Football: Glasgow has a proud and loyal football following and is home to three professional clubs: Celtic, Rangers and Partick Thistle. Hampden Park is the home of the national football team and holds the official record for attendance at a European football match.

Celtic and Rangers are together known as the Old Firm, and matches between the two clubs are passionate and competitive encounters. Watching a match is definitely recommended if you happen to be visiting at that time, although tickets are hard to come by.

The greens fees are considerably cheaper than private clubs and none have a dress code; Linn Park and Littlehill are recommended. There are many more private clubs in the region, and Ayrshire is worth a visit if you like links-style courses.

Cycling: although the area is not flat, Glasgow and the surrounding countryside has some excellent cycle routes. The scenery along the way is stunning and the adventurous can ride all the way to Edinburgh or west to the Clyde coast.

Trekking: is another way to explore the beautiful lochs, mountains and national parks. There are plenty of recognised trails, and maps can be obtained from the tourist office. Alternatively, a number of specialist companies offer evening, day, weekend and week-long treks throughout the most beautiful areas of Scotland.