Location: Lanark
Top Things to do in Lanark
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The 10 Best Things to Do in Lanark, United Kingdom (UK)
Lanark (/ˈlænərk/; Scottish Gaelic: Lannraig, Scots: Lanrik) is a small town in the central belt of Scotland. The name is believed to come from the Cumbric Lanerc meaning "clear space, glade".
Restaurants in Lanark
1. Falls of Clyde
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 521 reviews
Reviewed By Sarah Charley A - Glasgow, United Kingdom
Wasnt sure what to expect when walking up here; completely ignorant to the local beauty. We visited in autumn and the leaves were changing and the water high, a lovely walk
2. The Bubbles Factory
Overall Ratings
5 based on 94 reviews
The Best Soft Play in the UK (under 8000sqft) Awarded by the Play Providers Association
Reviewed By B11jtw
Bubbles opened when I was at nursery in 2011.The nursery took us a school trip there and it was funny because the teachers went down the wavy blue slide.Food is very good for kids staff friendly.i had my 5th 6th and 7th birthday there and it was fun good party bags . I love the big red button that puts my name on the wall and tells me happy birthday.All the kids at the party stand up on the chairs and go ah.Must visit
3. Gouldings Garden Centre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 231 reviews
Reviewed By Misslouboutin19 - Scotland, United Kingdom
Took friends here for the first time yesterday for lunch. The Xmas section is sparse and coming to a end. The lunch was fantastic chicken and rice soup with a roll, mint slice I even got cakes to take away. Silverburch is my favourite garden centre but this one by far does the best lunch.
4. Krishna Eco Farm
Overall Ratings
5 based on 37 reviews
Scotland's best kept secret, Krishna Eco Farm promotes a healthy, wholesome, balanced and holistic way of living. The aims of the Krishna Eco Farm include bringing people together with the purpose of practising a simpler, more natural way of life. We organise farm & indian cultural tours, environmental talks, festivals (such as Holi - festival of colours, Henna, etc), retreats and meditation events. We have volunteering opportunities throughout the year.
Reviewed By wizadora521 - Carluke, United Kingdom
What an enchanting place with amazing, warm and welcoming people! I attend many family friendly events here and I'm always overwhelmed at how at home you are made to feel. Beautiful grounds with stunning views, a fantastic regular programme of holistic/spiritual events, such amazing wholesome food and best of all..the people who live there (or come to stay there)..are so friendly and really go out of their way to make your visit extra special. You instantly feel like part of their community. They offer a huge range of events/workshops/programmes to nurture your being...and you always come away feeling connected and centred. It's one of my favourite places with the best people ...I can't rate it enough...you have to experience the love of it for yourself!
5. New Lanark World Heritage Village
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 921 reviews
Nestled in Lanarkshire's Clyde Valley just 1 hour from Glasgow and Edinburgh, New Lanark World Heritage Site is internationally famous for its historic buildings, beautiful landscape and over 200 years of significant social history. The mill village was founded & built in 1785 by David Dale and Richard Arkwright, and then managed for 25 years from 1800 by the pioneering Robert Owen. New Lanark is now recognised as one of Scotland's six UNESCO World Heritage Sites of 'outstanding universal value' and welcomes over 300,000 site visitors annually. At New Lanark today you can still wonder at the stunning architecture and enjoy the beautiful landscape - but there's a lot more on offer... Visitors can explore the history of the village through the New Lanark Visitor Centre and enjoy stunning woodland walks through the Falls of Clyde Wildlife Reserve to see the famous Waterfalls. The Mill Café serves up a range of delicious home baking, hot lunches, tea, coffee and New Lanark Ice Cream. The Mill Shop offers a delightful range of gifts, Scottish produce and New Lanark Wool which is spun on-site using historic textile machinery. Visitors can even wake up in a World Heritage Site by staying at the New Lanark Mill Hotel, Wee Row Hostel or Self-catering Waterhouses which rest on the banks of the River Clyde.
Reviewed By Gill H - Lancashire
We stayed in one of the Waterhouses in the village so were given a discount on the admission price. The village was very quiet, but everywhere was open.
Coming from a former cotton town ourselves, it was very interesting to see the conditions in which the workers here lived, and find out about the benevolence of the mill owner. In our area, mill attractions are being closed due to funding cuts, so this was a great opportunity to see old mill engines and looms.....unfortunately the former aren't working (on loan from elsewhere) and the loom wasn't working on the days we were there.
Some of the items in the museum to help explain processes need attention. ...The museum also includes a section on how the local landscape was formed and it was here that the interactive 'explainers' didn't do the job.
I found the Annie Mcleod experience a little facile, but it's more for children than adults.
