Discover North Lanarkshire: Parks, Trails and History

In North Lanarkshire, Drumpellier Country Park covers 500 acres, includes two natural lochs and features two adventure playgrounds.

When comparing holiday accommodation in North Lanarkshire, check the travel dates, room category and cancellation conditions on the respective listing pages. This information helps keep personal travel planning separate from the places and routes described.

Nature and Trails

Palacerigg Country Park has a network of trails suitable for walking, travelling with mobility aids and cycling. The park is home to, among other species, bats, dragonflies, damselflies, pine martens, deer, owls and badgers. Palacerigg Country Park also features the Hidden Creatures educational and adventure trail.

Strathclyde Country Park lies within a 400-hectare landscape in the valley of the River Clyde. It has good road and public transport connections; bicycles can be hired there. Strathclyde Country Park also has 10 miles, or around 16 kilometres, of walking trails. The different trail lengths can be compared for your own daily planning.

Woodend Loch is protected as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

History and Culture

The museum at Colzium House displays objects and exhibits relating to the history of the surrounding area. The Colzium Lennox Estate includes a restored traditional Scottish ice house, which is open to the public.

Croy Hill can be visited free of charge and is open all year round. Croy Hill offers extensive views of the surrounding landscape. The Antonine Wall was the north-western boundary of the Roman Empire and can be reached from Croy railway station.

The surviving sections of the Monkland Canal are protected as a nationally significant Scheduled Monument. The Forth and Clyde Canal runs through Auchinstarry Basin.

Museums and the Stage

Summerlee Museum has an adventure playground. It includes an underground mine and miners’ houses from the period between 1840 and 1980. Summerlee Museum can be reached on foot in a short time from Coatbridge Central and Coatbridge Sunnyside railway stations.

North Lanarkshire Heritage Centre can be visited free of charge. It has an observation tower with views over Motherwell and North Lanarkshire.

Lanternhouse has an auditorium with 300 seats. Cumbernauld Theatre at Lanternhouse produces and presents professional theatre.

Routes and Wildlife

The Seven Lochs Trail is a signposted 10-kilometre route. It connects Drumpellier Country Park on the edge of Coatbridge with Hogganfield Park in Glasgow. Seven Lochs Wetland Park extends across the boundary between Glasgow and North Lanarkshire and is easily accessible by public transport.

The Colzium–Tomtain route is 6.5 miles, or 10.5 kilometres, long. It is associated with the Colzium Visitor Centre and Estate in Kilsyth.

World of Wings has a collection representing more than 50 species of birds of prey. At World of Wings, visitors can fly with one of the birds kept there.

Places in the Area

Places in North Lanarkshire include Cumbernauld, Motherwell, Wishaw, Shotts, Coatbridge, Kilsyth, Bellshill, Stepps, Airdrie, Chryston, Gartcosh, Caldercruix, Cleland and Holytown.

For the overarching travel overview: Scotland.