Extending east and south from the metropolis of Glasgow, Lanarkshire includes sprawling satellite towns such as Motherwell, Hamilton, Coatbridge and Airdie. Nonetheless, there are still opportunities to walk here, whether in the numerous country parks on the fringes of the urban - such as Chatelherault, Strathclyde Loch or Calderglen, or up the upper valley of the Clyde. The river itself can be traced upstream on the Clyde Walkway which leads through nature reserves and past waterfalls up to the old county town of Lanark.
New Lanark - set just below the town by the river - is an industrial model village and now a World Heritage Site, as well as jumping off point for the popular walk to the Falls of Clyde. Beyond Lanark the landscape becomes ever more rural and hillier, culminating in the popular hillwalk of Tinto - a fine viewpoint over the whole region.
Walk | Grade | Length | Time |
---|---|---|---|
Calderglen, East Kilbride | 2.75km | 1 hour | |
Drumpellier Country Park, Coatbridge | 4.25km | 1 - 1.5 hours | |
The Hidden Side of the Falls of Clyde, near Lanark | 4.5km | 1 - 1.5 hours | |
Spectacle E'e falls circular, Strathaven | 5.5km | 1.5 - 2 hours | |
The Falls of Clyde classic, New Lanark | 6km | 1.5 - 2 hours | |
Strathclyde Loch, Motherwell | 6km | 1.5 - 2 hours | |
Baron's Haugh and Dalzell Estate, near Motherwell | 6km | 1.5 -2 hours | |
Douglas Estate lochs and Castle Dangerous, Douglas | 6.5km | 1.5 hours | |
Palacerigg Country Park, Cumbernauld | 7.5km | 2 hours | |
Chatelherault Country Park, near Hamilton | 7.5km | 2.5 - 3 hours | |
The Complete Falls of Clyde circuit | 10.25km | 2.5 - 3.5 hours | |
Tinto from the north | 7km | 2 - 2.5 hours | |
Tinto from Wiston Lodge | 6km | 2.5 - 3.5 hours | |
Culter Fell circular, near Biggar | 18.5km | 5 - 6.5 hours | |
Forth & Clyde and Union Canals towpath | 101km | 6 stages | |
The Clyde Walkway | 63km | 5 Stages | |
The John Muir Way | 212km | 10 stages | |
Scottish National Trail | 864km | 6 weeks |