Biggar (Scotland)

Biggar is a market town historically in Lanarkshire and now within Clydesdale. It's nowadays a commuter town for both Edinburgh and Glasgow, and in 2020 had a population of 2640. Its attractions are a rare combination: a gasworks museum and a puppet theatre.

Get in
Stagecoach West Scotland Bus 101 / 101A runs from Edinburgh via Penicuik and West Linton to Biggar, 80 min, hourly M-Sa but only four times on Sunday. Three or four buses a day continue from Biggar to Lamington, Abington, Moffat, Beattock and Dumfries, 1 hour 50 min.

Stuart's Coach 91 / 191 runs hourly from Lanark via Thankerton and Symington to Biggar, 30 min.

Borders Bus 91 runs six times a day from Peebles, taking 40 min via Stobo, Broughton and Skirling.

There isn't a bus station, the main stop is midway along the broad High Street, corner of John Street.

By road from Edinburgh follow A702 along the flank of the Pentlands. From the south follow M74 over Beattock to Jcn 13 Abingdon services then take A702.

From Glasgow there's a choice of routes. The usual recommendation is M74, and stay on it to Abingdon then double-back north on A702. Outside rush hour, you can save miles and fuel but probably no time by cutting off at Jcn 8 via Carluke and Lanark. You can also leave Glasgow on M8 to Jcn 6 then follow A73 towards Carluke.

Get around
The town's attractions are all within a short walk.

Big Red Taxis are based in Coulter,.

See

 * is a contender for the title of "Borders worst-ruined castle" though it faces stiff competition. It was built in the 14th century over an earlier motte-and-bailey, but only the foundation stumps of two towers remain.
 * is probably early medieval, a hillock at a crossing of the River Clyde. It would have been fortified with wooden palisades but never converted to a stone castle such as Boghall.
 * Dawyck Botanic Garden: see Peebles for this garden 12 miles east of Biggar in the upper Tweed valley.
 * is probably early medieval, a hillock at a crossing of the River Clyde. It would have been fortified with wooden palisades but never converted to a stone castle such as Boghall.
 * Dawyck Botanic Garden: see Peebles for this garden 12 miles east of Biggar in the upper Tweed valley.
 * Dawyck Botanic Garden: see Peebles for this garden 12 miles east of Biggar in the upper Tweed valley.

Do

 * Rugby: Biggar RFC play in Scottish National League One, the country's second tier. They play at Hartree Mill sports ground, towards Boghall Castle.
 * is a prominent 711 m (2333 ft) hill on the west bank of the Clyde. From the north there's an easy, well-worn path from the A73 near Thankerton; from the south it's a steep scramble from Wiston. A large Bronze Age cairn is at the summit. There's an annual hill run: the next is probably 3 Nov 2024, tba.
 * is 748 m (2454 ft) but part of a ridge of the Southern Uplands, hence less prominent than the isolated Tinto. Approach via the lane from Coulter village, and expect boggy going.
 * Biggar Show is in July at the showground north edge of town: Highland Dancing, tractors, horse-jumping, prize sheep, bagpipes, what's not to like? The next is probably on 20 July 2024, tba.
 * Biggar Rally celebrates the cars, buses and trucks produced by Albion Motors. This was founded in 1899 by Thomas Blackwood Murray (who hocked the family estate in Biggar to fund it) and Norman Osborne Fulton, with works in Glasgow. A series of ramshackle buggys was followed by a wide portfolio of commercial vehicles, so the Albion sunrise logo became familiar to anyone waiting at a bus stop. In 1951 they were taken over by Leyland Motors (later British Leyland), but still marketed under the Albion brand until 1972. The next rally is probably 11 Aug 2024 but tba.
 * Biggar Little Festival is held over ten days in autumn, with a food and crafts fair on the opening Sunday. The next is probably 17-27 Oct 2024, tba.
 * Biggar Show is in July at the showground north edge of town: Highland Dancing, tractors, horse-jumping, prize sheep, bagpipes, what's not to like? The next is probably on 20 July 2024, tba.
 * Biggar Rally celebrates the cars, buses and trucks produced by Albion Motors. This was founded in 1899 by Thomas Blackwood Murray (who hocked the family estate in Biggar to fund it) and Norman Osborne Fulton, with works in Glasgow. A series of ramshackle buggys was followed by a wide portfolio of commercial vehicles, so the Albion sunrise logo became familiar to anyone waiting at a bus stop. In 1951 they were taken over by Leyland Motors (later British Leyland), but still marketed under the Albion brand until 1972. The next rally is probably 11 Aug 2024 but tba.
 * Biggar Little Festival is held over ten days in autumn, with a food and crafts fair on the opening Sunday. The next is probably 17-27 Oct 2024, tba.

Buy

 * Coop Food is at Old Auction Market a block south of High St, open daily 07:00-22:00. Sainsburys on High Street has closed down.

Eat

 * "Ally bally, ally bally bee, Sittin' on yer mammy's knee, Greetin' for a wee bawbee, Tae buy some Coulter's Candy."
 * - This sugary child-pacifier was named for its maker Robert Coltart (1832–1880) of Melrose, not for Coulter village, but he sold it in all the Border towns.


 * Townhead Cafe is a fish & chips takeaway at 187 High St, the north end, open Su-Th noon-9PM, F Sa noon-10PM.
 * Taj Mahal gets great reviews. It's at 101 High St next to Crown Inn and open Su-Th 4:30-11PM, F Sa 4:30PM-midnight.
 * The Oriental serves Chinese Tu-Su 16:00-21:00. It's at Park Place south end of High St.
 * Taj Mahal gets great reviews. It's at 101 High St next to Crown Inn and open Su-Th 4:30-11PM, F Sa 4:30PM-midnight.
 * The Oriental serves Chinese Tu-Su 16:00-21:00. It's at Park Place south end of High St.
 * The Oriental serves Chinese Tu-Su 16:00-21:00. It's at Park Place south end of High St.

Drink

 * Fleming Arms is at 141 High St next to Elphinstone Hotel. It's open daily 11AM-23:00.
 * Cross Keys is at 1 High St, open M-Sa 11AM-11:30PM, Su 12:30-11:30PM.
 * Broughton Ales are brewed in Broughton village 5 miles east. No tours.
 * Biggar Gin is distilled just south of town. Distillery tours can be booked via the company's web site.

Connect
As of May 2022, Biggar has 4G from EE, O2 and Vodafone, but only a basic mobile signal from Three. 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

 * West to Lanark and the social and industrial history of New Lanark.
 * East into the Tweed valley at Peebles, and follow it to the great abbeys of Melrose, Dryburgh, Jedburgh and  Kelso.
 * North along the flank of the Pentlands is unmissable Edinburgh.