JUST twenty minutes north of Glasgow, but a world away from the hustle and bustle of the city, lies the Auchengillan Scout Centre.
Established in the 1930s and situated near Carbeth, where the hutters have their weekend homes, it has provided an outdoor escape valve for generations of Glasgow Scouts.
Originally not much more than an open field, in its earliest days troops of Scouts would haul their camping equipment to the site with the help of trek-carts. Once there it was the usual rush to collect firewood for a brew and get the tent up before darkness fell.
Away from the eyes of their parents, but under the supervision of their leaders, the boys could climb trees, tie knots, whittle sticks, build dens, swim in the outdoor pool, and go hiking in the Campsie Fells. And, at the end of the day, they'd gather round the campfire for a sausage-sizzle and a sing-song.
These guys, bidding farewell to the site after a camping trip in 1956, even found time to scale the site's Native American totem pole for a photo opportunity.
Thankfully, the site is still going strong, meaning Scouts, and Guides, can have fun in the great outdoors, learn valuable life lessons and meet up with friends from across the globe.
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