GLASGOW CATHEDRAL & NECROPOLIS

The foundation stone of Glasgow Cathedral was laid in 1136, in the presence of King David ^I, and the building that stands proudly above the city today was completed in 1197. Since then, it has been a leading place of worship, and its roof has never been destroyed - a rare feat for such old walls. It is dedicated to Saint Mungo, also known as Saint Kentigern, the first bishop of the ancient kingdom of Strathclyde, who is buried in the crypt. This is Scotland's best-preserved ^12th-century church building, untouched by Reformation or conflict.

On the next hill lies the town's Victorian necropolis. Installed on a 15-hectare site in 1832, 50,000 people have been laid to rest here, and some 3,500 monuments stand there today. Some of these are of great beauty, and the Celtic crosses and statues are well worth a visit. It's a rather poignant and mysterious place, which commands a lovely panorama of the surrounding area. There are several monuments to note: John Knox Monument, an imposing monument overlooking the cemetery erected to pay tribute to the man of faith, and The Bridge of Sights, described as "the separation between time and eternity", as well as a more discreet and more recent monument erected in honour of William Wallace, marked by this famous quotation: "I am Scotland's Guardian. Though my body has been broken, my spirit will rise again to the sound of freedom ".