Parks and Recreation

Palacerigg Country Park
Cumbernauld.

This park is quite small but packed with some excellent fun. It includes a visitor centre, cafe, children's adventure play park,shop,country walks ,treetop walkway ,fish tanks, amphibians and petting zoo. I was here in the summer and addition activities like painting ornaments was available at an additional cost. The park is free to enter and would be an ideal place if you had a couple of hours spare.
         Everything is relativly small but enjoyable. I enjoyed the tree top walk way. The petting zoo had Pigs, goats,sheep and rabbits. Enjoyable if you like animals.


Strathclyde park
 http://www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=6760
The Park has many activities available. From boat hire ,bike hire ( Free tandem bike hire for those requiring assistance), great walks, a nice café, M&D,s amusement park. Several public toilets and several fast food options.. The park has 2 small sandy beaches , 2  kids play parks, a roman site, a gym and a rowing club. Its ideal for all ages and mobility's ( although there are several small hills involved if you walk a full circuit of the loch). The park is popular with walkers,cyclists,families,canoeists and joggers . The site also hold large events such as fore work displays and sporting events.

  (  http://scotlandsthemepark.com  Including Amazonia )
http://www.discoveramazonia.co.uk.

http://www.discoveramazonia.co.uk.

Drumpellier Country Park , Coatbridge.

A beautiful park situated near Townhead in Coatbridge. Excellent country walks as well as a scenic paved walk around the loch. Lovely well maintained gardens with lots of benches. The Rangers service offers  various educational day and night walks and talks. The park contains lots of wildlife including Roe deer, buzzards, woodpeckers, Swans, coots, cormorants, foxes and has a well stocked loch of fish.

http://www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=6515

Palacerigg Country park  http://www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=6526

 Dalzell Estate Including Barons Haugh ( Motherwell)
An excellent country park with everything from a Japanese garden to an RSPB nature reserve. The site is for the majority not suitable for those with poor mobility. I had an energetic stroll through the site which included , open grass land, woods, several sets of stairs and at times muddy under foot. There is lots to see and do .
         The site includes an RSPB sanctuary, which includes bird hides that enable you to view the many  and varied types of birds that visit the loch. There is a fantastic Japanese garden, and the Covenanters tree ( probably the oldest thing in North Lanarkshire). I had a great day here but could visit the area several times and find something new each time. I would recommend taking a packed lunch and wearing sturdy walking shoes. Plan either a whole day or a half day visit to this scenic site.
http://www.dalzellandbaronshaugh.co.uk/relics.html

 Mausoleum view

Japanese Garden

 Site entrance

Japanese Garden

 Covenanters Tree

http://www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=6420