bottle) and eat lots of vegan food (more on that here).

I feel like I didn't really delve deep enough into the city to write a comprehensive guide, but I thought I'd share some of the photos I took during my stay. If nothing else they'll serve as a reminder for me to visit again in the future.

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Where to Visit in Autumn

Okay okay so we've only just reached the halfway point of September, but this white girl on Tumblr cliche has been pinning hearty stews, burning cinnamon spiced candles and rocking the tights and chunky boots look since at least mid-August. I just love autumn okay! 

It's also one of my favourite times to travel to new places and despite being really busy with work I'm hoping to squeeze in a few weekends away before Christmas. Admittedly they most probably won't be as exciting as some of the places I've listed below, but we all know how much I enjoy a good bucket list.

Lake District, UK

No matter where I travel I don't think anything will beat a UK autumn. That back-to-school chill in the air, crunchy dew under your feet, the crackle of dried leaves under your feet... I've never visited the Lake District before so I'm hoping to cross it off my bucket list this autumn. I imagine it's the perfect place for a frosty morning walk.

New England, USA
I'm aware of how much of a cliche New England in the fall is, but it looks absolutely stunning. Just look at those leaves! In my head the north-eastern states are 100% pumpkins, pies and hot cider from October onwards and that is absolutely fine by me. 

Patagonia, Chile

Autumn might be creeping up on us here in the UK, but in Chile the spring is just beginning and marks the perfect time to visit the country's beautiful Patagonia region. You'll get to savour the beauty and more favourable weather conditions of Torres del Paine before the crowds descend for the high season. 

Bavaria, Germany 

Mention Bavaria to most people and they'll probably automatically think of Munich or Schloss Neuschwanstein, but I wasn't a fan of either of those. Instead I'd be head to Regensburg to experience a true taste of Bavarian tradition, see the beautiful autumnal shades at their best in Königssee or enjoy a brisk hike up Zugspitze - the highest peak in Germany. From here you'll get beautiful views stretching all the way out to Italy, Austria and Switzerland. 

Athens, Greece 

I'm visiting Athens with Spotted By Locals in November and I can't wait! I'm sure we'll mostly be sticking to some of the city's more off-the-beaten-track locations but it will be great to see iconic attractions like the Acropolis without the heat and unbearable crowds of the summer months. 

Transylvania, Romania

I've already visited Bucharest but I'd love to experience more of Romania too, especially the Transylvania region. I'm sure it's beautiful all year round, but what better time to visit than autumn? The region is famously home to Bran Castle which is said to have inspired Bram Stoker's Dracula. A Halloween mini-break would be perfect! 

Kyoto, Japan 

As a country Japan hasn't been on my radar for very long, but it's very quickly moving its way further and furtehr up my bucket list. It's probably most famous for its cherry blossom season in early spring, but the gorgeous autumn reds of Kyoto give the pink flowers a serious run for their money, don't you think?

What are your autumn travel plans? Do you love the colder months as much as I do or will you be jetting off to a tropical beach as soon as possible?

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Exploring Bamford Edge, Derbyshire

You know how I always make a promise to myself that I’m going to explore more of the UK then sack it off to fly as far away as I can? Well not any more! In August I visited two new-to-me counties which is pretty unheard of for someone who likes to escape their homeland at every possible opportunity. Admittedly I didn’t have much choice about the first one, but on a gloriously sunny Bank Holiday I dragged Tom out of bed at 7am to tick off one of the things that has been on my bucket list since I moved to Manchester in 2014 – visiting the Peak District. 

I've been obsessed with The Peaks Collective Instagram account recently and after spending hours scrolling through their feed (all in the name of research and definitely not to avoid being productive you understand) I settled on Bamford. Less than an hour from Manchester by train Bamford is, unsurprisingly, home to Bamford Edge - a gritstone rock at an elevation of around 400m. It's a relatively easy walk from the train station and the views...well I'll let the pictures do the talking.

Once we'd reached the top and battled the wind to take some obligatory edge shots we opened up the picnic we'd brought with us and cracked open the cans of gin and tonic we'd brought with us. It felt a bit shameful that we were drinking at midday while everyone else at the top was either out running or climbing rocks, but isn't daytime boozing sort of the unwritten law of August Bank Holiday? 

We missed our train home because the shortcut back down the hill that we'd been counting on was closed off and since the brisk air had sobered us up a little we decided to pop into a pub in the village for a pint. Several pints later and suddenly we were half-running-half-staggering to catch another train. It happens to the best of us. If it were up to me, everyquiloto Monday would be spent getting drunk on a hill...

It's a bit shameful that I've only just made it to the Peaks after living in Manchester for so long, but I can't wait to go back and explore some more. Let me know if you have any recommendations for next time!

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