Lesmahagow

Linn Park

Riverside · 19 miles

Spanning 82 hectares, the Glasgow green space lies on the edge of the suburbs of Cathcart, Muirend, Simshill and Castlemilk and borders Netherlee in East Renfrewshire; the nearest town recorded on OpenStreetMap is Riverside. It ranks as the city’s third-largest park, with the White Cart Water winding through its grounds alongside woodland and river walks that form part of the ‘Magnificent 11’ varied-terrain walking route introduced in 2022. Historical layers are evident throughout. The northern perimeter contains the ruins of Cathcart Castle, erected around 1450 by the first Lord Cathcart and added to the park in 1927 before being demolished in 1980. At the centre stands Linn House, a mansion originally built circa 1811 for Rev James Hall; after periods of dereliction it was remodelled in the 1820s and again in the 1850s by architect Charles Wilson, then converted into four private residences in 2007. Management rests with Glasgow City Council, which is supported by an active Friends of Linn Park group. Facilities include an equestrian centre, an orienteering course and an 18-hole public golf course that originated as Cathcart Castle Golf Club in the 1890s. Two children’s play areas are dispersed across the site, one adjacent to Cathcart Cemetery on the opposite riverbank. Access is currently limited: the main entrance at Snuff Mill Bridge has been closed since late 2021 because of falling rocks, remaining shut in July 2026 with specialist repairs slated to begin within ten weeks. A fenced-off zone marks a landslip risk, while the southern edge houses Linn Crematorium and Linn Cemetery, reachable from Castlemilk where a small industrial estate bears the park’s name. Admission is free, and the park is open year-round.

Cuningar Loop

Westthorn · 19 miles

The former water-supply meander on the River Clyde has been reshaped into a woodland park that offers a range of outdoor pursuits. Situated on the boundary between Rutherglen in South Lanarkshire and the Glasgow City area, the site lies directly east of Dalmarnock and is closest to the town of Westthorn. In the early nineteenth century the Glasgow Water Company secured an act to draw water from the Clyde, and a series of reservoirs—designed under the direction of Thomas Telford and James Watt—were built to lift water to a secondary store on Sydney Street. After the Victorian Loch Katrine aqueduct took over supply in the 1850s, the area fell into disuse until a mid-2010s regeneration turned the derelict land into a public park, overseen by South Lanarkshire Council. Visitors can follow riverside boardwalks, climb on purpose-placed boulders, or ride the BMX track that runs alongside the water. A children’s play area includes a zip-line “flying fox”, while several public-art installations, including a 23-metre sculpture by Steuart Padwick, add visual interest. The footbridge completed in 2016 links the western side of the park with the Legacy Village in Dalmarnock and joins the Clyde Walkway and National Cycle Route 75, providing easy access for walkers and cyclists. A common green space accommodates events, and a weekly parkrun has been held since March 2025. Admission is free and facilities are maintained by the council.

Clyde Valley Family Park

Birkhill · 4.3 miles

A whole day out for the whole family to play together. Visit facebook for more information.

March Stone - Mousemill

Kirkfieldbank · 4.3 miles

Boundary stone of the Royal Burgh of Lanark

Strathaven Castle

Strathaven · 7.5 miles

part of the ruins of Strathaven castle

Macadam's Cairn

Muirkirk · 11 miles

Cairn erected in 1931 marking the site of Macadam's tar works, and protected as part of Scheduled Monument SM6640