Make Your Way to Chatelherault

Access routes from Hamilton, Larkhall and Quarter to Chatelherault Country Park.

Make Your Way to Chatelherault Country Park along access routes from Hamilton, Larkhall and Quarter.

These digital trails are an opportunity to explore routes into the park online, and then to go out and wander in the beauty of Chatelherault for yourself. The routes open into all that the park has to offer, including stunning views, woodland trails, historic sites and a range of leisure opportunities such as cycling, walking and playing.

This digital element compliments printed maps showcasing the six routes, alongside new signage and seating developed in collaboration with artists, schools, historians, walking groups, ecologists and families. Find out more about the artists’ work by clicking the links under 'Related Links', view the trail below or download and print your own map by clicking the link under 'Other Resources'.

HAMILTON - CHATELHERAULT : Barncluith Route

Total distance: 1km            Cycle time: 5 minutes            Walk time: 15 minutes

Starting at Carlisle Road, east of Hamilton town centre - take a short stroll up historic Barncluith Road, passing the Duke’s Monument. The park is entered via stunning view points over the Avon Gorge. This route follows a gentle steady incline along paved road with benches at the top of the hill.

1. Start at Carlisle Road in Hamilton and head along Barncluith Road.

2. Alternatively take the lane from Carlisle Road into Fergus Gardens, then head left on Barncluith Road.

3. Follow Barncluith Road past the newer houses and over the rail bridge.

When Caledonia Rail proposed a train line through Chatelherault, the Duke of Hamilton agreed with the caveat that it not ruin his view across the landscape - so for the section running through Chatelherault, the builders had to tunnel underground.

4. Keep going through the old houses until you reach the Duke’s Monument.

The Duke's Monument was designed by David Thomson in commemoration of 11th Duke of Hamilton after his death in 1863. The monument once housed a bronze bust of the Duke which can now be seen on display at the nearby Low Parks Museum.

5. Past the Duke’s Monument there are two access points into the park.

This second path, just before the private High Parks Farm, leads into a wooded track that goes towards the Cadzow Oaks and Earthworks and Cadzow Castle. Cadzow is one of the most ancient names in Scotland, and is strongly associated with the local area.

HAMILTON - CHATELHERAULT : South Haugh Route

Total distance: 1.4km            Cycle time: 6 minutes            Walk time: 20 minutes

Beginning on quiet footpaths through South Haugh, formerly part of the designed landscape around Hamilton Palace, now a beautiful place for nature and people. The route crosses the river at the Old Avon Bridge, from which there are two different entrances into the park. The route is flat and on surfaced footpaths.

1. Start in Hamilton by the roundabout and Motherwell Road, take the footpath through South Haugh.

2. Take the right path when you come to a fork, then cut between two ponds and carry on to the car park by Smithy Croft.

3. There are three ponds in South Haugh: Lost Pond, Goose Pond, and Ross Pond.

This wetland is a significant home to wildlife: see if you can spot Mute Swans, Canada Geese, Greylag Geese, Mallards, Tufted Ducks, Goldeneye, Wigeon, Coot or Moorhen.

4. Take the lane from the car park to cross Carlisle Road, and head down Old Avon Road. Across Old Avon Bridge leads into Chatelherault’s Deer Park.

The Old Avon Bridge is a 17th century structure, said to have been paid for by the Monks of the Monastery at Lesmahagow - according to the Lanarkshire Ordnance Survey Name Books, 1858-1861.

QUARTER - CHATELHERAULT : Sunnyside Road Route

Total distance: 2.4km            Cycle time: 10 minutes            Walk time: 35 minutes

From Limekilnburn Road, go down Sunnyside Road and catch the views across the fields to nearby sites where the rows of turfed miners’ cottages once stood: Divoty Row and Laigh Quarter. Join up to the Millheugh Route, just past West Sunnyside Equestrian Centre, at the sheltered path into the park. This route runs along mainly flat, paved road. 

1. Start in Quarter, near the Boolin’ Club on Limekilnburn Road and walk straight along to Sunnyside Road.

2. Keep on the road, passing the West Sunnyside Equestrian Centre.

3. Just after the centre, meet a tree lined path into Chatelherault.

4. Once in the park, you can head along the Green Bridge Trail.

LARKHALL - CHATELHERAULT : Merryton Route

Total distance:  2km        Cycle time: 8 minutes            Walk time: 30 minutes

Leaving Larkhall or Merryton this route follows the Carlisle road alongside the Duke's Dyke, former boundary wall for the Duke of Hamilton's Estate, entering the park via the main entrance towards the visitor centre. It runs along part of the National Cycle Route 74, and is a flat route on surfaced pavement.

1. Starting in Larkhall, from Merryton Station, go along Fyne Crescent and walk up Carlisle Road. 2. Passing the Brookside Garden Centre, the road meets the Duke’s Dyke. 3. Keep going straight ahead to reach the entrance to Chatelherault Country Park.

LARKHALL - CHATELHERAULT : Fairholm Route

Total distance: 1.1km            Cycle time: 5 minutes           Walk time: 16 minutes

A quick walk from Merryton, down Carlisle Road, then a left down this small farm road towards Fairholm. Entering the park over the Green Bridge at ‘Mary Hoses’, the former river where Mary Queen of Scots fell and got her stockings wet. Along surfaced road, then steady hill down to the bridge. Unpaved track on entering the park. 

1. From Merryton, head up the Carlisle Road.

2. Take a left on a side road towards Fairholm.

3. Follow the road and go down the hill until you reach Fairholm Bridge.

4. Pass by the bridge to enter into Chatelherault Country Park and follow the track by the Avon Water.

5. Follow the river and you will reach the Green Bridge.

The Mary Hoses ford was later spanned by the Green Bridge, a girder bridge painted green. It was also called the 'Bouncy Bridge'. The current bridge was installed c.1994.

LARKHALL - CHATELHERAULT : Millheugh Route

Total distance: 1.2km            Cycle time: 2 minutes            Walk time: 8 minutes

From Millheugh and Morgan Glen take the footpath down by the river then up a climb along Sunnyside Road. A right at the junction goes along a tree sheltered path to the park. Going along paved surfaces, this is an alternative route to the stepped footpath, though  steep in parts and can be slippy.

1. Take the footpath: Sunnyside Road, just to the right of the Millheugh Bridge.

At Millheugh you will find the Millheugh Bridge: the original bridge was built in 1790 to replace a ferry but collapsed in 1934, to be replaced by the current bridge. Also at Millheugh is the entrance to Morgan Glen: now a SSSI, gifted to Larkhall by John Morgan, who was the owner of the Applebank Inn. The Inn is associated with a number of local ghost stories including that of the 'Black Lady' of Larkhall who is said to haunt the ruins of Broomhill House, overlooking Millheugh.

2. Walk down by the river then head up along the road, crossing over Powforth Burn.

3. Keep going along Sunnyside Road, passing the Avalon Equestrian Centre to your right and join up to the Quarter Route. Go along the same tree lined path into Chatelherault.

4. Head into Chatelherault to explore the Green Bridge Trail.

Make Your Way connects communities in Hamilton, Larkhall and Quarter with Chatelherault Country Park. It is supported by The Scottish Government, Paths for All and Transport Scotland Smarter Choices Smarter Places grant, and South Lanarkshire Council LEADER and Heritage Lottery Fund Scotland supported Clyde and Avon Valley - CAVLP.