Glasgow Youth Hostel

Dogfriendly Magazine Review

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Glasgow Youth Hostel
Reviewer: Emma Brown

In the lead up to Christmas we enjoyed a Woof-Hostelling weekend away in Glasgow’s West End. I was surprised to discover there are 17 WoofHostels in Scotland, ranging from remote locations to cities.  While a lot of the WoofHostels operate on a seasonal basis a few are open year round, including Glasgow Youth Hostel, which is a four star VisitScotland accredited accommodation.

We live a 40-minute train ride from the city, however while we visit on occasion for a meal or to go shopping on the popular style mile, we tend not to take Daisy. We usually only visit the city centre as it’s easier to access on the train than the quirkier areas of the city, like the West End.

So, it was a real treat to spend a weekend solely in the West End with its wide leafy streets and beautiful tenement buildings intertwined with winding cobbled streets, and an unexpected amount of nature in the form of parks and rivers.

Having driven to Glasgow, we were surprised to find that there was plenty of on street parking directly outside the hostel and a bonus that it was free parking over the weekend. The hostel is within a beautiful Victorian townhouse in an upmarket area. Perching on the top of a hill, Kelvingrove Park spans out beneath it. 

We had a very welcoming reception from the hostel staff member and after he outlined some key information about our stay, we headed to our room. My only experience of hostels was in my student days when travelling abroad – bunk beds in rooms with people I didn’t know – so the private twin room with en suite toilet and shower room was an upgrade from my prior experiences. The room provided the essentials for our stay: beds made up with sheets and covers, a side table, storage unit and a couple of chairs at the window to make the most of the view out across landmarks such as the OVO Hydro and Scottish Exhibition Centre. 

The hostel could provide dog towels and bowls, but we’d packed our own along with her bed. There were tips on noticeboards around the hostel on places to visit, what was on locally that weekend, alongside artwork of Glasgow to inspire our days out.

The rooms and communal areas were all clean too. For those who like to socialise, there’s the games room with pool table, and the TV room, and there was a large lounge area at the front of the building. The communal areas do look more tired than the bedroom we were in but we were advised these areas are due to be refurbished early in the New Year. 

Within the hostel, Daisy was able to go everywhere, except the kitchen, as long as she was on a lead. The breakfast room was huge, so we could sit well away from the food and other guests. We were surprised with the choice available for the catered breakfast, which included croissants, waffles, toast and cereal, alongside fruit and yoghurts. There was also a kitchen if you wanted to bring your own breakfast, or cook any meals.

It was a particularly chilly weekend. Undeterred by the cold, we wrapped up and headed out to explore the hostel’s front garden – Kelvingrove Park. Glasgow is often referred to as ‘Dear Green Place’, as it has over 90 parks, so no shortage of places to walk. Daisy was delighted to bump into my sister who works in the West End. We wandered through the park and Daisy had some time off- lead. However, after she spotted a squirrel, we popped the lead on to be sure we didn’t lose her on a squirrel chase out the gate! 

The park has the river Kelvin running through it and leads to the beautiful Kelvingrove Art Gallery.

You can also see the University of Glasgow, where we wandered through the grounds and the Cloisters. The university is often likened to Hogwarts, and with its beautiful Gothic Revival style architecture, it does feel magical. While the university didn’t actually feature in the Harry Potter films, it might be familiar if you’ve watched Outlander, and has featured in other films.

I had planned ahead to find some dog friendly bars and restaurants and to be honest we were spoiled for choice. The unusual Hillhead Book Club made a unique venue for a quiet afternoon drink. It also hosts various events such as vintage markets from time to time. I’d booked us a table at the Radisson Red rooftop bar. However, I hadn’t considered that it was a Friday evening in December – Christmas party season! 

On arrival, we knew it was too busy for Daisy to relax, so we decided not to stay. We did get a peek at the view though which is right on the river Clyde, and overlooking the Armadillo and OVO Hydro. On leaving, staff suggested we could try the quieter bar on the ground floor, which actually worked really well for Daisy. There was plenty of space around the table, and she was able to comfortably watch the world (or waiting staff) go by. We shared a selection of their starters, which were delicious, before heading back to the hostel for a good night’s sleep.

On Saturday we set off to explore the Kelvin Walkway (walkhighlands.co.uk/glasgow/kelvin-walkway.shtml). The route very quickly felt safe to be off-lead, as it is sunken down away from roads, and we met lots of dogs for Daisy to play with. The walk extends quite far out of the city, but as the temperature was so cold we didn’t go too far along, and instead nipped off the path at the Botanic Gardens, which had grounds to explore as well as two glasshouses.  Phil and I took it in turns to go into one of the glasshouses, as dogs aren’t permitted, and benefited from a quick heat up. We then headed off in search of somewhere we could all go inside. 

Byres Road, one of the main streets in the West End, had plenty of choice for us. As it was a bit early for lunch we popped into some shops. Some of the dog friendly shops we visited included: Oliver Bonas, CCW Clothing, and the Nancy Smillie shop. All the shops were exceptionally welcoming to Daisy, making a fuss, and most producing dog treats, so we felt truly welcomed, and not just ‘allowed in.’

On the same lovely cobbled street as the Nancy Smillie shop, Creswell Lane, we discovered a pet shop, Hairy Paws! Daisy was in her element as she received sample treats to taste and browsed the selection of quirky toys. I’m sure Daisy must think the sole purpose of going into a shop is to greet the staff and get a biscuit. As Phil and I weren’t receiving endless snacks, we had worked up an appetite, so we continued down Creswell Lane onto Ashton Lane, a well known quirky, cobbled street with various bars. I knew many of these were dog friendly, however we hadn’t booked ahead so some were full. 

We managed to secure a table at Innis and Gunn Taproom and we had a fantastic experience here! The staff were friendly and helpful, made such a fuss over Daisy and chatted away about her.

The wide, long tables gave a spacious area for Daisy to keep tucked away and chill out – so much so that she even took a nap with her head resting on the table frame. Phil and I ordered the sausage roll of the day, which was chicken and black pudding. A fantastic experience all round for the dog, food and customer service. 

That afternoon, we found our ideal dog friendly pub: Websters, a church which has been converted into a theatre and a pub. Featuring stained glass windows, and with a fire on the go, it had a really unique atmosphere, and a lovely place to spend a chilly winter’s afternoon. It was relaxing just before the pre-dinner rush, and Daisy enjoyed keeping an eye on the staff at the bar, and was delighted any time they came over to make a fuss of her.

After some chill out time at the hostel we enjoyed tasty burgers at the Left Bank, an upmarket restaurant close to the hostel that allowed dogs. We were all tired after a busy day, so we didn’t hang around too long and headed for an early night.

On our final morning Phil headed off in the car early for work and Daisy and I walked along the river Clyde towards the city centre. As we walked under the bridge going into the train station, I realised I’d never seen Glasgow from that angle, and reflected on how being there with Daisy had allowed me to see the city I thought I knew well from a different perspective. We followed some of the interesting city centre mural trail (citycentremuraltrail.co.uk) before catching the train home.

 ‘People Make Glasgow’ really is true. We were all so welcomed by staff and customers in the hostel and many of the dog friendly venues we visited. Our hostel stay exceeded our expectations and we look forward to exploring more of Scotland now that we know there’s a choice of 17 WoofHostels!

Glasgow Youth Hostel, review by Emma Brown and appears in DogFriendly magazine issue 75 .  For more information on the DogFriendly magazine visit https://www.dogfriendly.co.uk/magazine