The cafe served good value snacks and was more than adequate. The mill shop sells some upmarket goods, including wool made in the mill, but the emphasis is not on Scottish goods.
Our main reason for coming was to visit the falls which are easily accessed via the site and are free, as they are not part of the museum complex. If, as we did, you walk to the falls, you would need at least half a day for your visit.
6. Rosebank Garden Centre
Overall Ratings
4 based on 53 reviews
Reviewed By lillias l - Glasgow, United Kingdom
A pleasant setting with good food . Nice gifts in shop at reasonable prices . Staff very friendly. Good choice of meals and snacks , cakes to die for again lots to choose from .
7. Netherfield Alpacas
Overall Ratings
5 based on 36 reviews
Alpaca trekking in the forestry in South Lanarkshire, meet the beautiful animals who will steal your heart and give you memories to remember.
Reviewed By Frazer R
Had such a good day with the alpacas. Came as a group of 4 and all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Marleen was very welcoming and was a great guide. Highly recommend if you are up for something a little different.
8. Falls of Clyde Visitor Centre and Wildlife Reserve
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 48 reviews
Reviewed By Rantin rover - Biggar, United Kingdom
The Falls of Clyde Visitor Centre is owned by the Scottish Wildlife Trust who also maintain the Falls of Clyde Wildlife Reserve. The visitor centre is housed in a small building which was the former Mill Dyeworks at New Lanark and has information about the wildlife and history of the area. It’s close to the start of the Falls of Clyde walk and the badger signposts lead the way to it‘s door. Entry is free to members of the SWT and by donation to others. The walks in the area are free to roam and are covered more widely in the separate TA listing for the “Falls of Clyde”.
An attraction in the past has been the breeding peregrine falcons and although the viewing hide still exists further up the river, the birds have not returned this year (2017) - they were apparently an elderly pair! There is/was a video in the Centre which shows the birds in action.
I took a couple of the guided Scottish Wildlife Trust walks this month to see some of the parts of the area which I hadn’t previously explored. One of these was on the Corehouse Estate which is on the opposite side of the River Clyde from New Lanark (not all within the Reserve) and the other walk covered historical mills along the more popular walk route and parts of the former Bonnington Estate (which are within the Reserve) on the New Lanark side of the river. The walks were advertised locally and on the SWT website and take place at various times of the year.
The published routes on the Corehouse Estate side of the river are free to access however on the guided walk we also had permission to see many derelict buildings hidden in the woodland which I was unaware existed. The former walled garden, the conservatory, a 17th Century dovecot, an icehouse and even a hidden path by the side of Corra Burn where there were a couple of Bridges and another waterfall cascading down the hillside. Unfortunately we couldn’t get access to inside Corra Castle on this occasion which had been the main draw to me initially as it is usually out of bounds to visitors.
This Corehouse side of the Falls of Clyde has had limited appeal for me in the past, although there are great views of Bonnington Linn and Corra Linn from established viewpoints, but I’ve now taken a new interest. It’s a pity that many of the Estate buildings are in danger of disappearing (quite literally amongst the undergrowth) however at least Corehouse itself is still standing and each year it is possible to visit the property during May for guided tours (fee payable). It’s on the to do list.
The Bonnington Estate walk took in a history of the mills on the Reserve. Unfortunately it was mainly to point out where they had once been located but now gone (at the base of Corra Castle and across the metal bridge up at Bonnington Linn). However the ruins of a recently excavated saw mill are now visible just off the road which leads downhill to the Bonnington Power Station. I’d seen this as a work in progress on a previous walk and was curious as to what it had been. There is a rough path downhill of the interpretation board which traverses across to the site to avoid the more obvious steep descent to the mill. It’s well worth a look. There are more walled garden ruins near the Bonnington Pavilion (Hall of Mirrors) just off the recently resurfaced path bordering the meadows and I also discovered there are steps (of a sort) leading down to the base of Corra Linn - Lady Mary‘s Steps. These are steep and in a poor state of repair and officially there‘s no access to them. A stone panel alongside dated 1829 details Lady Mary Ross of Bonnington’s patronage.
Walks at the Falls have long been a draw to me and these SWT guided walks have provided added interest.
9. Little Sparta
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 31 reviews
10. Lanark Loch
Overall Ratings
4 based on 40 reviews
Reviewed By Alan R
The place that doesn't want passing trade.Dont bother going near unless you've made a booking,in a restaurant less than 1/2 full.And 3 tables about to leave.We were informed that a wait could be 30mins or so.So we sat prepared to wait sometime when another couple who had booked came in (5mins or so after)and had their order taken before us.All because of the manager/owners time slot system.Neither myself nor my partner expected to be ignored simply as we hadn't booked.Crazy scheme,so don't pop by unexpected.
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