Getting around by public transport.
The 89 bus from Glasgow stops right at the end of the drive. It goes twice an hour from Buchanan Street Bus Station to our bus stop which is called Auchenreoch Holdings. The journey takes 40 minutes and the bus also stops in Kirkintilloch (5 mins) and Bishopbriggs on the way to Glasgow and, if you travel in the other direction, it goes to Kilsyth (5 mins).
A quicker way into Glasgow, and also with direct trains to Edinburgh, Linlithgow and Stirling is to take the train from Croy. This is a 12 minute taxi ride away and we’d recommend Broomhill Taxis in Kirkintilloch who are very reliable.
Use googlemaps to find out the times for buses and trains.
Car Rental.
There is an excellent and good-value car rental place only a mile and a half away from Upper Woodburn which we have used many many times. AMK (North Glasgow Branch) will rent you a compact car for £38 a day or £190 for the week.
Taxi
Taxi can be a pretty efficient way of getting about to local places if you are a group (and especially to get to the station) Broomhill Taxis are good – but there are also plenty of other local firms.
Days Out By Train
From Croy station some really great days out can be had by train. Here’s a few
Linlithgow (direct trains)
Visit Linlithgow Palace and the picturesque town. You can get a bus to the Bo’ness and Kinneil Steam Railway from opposite the Four Marys Pub
Edinburgh,Glasgow and Stirling (direct trains)
see the section on what to do in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Stirling
Dunblane and Bridge of Allan (change in Stirling).
Nice walks along the river between the two towns, Dunblane Cathedral and historic town centre. Great restaurants (Friends of Mine in Bridge of Allan and The Riverside in Dunblane)
North Berwick (change in Edinburgh)
Lovely seaside town with walks, the Scottish Seabird Centre to visit (nice cafe), cruises out to Bass rock to see the seabirds in spring and summer.
On Trainline to Inverness (change in Stirling)
Dunkeld and Burnham The Hermitage at Dunkeld is the arboretum of the Dukes of Athol and has incredible trees, waterfalls and the extraordinary Ossian’s hall, built to magnify the sounds of the waterfall. Look out for the well-hidden hermitage and walk up the hill to the pine lookout. Birnham has a great community arts centre with café and Beatrix Potter centre for small kids. Walk along the Tay to see the ancient Birnham Oak (mentioned by Shakespeare) and to Dunkeld’s cathedral, shops and pubs. The Taybank Pub is famous for its traditional music and traditional food.
Other places further afield on the line to Inverness are also possible in a long day (eg Pitlochry, Blair Atholl (highly recommended for Blair Castle and its gardens and the watermill with tearoom) and Newtonmore (for the folk wonderful Highland folk museum and the Highland wildlife park)
The Clyde Coast and Islands
You can also change stations in Glasgow (from Queen Street to Central) to access the Clyde coast and some more ambition day trips. Check the Waverley timetable as this historic paddle steamer still plies the ports of the Clyde in the summer season, or just take the train and ferry. Highlights are Brodick Castle on Arran, Renting a bike and cycling round Great Cumbrae, the Benmore Botanic Gardens near Dunoon (especially in May when the Rhododendrons are out) and Mount Stuart on Bute, the incredible home of the Marquis of Bute. All can be reached by train and ferry
Bus Tours
If you want to see the west coast of Scotland it would be worth taking one of the many bus tours that start from the centre of Glasgow. Rabbies and Discover Scotland have day-tours that start from Glasgow and explore the West coast up to Oban, Glen Coe and Fort William. Expect to spend a long time in a mini-bus!
