Lesmahagow

Lesmahagow is a small town in Clydesdale just off M74, with a population of 4300 in 2020. The town name means "the enclosure of St Machutus" (better known as St Malo) though only the Priory foundations remain. Their spiritual successors based here are ISKCON, the Scottish branch of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.

A distinguished duo from Lesmahagow were the Cairncross brothers. Sir Alex Cairncross (1911 – 1998) was an economist. John Cairncross (1913 - 1995) was an intelligence officer at Bletchley Park, but recruited by the Soviet Union as a spy. At Cambridge he knew Burgess, Maclean, Philby and Blunt, but it's debateable how much he collaborated with them.

Get in
Lesmahagow is just off M74 junction 10. Cyclists must use the old Carlisle Road alongside, demoted to B7078. From Lanark follow Dillaburn Rd west.

Stagecoach Bus X74 runs every two hours from Glasgow Buchanan Station via Hamilton to Lesmahagow (45 min) and continues south to Moffat, Beattock and Dumfries.

Whitelaws Bus 253 runs from Hamilton, taking 45 min via Larkhall, and continues to Coalburn. It's every 30 min M-Sa and hourly on Sunday. Alternate buses start from Motherwell.

Bus 8 / 258 runs M-Sa every hour or two from Lanark, taking 30 min.

There is no railway station in Lesmahagow. Take the train to any of Motherwell, Hamilton, Larkhall or Lanark then the bus.

Get around
The taxi firm is Les (+44 1555 893337).

See

 * Karuna Bhavan Temple is within ISKCON, see Sleep. It's open Sundays 10:30-19:00.
 * : only the gatehouse remains of this mansion, built in the 18th century then greatly extended in the 19th. In 1923 it became a hospital for children with learning difficulties, which closed in 2005. It's been derelict and dropping to bits ever since, and two developers went bust trying to turn it into a hotel. When another wall collapsed in 2015, paranormal experts said this was because the place was haunted.
 * Tinto is the hill rising prominently to the east, you get a better view by heading up New Trows Rd. See Biggar (Scotland) for the ascent of Tinto.
 * Tinto is the hill rising prominently to the east, you get a better view by heading up New Trows Rd. See Biggar (Scotland) for the ascent of Tinto.

Do

 * Golf: Hollandbush GC is two miles south at Auchlochan.
 * Coalburn Leisure Complex is another mile south. It has a gym, fitness classes and 20 m swimming pool.
 * Lesmahagow Highland Games are held in mid-June on The Glebe.

Buy

 * Tesco at the M74 junction is open M-Sa 7AM-11PM, Su 8AM-1PM.

Eat

 * Jerry's is a Chinese takeaway at 12 Priory Rd, open W-Sa, M 4:30-11PM, Su 4-10PM.
 * Jerry's is a Chinese takeaway at 12 Priory Rd, open W-Sa, M 4:30-11PM, Su 4-10PM.
 * Jerry's is a Chinese takeaway at 12 Priory Rd, open W-Sa, M 4:30-11PM, Su 4-10PM.
 * Jerry's is a Chinese takeaway at 12 Priory Rd, open W-Sa, M 4:30-11PM, Su 4-10PM.

Drink




Connect
As of Oct 2022, Lesmahagow and M74 have 4G from all UK carriers, but there's no signal on the east-west roads. 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

 * New Lanark two miles south of Lanark is a must-see, an 18th century mill village and.
 * Abington is near the old moorland mining settlements of Leadhills and Wanlockhead.
 * Hamilton and Motherwell are the start of the Clydeside industrial corridor. Top sight near Hamilton is Chatelherault, the facade of a palace that collapsed into a coal mine.