Best walks from Hamilton West
MapJump on a train, get off at Hamilton West Station and lose yourself in a beautiful hike for the day.
Hamilton West Station to Larkhall Station
Wide pavements through Hamilton give way to a well-surfaced wooded cycle track, then long, undulating riverside paths along the Clyde and River Avon through wooded gorge and countryside. Moderately demanding with frequent changes of gradient, some steep steps and muddy sections. Passes through Chatelherault Country Park; a road alternative reaches Chatelherault House (with cafe and excellent views) avoiding woodland steps. The narrow Millheugh Steps can be bypassed via Sunnyside.
Tough: steep ascents. 12km.
After crossing the busy Bothwell Road, the riverside gorge path undulates with some steep steps. The route wrongly suggests access to the Duke's Bridge from the path below; leave the riverside about 1km earlier (signposted). A muddy path leads into Larkhall near the finish.
Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route
Uddingston Station to Hamilton West Station
Tarmac and compacted-earth riverside footpaths (sometimes narrow) with good views over the river and plus longer stretches of pavement through Bothwell and a retail park. A varied route with an uphill finish. Follows the Clyde Walkway / National Cycle Route 75 along the riverside. Bothwell Castle was undergoing extensive restoration and closed to visitors (Sept 2022).
Easy: 9km, moderate ascents.
The riverside sections can feel isolated and may become muddy after rain.
Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route
Hamilton West Station to Bellshill Station
Mostly tarmac paths out of Hamilton through parkland and around the edge of Strathclyde Loch, with a short muddy wooded section and a stretch of road without pavement and then suburban pavements into Bellshill.
Easy: 7km, moderate ascents.
A short stretch of Bothwellhaugh Road has no pavement (quiet, with a soft verge); a short wooded section can be muddy.
Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route
Hamilton West Station to Motherwell Station
lovely views. A mix of residential pavements and parkland paths and with a wooded section and easy lochside walking through Strathclyde Park. Mostly flat with one steep hill in Hamilton and a long downhill section.
Easy: 5km, moderate ascents.
Steep steps up to and down from the footbridge over the railway at the Motherwell end; a level alternative via High Road and Hamilton Road avoids them. There is a dark underpass some may prefer not to walk alone.
Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route
East Kilbride Station to Hamilton West Station
some lovely sections. Some lovely sections, opening on a flat disused railway path, then a stretch along Stoneymeadow Road (a path runs parallel and a bit muddy) before passing through a green park near Blantyre. Pavement is intermittent in places.
Easy: 10km, moderate ascents.
The Whirlies Roundabout is busy with no pedestrian crossings; a section of Stoneymeadow Road has no pavement, forcing walkers onto the verge; a busy junction and Main Street crossing near Blantyre need care.