Local Information
In addition to the information given below, we can advise you upon arrival of any special events or activities that are to be held in the local area during your time wth us.
Hogmanay Bring in the New Year in style, whichever city you find yourself in for Hogmanay you be surrounded by 100,000s of revellers. Both cities are about 30 miles away and you will soon realise why Scotland is the party capital of the world when it comes to celebrating the coming of the New Year.
For a slightly ‘quieter’ (1000s rather than 100,000s!) Hogmanay, Biggar is just on your door step. The main street is given over to a huge bonfire. There is a torch light parade up the street and then the fire is light at 9:30pm by one the town's oldest residents. The town’s pubs welcome visitors with open arms, providing entertaining traditional Scottish music and refreshments.
Lanark – 6 miles Lanark was the county town of the former county of Lanarkshire. It has a long history, old traditions, and some fine parks and buildings. Lanark railway station and coach station has frequent services to Glasgow. This historic 'Royal Burgh' was the location of the first meeting of the Scots Parliament in 978.
There is the nearby World Heritage Site of New Lanark, close to the Falls of Clyde, the Corehouse estate and the Scottish Wildlife Trust's Corehouse Nature Reserve. A large boating lake, Lanark Loch, adjoins a golf course and the former racecourse, the latter offering pony-trekking activities. The town's Castlebank Park lies near the former site of Lanark Castle, and allows access to the River Clyde and the Clyde Walkway. www.aboutbritain.com/towns/lanark.asp
New Lanark - 7 miles With its award winning Visitor Centre and beautifully restored 18th century cotton mill village. It is situated close to the Falls of Clyde offering stunning riverside walks. The village first rose to fame when Robert Owen was mill manager from 1800-1825. Owen transformed life in New Lanark by abolishing child labour and corporal punishment, and villagers were provided with decent homes, schools and evening classes, free health care, and affordable food.
New Lanark is still a living community, and the village is in the care of an independent charity. industrial revoulution. With wonderful walks and a great audio/visual theatre show. www.newlanark.org
Biggar – 11 miles This is a delightful market town with its many pubs and restaurants occupies a key location close to two of Scotland's great rivers, the Clyde and the Tweed. Biggar has several museums, including the Moat Park Heritage Centre, Gladstone Court Museum, Greenhill Covenanters Museum, and the Biggar Gasworks Museum, the only preserved gas works in Scotland. Many of the museums are run by the Biggar Museum Trust. Additionally, Biggar has Scotland's only permanent puppet theatre, Biggar Puppet Theatre, which is run by the well known Purves Puppets family.
A group of Biggar residents has recently launched the Carbon Neutral Biggar project, with the stated aim of becoming the first Carbon Neutral town in Scotland. The launch of the project, covered in both local and national media, took place at the town's annual eco forum in May 2007. The group has formed links with the town of Ashton Hayes in Cheshire, who have a similar group working toward carbon neutral status for their town. www.clyde-valley.com/biggar/index.htm
Livingston – 12 miles Providing excellent shopping as one of Scotland’s largest shopping malls including the McArthur Glenn Designer Outlet with amazing discounts on the top brands.
There is also Almond Valley Heritage Centre which is an innovative, child-friendly museum that explores the history and environment of West Lothian and includes the Scottish shale oil museum and Livingston Mill. www.mcarthurglen.com www.almondvalley.co.uk
Edinburgh – 25 miles Edinburgh and the Lothians, where the buzz of Scotland's capital city sits in perfect contrast to the peaceful tranquility of the surrounding Lothians region.
Edinburgh has one of the most beautiful cityscapes in the world. Scotland's capital city sits in perfect contrast to the peaceful tranquility of the surrounding Lothians region. With Scotland's most famous castle dominating the city skyline, there is plenty to see and do with the perfect balance between all things traditional and contemporary.
As well as excellent shopping, Edinburgh also offers world-class museums, galleries, restaurants and bars. During August and into September, the population of Edinburgh doubles as it hosts the largest art festival in the world – the Edinburgh Festival and the Fringe Festival are not to be missed. www.edinburgh.org
Glasgow – 26 miles Larger than Edinburgh, this thriving central metropolis is developing and recasting itself to meet the challenge of hosting the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Constantly competing to steal the cultural crown from Edinburgh, in recent years, legendary venues like the Barrowland, King Tut’s and The Arches stage the world’s biggest and most promising new bands, while the City Halls and Glasgow Royal Concert Hall regularly play host to classical performances. Seasoned clubbers swear by the ever popular Optimo at the Sub Club, or one of the Art School’s idiosyncratic indie nights, but Glasgow is also home to Scottish Ballet and Scottish Opera with their impressive credentials attracting an international following.
Glasgow has plenty of attractive, well maintained parks, but its aesthetic standing truly rests with its Victorian architecture. www.seeglasgow.com
Falkirk Wheel Designed to reconnect the Forth and Clyde Canal and the Union Canal, this remarkable and elegant feat of modern engineering marvel is the only rotating boatlift in the world. The Falkirk Wheel can carry eight or more boats at a time with a single trip taking about 60 minutes. Visitors can enjoy 'The Falkirk Wheel Experience' using special "trip" boats at the site and the distinctive new visitor centre gives an absolutely sensational viewpoint from which to see The Falkirk Wheel in action. www.thefalkirkwheel.co.uk
Rosslyn Chapel Made even more famous following its reference in Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code – this is truly a unique piece of Scottish and religious architecture. www.rosslynchapel.org.uk
Local Golf Courses With more golf clubs in a 10 mile radius than you can shake a stick at (or even a golf club) you will need more than a week to play them all.
Kames Country Club - two 18 holes courses, driving range, indoor coaching centre, PGA tuition, Pro shop and both relaxing golf lounge and a more formal dining area. All just two miles from the front door. www.kames-golf-club.com
Carnwath Golf Club – beautiful 18 hole course, founded over 100 years ago. www.carnwathgc.co.uk
Lanark Golf Club - the 25th oldest golf club in the world. 18 hole course with an interesting little 9 hole course also available. There is a well-stocked professional’s shop, practice area and fantastic food. www.lanarkgolfclub.co.uk
Shotts Golf Club - 18 hole course includes the club's famous 4th hole, the "The Devils Elbow", which was voted one of the top holes in Scottish golf. www.shottsgolfclub.co.uk
Please follow this link for some more clubs within a short distance of the cottages : www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=golf+clubs+near+lanark&meta=
Mountain biking Whilst many local routes are available, you are only 26 miles from the UK’s best mountain biking routes at Glentress Forest. Glentress offer biking for beginners through to the hardcore mountain biker. Bikes can be hired. www.thehubintheforest.co.uk
Walking A varied landscape surrounds us providing interesting forest / country lane walks as well as hill walking.
Fishing Newmill Trout Fishery is a only 3 miles from the door and is 6 pool fishery with large tackle shop that can provide everything you need for a days fishing whether buying or hiring. As well as trout, there is also course fishing available. www.reelsndeals.com/acatalog/About_Newmill.html
Horse Riding Stanmore Stables and Equestrian Centre offers both group and individual lessons including accompanied hacks. www.stanmorestables.com/index.html
Falconry Become an austringer - meet, handle and fly various birds of prey under expert, friendly supervision. www.rhuallanraptors.com/index.php