An American TikToker has left Scots in stitches after exploring Cumbernauld on Google Maps and hailing it 'absolutely gorgeous'. The content creator had a digital look around the North Lanarkshire town, which has been named Scotland's worst ever town twice.
Enthusiastic Reactions to Landmarks
Unbeknownst to this, the TikToker appeared very impressed by what she saw, landing on various local landmarks including the infamous town centre and the popular Indian takeaway, Bombay Dreams. Splitting her screen into a map view and a video of her live reacting, the clip begins as she lands on the Arria mermaid statue on the M80, also known as the Angel of the Nauld, on an unfortunate backwards angle.
Hovering over the map, the TikToker says: "Here we have Cumbernauld. Oh a sculpture! Let's go there." Zooming in on the back end of the mermaid, she says: "Oh I don't think that's appropriate for TikTok" before clicking around it to declare: "Oh that's pretty, I like that."
Next Stop: Town Centre and Tesco Extra
Next on her tour is the 'library' which turns out to be the town centre, previously awarded the title of the Ugliest Building in Britain. After a brief tour through, she ends up at the Tesco Extra situated outside and cries out in enthusiasm: "Tesco Extra! What is Tesco Extra? Y'all are spoiled."
Browsing through some random streets she called "very interesting", she lands on a mint green Fiat 500 and screams out: "Omg! That is the cutest car I've ever seen in my life."
Bombay Dreams and Castle Discovery
The next stop on her digital visit is what really got the locals going as she zoomed in on Bombay Dreams. She said: "Ok Scottish followers, can you tell me is this Indian food good and is it worth having dreams about? Do let me know, I am curious." Many gushed about the takeaway restaurant in the comments as one wrote: "Nah Bombay Dreams is literally the world's best Indian hands down." Another added: "Bombay dreams is amazing."
On her final stop she explores Cumbernauld House Park which locals claim in the comments is a popular 'underage drinking spot'. With wild enthusiasm she reads: "Eighteenth century castle. There's a castle and no one f***ing told me!", before zooming up into the surrounding forest which she claims looks like something out of a "Disney movie". "Wait I have to check out more of this, this is absolutely gorgeous. Wait stop, this is beautiful. I want to go there so bad. That's the most majestic thing I've ever seen in my life." Concluding with a drone view of Cumbernauld the TikToker concludes: "This is just awesome."
Local Reactions
Locals were left in stitches by the American woman's reactions as one wrote: "She has romanticised Cumbernauld. That's the first time I've heard anyone do that. I moved away asap when i lived there." A second joked: "No one has ever spoken so highly of Cumbernauld before." A third replied: "I'm from Cumbernauld visit u will have the time of your life. The sculpture is at the cemetery she's called Aria. Town centre is a dump. We don't have a castle its an old house Cumbernauld house."
Despite a lot of negativity around the town, the TikToker was right to be impressed, as Cumbernauld has a lot to offer for both locals and visitors. There are many things to do including a visit to the local theatre where Alan Carr is bringing his brand new tour later this year. Or explore outdoor spaces such as Palacerigg country park which features roughly 700 acres of woodland, walking trails, wildlife, and a children's farm. Beside it is the Forest Wood Wildlife Reserve where over 120 species of flowering plants and a diverse range of birds can be found. Cumbernauld also boasts Dullatur golf course and Broadwood football stadium as well as the award-winning Westerwood spa and hotel. There are also a number of popular cafés, restaurants, and pubs, including Bombay Dreams, Italian eatery Salentinos and the Red Lantern Chinese buffet.
