The Tall Ship Glenlee, Glasgow

The Tall Ship Glenlee is one of Glasgow’s most distinctive maritime landmarks, a proud reminder of the city’s centuries-long connection to shipbuilding and seafaring. Built in 1896 at a Clyde shipyard, the three-masted steel sailing vessel was among the many magnificent ships launched during the height of Glasgow’s industrial golden age, when the River Clyde was a powerhouse of global trade. Originally designed as a cargo vessel, the Glenlee travelled the world’s oceans for decades, carrying goods as far as South America and Australia before eventually being used as a training ship by the Spanish Navy.

After years of service abroad, the ship was rediscovered in Spain in the 1990s in a state of disrepair. A remarkable effort led by the Clyde Maritime Trust brought the Glenlee home to Glasgow in 1993, where she was meticulously restored to her former glory. Today, she is berthed alongside the Riverside Museum, offering visitors a rare opportunity to step aboard one of only a handful of surviving Clyde-built sailing ships still afloat anywhere in the world.

Exploring the Glenlee is like stepping back in time. Visitors can wander through the cargo hold where goods once travelled across oceans, climb the decks to admire the ship’s tall masts and rigging, and even descend into the engine room. Exhibits tell the story not only of the vessel itself but also of the city’s maritime heritage and the lives of the sailors who worked the seas.

For those interested in Glasgow’s history beyond its grand buildings and bustling streets, the Glenlee provides a different perspective-one that highlights the city’s role in international trade and its shipbuilding legacy.