Lanark is a small market town in Clydesdale, South West Scotland, and is nowadays a commuter town for Glasgow. The prime reason to visit is for the nearby UNESCO world heritage site of New Lanark. It was at Lanark that William Wallace (1270-1305) 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.
- See New Lanark. for the nearby mill village, and waterfalls along the Clyde.
- The Girnin Dug. at 15 Castlegate is the statue of a dog, erected in the 1840s by its owner after it was poisoned. He suspected the culprit was his neighbour Miss Inglis, who had strenously opposed him building next door to her. So he put up this statue on his roof, its reproachful expression directed into Miss Inglis' parlour window. Her house is long gone so the dog now girns in an unfocussed manner towards the Lidl supermarket.
- Lanark Museum, 29 Bloomgate, ML11 9ET, +44 1555 666680. Th-Sa 11:00-16:00. Tells the history of the town, which is one of Scotland's oldest burghs.
- Nothing remains of Lanark Castle except a marker at the end of Castlegate.
See New Lanark. for the nearby mill village, and waterfalls along the Clyde.
The Girnin Dug. at 15 Castlegate is the statue of a dog, erected in the 1840s by its owner after it was poisoned. He suspected the culprit was his neighbour Miss Inglis, who had strenously opposed him building next door to her. So he put up this statue on his roof, its reproachful expression directed into Miss Inglis' parlour window. Her house is long gone so the dog now girns in an unfocussed manner towards the Lidl supermarket.
Lanark Museum, 29 Bloomgate, ML11 9ET, +44 1555 666680. Th-Sa 11:00-16:00. Tells the history of the town, which is one of Scotland's oldest burghs.
- There's a Golf Club east of town off Whitelees Rd, and a Tennis Club. north of the centre on Chapland Road with floodlit all-weather courts.
- Scottish Equestrian Centre, Lanark Race Course ML11 9TA, +44 1555 661853. Activity based stays: riding lessons, hacking, forest trails, ponies. With its own hotel and B&B on site. The Centre is on the old race course, which closed as a racing venue back in 1977. The nearest racetrack is at Hamilton Park, which has flat-racing May-Oct.
- Lanark Lanimers: "Lanimers" means Land Marches, or beating the bounds of the burgh. A ceremony has been held each year since 1140, usually on the Thursday between 6 and 12 June. Dressing up, parades, pipe bands and suchlike. The next event is Thurs 11 June 2020.
There's a Golf Club east of town off Whitelees Rd, and a Tennis Club. north of the centre on Chapland Road with floodlit all-weather courts.
Scottish Equestrian Centre, Lanark Race Course ML11 9TA, +44 1555 661853. Activity based stays: riding lessons, hacking, forest trails, ponies. With its own hotel and B&B on site. The Centre is on the old race course, which closed as a racing venue back in 1977. The nearest racetrack is at Hamilton Park, which has flat-racing May-Oct.
Lanark Lanimers: "Lanimers" means Land Marches, or beating the bounds of the burgh. A ceremony has been held each year since 1140, usually on the Thursday between 6 and 12 June. Dressing up, parades, pipe bands and suchlike. The next event is Thurs 11 June 2020.
There's a Tesco and a Morrisons in town centre.
- Prego, 3 High Street, ML11 7LU, +44 1555 666300. Tu-Su 12:00-14:00 and 17:00-23:00. Offers pizza, pasta and seafood, and other Italian cuisine.
- Route 36, 36 Wellgate, ML11 9DS, +44 1555 661600. W-F 12:00-14:30 & 17:30-21:00, Sa Su 12:00-20:00. American diner: burgers, hot dogs, ribs, fries, nachos and sundaes.
- There's an Indian restaurant Jholpai at 1 Hope St (daily 17:00-22:00) and a Chinese takeaway by the railway station (W-M 16:00-23:00).
Prego, 3 High Street, ML11 7LU, +44 1555 666300. Tu-Su 12:00-14:00 and 17:00-23:00. Offers pizza, pasta and seafood, and other Italian cuisine.
Route 36, 36 Wellgate, ML11 9DS, +44 1555 661600. W-F 12:00-14:30 & 17:30-21:00, Sa Su 12:00-20:00. American diner: burgers, hot dogs, ribs, fries, nachos and sundaes.
There's an Indian restaurant Jholpai at 1 Hope St (daily 17:00-22:00) and a Chinese takeaway by the railway station (W-M 16:00-23:00).
- Clydesdale Inn, 15 Bloomgate, ML11 7ET, +44 1555 678740. Su-Th 09:00-23:00, F 09:00-01:00, Sa 09:00-00:00. No longer a Wetherspoon and the food has taken a dive, but still a decent drink.
- Maisies Bar, 12 Wellgate, ML11 9DT, +44 1555 664644. M-F 11:00-01:00, Sa 11:00-00:00, Su 12:30-01:00. "The braw wee pub" is a traditional Scottish bar, sometimes drouthy, never snooty.
Clydesdale Inn, 15 Bloomgate, ML11 7ET, +44 1555 678740. Su-Th 09:00-23:00, F 09:00-01:00, Sa 09:00-00:00. No longer a Wetherspoon and the food has taken a dive, but still a decent drink.
Maisies Bar, 12 Wellgate, ML11 9DT, +44 1555 664644. M-F 11:00-01:00, Sa 11:00-00:00, Su 12:30-01:00. "The braw wee pub" is a traditional Scottish bar, sometimes drouthy, never snooty.
- Follow A70 west towards Alloway near Ayr, birthplace of Robert Burns, or to Ardrossan the ferry port for the Isle of Arran.
- East, head via Peebles into the Tweed valley and Scottish Borders, with fine ruined abbeys at Melrose and Jedburgh.
- Glasgow and Edinburgh are just over an hour away.