The Ramshorn Graveyard Tour is a free experience run by the Friends of Ramshorn Graveyard, a volunteer group established in 2023 with a mission to bring attention to this historic site in the heart of Glasgow. More than simply preserving a cemetery, the group seeks to uncover and share the lives, histories and forgotten stories resting beneath its grounds. Running every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 11am to 1pm between May and September, the tour offers visitors the chance to step into a lesser-known part of Glasgow’s history, while discovering the people and events that continue to shape the city’s identity.
Guided primarily by David, the group’s chairperson, the tour unfolds like a journey through Glasgow’s past.
Set against stories of figures like David Dale, remembered for his philanthropy and commitment to educating the poor, the tour reveals a Glasgow shaped by contradiction and complexity. By the end, it feels far more than a walk through a graveyard. Through stories of ambition, love, hardship, inequality and generosity, it becomes an opportunity to reflect on the legacies and histories that continue to echo through the city and its people today, which makes it one of the more memorable but underrated tours to take around Glasgow.
The Fusion Fund supported the promotion of these tours by funding a large banner installed along Ingram Street, helping to raise awareness to passersby. With their website still in development, this kind of visible advertising played an important role in reaching people who might otherwise not know about the experience. While the first tour of the year attracted an encouraging group of around ten attendees, greater visibility aims to grow participation over time. Increased numbers would also benefit the volunteers directly, as donations collected after each tour contribute towards sustaining their work and supporting the resources needed to continue running and expanding these community-led sessions.