THOUSANDS of visitors are being hooked by the lure of Britain's most unusual tourist attraction a 150ft crane above the Clyde.
THOUSANDS of visitors are being hooked by the lure of Britain's most unusual tourist attraction a 150ft crane above the Clyde.
More than 6000 people from all over the world have experienced the dizzying heights of the Titan crane in Clydebank since the facility first opened in August.
Operators Clydebank Rebuilt are amazed at how many have made the journey to the top of the massive structure, a lasting memorial to the area's industrial heritage.
The majority of visitors are from the West of Scotland, many of them former workers at the famous John Brown shipyards.
A spokesman for Clydebank Rebuilt, which refurbished the A-listed crane at a cost of £3million, said: "Since it first opened to the public on August 3, it has proved a hugely successful visitor attraction.
"A lot of the visitors have come from the Clydebank and Glasgow area.
"What we are seeing is grandads with their grandchildren going up the crane, pointing out the places where they used to work and telling them stories from the past.
"There have also been visitors from England and abroad: US, Australia, Italy, Canada, and a few came from the QE2 when it docked last month in Greenock and the QE2 TV station filmed at the Titan that day."
Figures out today show 6120 people have visited the 100-year-old Titan crane in the 11 weeks since its launch.
The crane's busiest day was the Friday of the October school holiday when more than 300 people went to the Clydebank attraction.
From a platform at the top, visitors are treated to a spectacular view of Glasgow to the east, Arran away to the west, the distant Highlands in the north and Renfrewshire across the river.
The crane also invites people to take a trip back in time. Digital technology also allows people to view John Brown's shipyard from the perspective of the top of the crane as it was in the 1930s and 1960s.
One of only five Titan cantilever cranes still on the Clyde, the Titan is the oldest of its kind in the world.
Now closed to individual visitors for the winter season, the crane will reopen to the public in May.
However, group visits - weather permitting - can still be pre-booked during the winter months.
The spokesman said they had planned to close the crane during the winter season.
Although the structure itself is "very safe" it is believed that wilder winter days would make the visitor experience unpleasant.
On Monday 60 children from two primary schools in Clydebank will be checking out the Titan Crane for the first time.
It's also hoped to develop an educational programme around the attraction.
To inquire about group visits contact Clydebank Rebuilt on 0141 951 3420.
