Getting There
Leave the M74 at Junction 6 and follow the A723 signed Motherwell. Cross the river and continue on the A723 to enter Motherwell. Turn left at the brown sign to Strathclyde Country Park.
Inside the park there are a number of car parks on the left hand side.
Return to M74 Junction 5 (Northbound traffic)
Turn left out of the car park and continue to leave the park. The road continues directly back to the M74, and the motorway is also signed from the park exit.
Return to Junction 6 (Southbound traffic)
Turn right out of the car park and continue ahead.
At the crossroads turn right to drive over the river and follow the signs to return to the M74 southbound.
Strathclyde Country Park
Length of walk: 25-60 minutes
We started from the 3rd car park and headed into the woodland away from the road. The path leads down to the lakeside, and joins what seems to be a semi-circular, hard surface, waterside pathway which can be accessed from most of the car parks. On a sunny July day the park didn’t feel at all crowded, and the choice of paths either by the water or criss-crossing the surrounding woodland can make this into quite a long hike if you wish.
Facilities
Free car parking. Dog poo bins. Snack van in the second car park, meals and coffees available at the Toby Carvery (in the Express Holiday Inn) just before the exit for the M74 Junction 5 on the other side of the park.
The park is also home to Scotland’s first theme park – with a Wimpy and other cafes and children’s entertainment. This is on the right side of the road before the 4th car park.
Foreshaw beach, the 5th car park, is popular with families and gives access to a grassy lakeside ‘beach’, children’s playground, WCs, and an ice-cream van in Summer.
The final car park, just before the Toby Carvery, serves the visitor centre. The visitor centre is located here, but this dingy building appeared to be closed permanently – and the disabled WCs behind it were also locked on the day we visited.
This is MY favourite walk
Sapphi