Lanark

Lanark is a market town in Clydesdale, 28 miles southeast of Glasgow. Historically it was the county town of Lanarkshire, but that is nowadays Hamilton. It was at Lanark that William Wallace first strode into history, leading a 1297 uprising against the English and killing the Sheriff. This escalated into the First War of Scottish Independence, and Wallace triumphed a few months later at the Battle of Stirling Bridge. But Lanark itself is a tired post-industrial place and commuter town for Glasgow. In 2020 its population was 8880.

New Lanark two miles south is the prime reason to come this way, an 18th-century mill complex and, described separately.

By train
Trains run from Glasgow Central every 30 min via Motherwell, Wishaw and Carluke, taking an hour to Lanark. From Edinburgh or England change at Motherwell.

is east end of town centre. It has a staffed ticket office and machines, a waiting room but no toilets. There is step-free access to all platforms.

By bus
Stuarts Coach 240X / 241X runs from Glasgow Buchanan station M-F hourly, taking 70 min via Motherwell, Wishaw, Carluke and Braidwood.

Bus 317 runs from Hamilton daily every 30 min, taking 50 min via Larkhall, Garrion Bridge, Crossford and Kirkfieldbank.

Bus 91 / 191 runs daily hourly from Biggar, taking 30 min via Symington, Thankerton and Hyndford Bridge.

Bus 34A runs M-Sa hourly from Livingston, taking an hour via Dedridge, Polbeath, West Calder, Breich, Fauldhouse, Shotts and Forth.

Whitelaws Bus 258 runs M-Sa every hour or two from Lesmahagow, taking 30 min.

Lanark Interchange bus station is next to the railway station.

By road
From the south follow M74 to Junction 12 Uddington then A70 north onto Hyndford Road. From Glasgow leave M74 at Junction 9 Kirmuirhill and zigzag onto B7086 for A72. From Edinburgh follow A71 to Breich then A706. If in doubt, following the brown tourist signs for New Lanark will bring you into Lanark town centre.

Get around
The town is small enough to walk. New Lanark is two miles south, within walking distance, but you're destined to do a lot more walking once you get there.

As Lanark is the traditional county and market town, bus routes converge on the Interchange from the nearby villages. As well as the inter-town routes above, you might use:

Stuarts Coach 135 runs daily hourly to New Lanark, taking 8 min. Be sure to get the direct bus, as between times the 135 circles Lanark town.

Bus 37 / 137 runs daily hourly to Carstairs village, hospital and railway station, and Carnwath.

Bus 30 / 30A / 31 / 31A runs four times M-Sa to Hyndford Bridge, Thankerton, Symington, Abington, Crawford, Leadhills and Wanlockhead.

Whitelaws Bus 259 runs M-Sa every two hours to Hyndford Bridge, Kirkfieldbank, Rigside, Douglas and Glespin.

Taxi: in 2022 a ride within town costs up to £5 and to New Lanark is £6 to £8. The local operator is Clydewide (+44 1555 666333, tollfree 0800 050 9264).

See

 * St Nicholas across the street is Church of Scotland, built in 1774.
 * Clyde Valley Woodlands is a National Nature Reserve (NNR) in terrain where the Clyde and its tributary streams have cut deep into the sandstone bedrock. Such land was too steep for cultivation so the ancient woodland has been preserved. The NNR is in disconnected sections and the main part near Lanark is from Cartland Bridge (which has parking) upstream to Cartland Craigs and Cleghorn Glen. See New Lanark for the Falls of Clyde section. Further downstream are Nethan Gorge above Crossford, Moulslie Woods at Dalderf, and Chatelherault near Hamilton.
 * : see separate page for this 18th-century mill complex two miles south, a.
 * Clyde Valley Woodlands is a National Nature Reserve (NNR) in terrain where the Clyde and its tributary streams have cut deep into the sandstone bedrock. Such land was too steep for cultivation so the ancient woodland has been preserved. The NNR is in disconnected sections and the main part near Lanark is from Cartland Bridge (which has parking) upstream to Cartland Craigs and Cleghorn Glen. See New Lanark for the Falls of Clyde section. Further downstream are Nethan Gorge above Crossford, Moulslie Woods at Dalderf, and Chatelherault near Hamilton.
 * : see separate page for this 18th-century mill complex two miles south, a.
 * Clyde Valley Woodlands is a National Nature Reserve (NNR) in terrain where the Clyde and its tributary streams have cut deep into the sandstone bedrock. Such land was too steep for cultivation so the ancient woodland has been preserved. The NNR is in disconnected sections and the main part near Lanark is from Cartland Bridge (which has parking) upstream to Cartland Craigs and Cleghorn Glen. See New Lanark for the Falls of Clyde section. Further downstream are Nethan Gorge above Crossford, Moulslie Woods at Dalderf, and Chatelherault near Hamilton.
 * : see separate page for this 18th-century mill complex two miles south, a.
 * : see separate page for this 18th-century mill complex two miles south, a.

Do

 * Lifestyles is the leisure centre, on Thomas Taylor Ave 200 yards east of the railway station. It has a gym, fitness classes and pool.
 * Bowling: Lanark Thistle Bowling Club are based at Castlegate, and Lanark Waterloo are north on Waterloo Rd.
 * Tennis: Lanark Tennis Club are just beyond Waterloo Bowling Club on Chapman Rd.
 * Bowling: Lanark Thistle Bowling Club are based at Castlegate, and Lanark Waterloo are north on Waterloo Rd.
 * Tennis: Lanark Tennis Club are just beyond Waterloo Bowling Club on Chapman Rd.

Buy

 * Tesco is opposite the railway station and open M-Sa 7AM-11PM, Su 8AM-9PM.
 * Lidl is on the retail park east on Hyndford Rd. It's open M-Sa 8AM-9PM, Su 8AM-8PM.

Sleep

 * Scottish Equestrian Centre has rooms, see above.
 * See New Lanark for the hotel and hostel in the mill village.
 * See New Lanark for the hotel and hostel in the mill village.

Connect
As of Oct 2022, Lanark and its nearby villages and highways have 4G from EE, O2 and Vodafone, and a basic mobile signal from Three. 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

 * Follow A70 west towards Alloway near Ayr for the birthplace of Robert Burns.
 * Head east via Biggar into the Tweed valley and Scottish Borders, with fine ruined abbeys at Melrose, Jedburgh and Kelso.
 * Glasgow and Edinburgh are just over an hour away.