Best walks from Holytown
MapJump on a train, get off at Holytown Station and lose yourself in a beautiful hike for the day.
Airdrie Station to Holytown Station
Residential streets and a well-surfaced cycle track give way to rough, potentially muddy unsurfaced paths, then the attractive North Calder Heritage Trail beside an abandoned canal, before busy roads into Holytown. Urban at both ends and attractive in the middle. Follows the North Calder Heritage Trail for about 2km, with the abandoned canal on one side and the North Calder river on the other.
Easy: 8km, moderate ascents.
A middle section over rough ground via unsurfaced, potentially muddy and isolated paths needs care (boots advised; cyclists may struggle). The section along the B802 and Bo'ness Road through roundabouts into Holytown is very busy and noisy (though with a good wide pavement). The mapped route was closed by a temporary barrier at Holytown, requiring a short diversion via Melrose Avenue.
Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route
Motherwell Station to Holytown Station
Short route through New Stevenston and Riccard Johnston Park, then a wooded track around the golf course (stony underfoot, sturdy shoes advised) down to South Calder Water and before joining the well-surfaced Motherwell Green Link into town. Quiet and remote in the middle. The final stretch follows the Motherwell Green Link footpath into the town centre.
Easy: 3km, moderate ascents.
The wooded track around Colville Park Golf Course is remote, unlit and rough underfoot in places (some very rough hardcore); it may not suit all travellers walking alone.
Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route
Bellshill Station to Holytown Station
A fairly straight, safe route along Clydesdale Street closely following the railway line, with decent pavements and then playing fields and a path round the back of houses. Not the most scenic.
Easy: 3km, gentle ascents.
The mapped route along Garfield Avenue is blocked: the section from Calder Road is a rough, unmaintained dead end. Detour via Ella Gardens to a footpath that rejoins Garfield Avenue beyond the blockage.