Anyone ever been to Glenbuck?

[Paul B]

I was there yesterday. Coming back from the Isle of Arran I opted to take the road back to the M74 that passes Glenbuck. I'd been before and found it a bit depressing and my view wasn't changed on this visit. I'm not saying the Ayrshire coalfields are depressing, although they may have been when Bill lived there but the experience of the "village" itself is. It no longer exists in reality as what could be described as a village at all. The area has been bought by British Coal and is now run by whatever name that organisation goes under as a depressing open-cast mining operation. I don't know if they still extract coal or it's now devoted to cleaning-up operations but either way, there is one cottage and then a gate beyond which you cannot go. I don't know what I was expecting but it certainly wasn't that. If you sneak over the gate you are faced with a huge greyish-brown mass of coal/slag with zero evidence of earlier habitations. There is small road which passes the cottage (even though numerous signs tell you it's private and not to enture up there) and takes you up a steep hill to a couple of very nice looking cottages at the side of a large loch used as a fishing area for the nearby village of Muirkirk. The whole area is penned in by overhanging trees and there is no shop, post-office, church or anything else that would entitle the place to a name at all. There is however a large marble plinth celebrating the sporting achievements of the former residents of the area with particular attention to Bill Shankly himself. Sadly, this is somewhat spoilt by the poor grammar on the plinth itself.

[Kathy]

Must admit when we called there last summer on the way home from a wedding i found it humbling and had loads of goosepimples as well as a tear in my eye.

[Gunga Din]

what were you expecting? Shankly World or something?

[Murphman]

what were you expecting? Shankly World or something?

 

 

[The Hitman]

what were you expecting? Shankly World or something?

[Guest Mottman]

Must admit when we called there last summer on the way home from a wedding i found it humbling and had loads of goosepimples as well as a tear in my eye.

 

[The Hitman]

Must admit when we called there last summer on the way home from a wedding i found it humbling and had loads of goosepimples as well as a tear in my eye.

Woman up

[Cheesecake]

nope never, but going on a driving holiday round scotland for 2 weeks back end of July so might look it out. As a novice can you tell me where its near or something?

[The Hitman]

It's just a village,yer man said it was crap and,pretty much,not to bother going there!!

[Spike]

and so the son of god was born in a stable...

[The Hitman]

and so the son of god was born in a stable...

The son of god?

[fyds]

and so the son of god was born in a stable...

When he IS born, it will be in one of his thousands of houses...surely?

 

Been to Glenbuck years ago - and it is humbling to think such a footballing force 'escaped' from there (those from Kirkby or Cantrill Farm will know what I mean). You do find yourself wondering...did he play football on this field? If you're of an age to have seen and/or met the man, you will feel something all pervasive when visiting there.

Edited May 23, 2006 by fyds