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New Lanark World Heritage Site, Lanark

Companionship careSouth Lanarkshire

Days out in South Lanarkshire for an older parent

Nine places in South Lanarkshire that make a good day out for an older parent, from New Lanark World Heritage Site to Strathaven. For each one: what its own access information confirms, what it costs, how long to allow, and the carers nearby who drive and could take them.

Researched by PrimeCarers from each place’s own website and access information  ·  Updated September 2026

New Lanark World Heritage Site. Photo: mrpbps, CC BY 2.0

Nine days out across seven towns

The best places to take an older parent in South Lanarkshire

Five of them are free to visit or to walk around. The access information for two describes a step-free route, and two confirm an accessible toilet. Where a place does not publish its access, we say so.

New Lanark World Heritage Site, Lanark

Photo: mrpbps, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Museum · Lanark

New Lanark World Heritage Site

New Lanark is a restored 18th century cotton mill village beside the River Clyde, made famous by Robert Owen's reforms in housing, schooling and working conditions. Visitors can see the mill, the school, a millworker's house and Robert Owen's house, and there is a café and a roof garden.

Many areas can be fully accessed, but the village sits in a steep-sided valley, so a carer should read the access page and plan the route from the car park before setting off.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Paid entry

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Lanark

Chatelherault Country Park, Hamilton

Photo: AlistairMcMillan, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons

Park · Hamilton

Chatelherault Country Park

Chatelherault is a country park on the edge of Hamilton centred on an 18th century hunting lodge built for the Dukes of Hamilton, with 500 acres of woodland and over ten miles of paths along the Avon gorge. The visitor centre has the Oaks Café, a gift shop and a heritage exhibition.

The visitor centre, café and hunting lodge are together near the car park, with views across the valley, so an older visitor can enjoy the setting without the gorge paths.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Free

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Hamilton

Low Parks Museum, Hamilton

Photo: Gordon Brown, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Museum · Hamilton

Low Parks Museum

Low Parks Museum in Hamilton tells the story of the town and the Dukes of Hamilton, and holds the collection of the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) regiment. It is housed in Portland House, the town's oldest building, and the neighbouring riding school.

There is level access throughout, an accessible toilet and a wheelchair to borrow from reception, so the museum can be visited at an easy pace.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free

What their access information confirms

  • Step-free route
  • Accessible toilet
  • Wheelchairs to borrow

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Hamilton

Calderglen Country Park, East Kilbride

Photo: WeeHolly, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Park · East Kilbride

Calderglen Country Park

Calderglen Country Park on the edge of East Kilbride has a small zoo and tropical conservatory, ornamental gardens, nature trails along the Rotten Calder river and a courtyard café. The zoo keeps meerkats, lemurs, reptiles and birds.

Disabled parking and toilets are signposted throughout the park, and the conservatory, gardens and café are grouped together, so a carer can plan a short visit around them.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Park free, zoo and conservatory charged

What their access information confirms

  • Accessible toilet
  • Blue Badge parking
  • Café

Their website

Carers who drive, based near East Kilbride

National Museum of Rural Life, East Kilbride

Photo: Billy McCrorie, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Museum · East Kilbride

National Museum of Rural Life

The National Museum of Rural Life is a museum, historic farmhouse and working farm outside East Kilbride telling the story of Scotland's countryside, with tractors, farm tools and a 1950s-style working dairy farm. A tractor-trailer carries visitors between the museum and the farm.

A gentle ramp runs all the way round the museum building to every gallery, and the tractor-trailer saves the walk to the farm, although only the ground floor of the farmhouse is accessible.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Paid entry

What their access information confirms

  • Step-free route

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near East Kilbride

Bothwell Castle, Uddingston

Photo: Billy McCrorie, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Castle · Uddingston

Bothwell Castle

Bothwell Castle is a large 13th century red sandstone castle on a bend of the River Clyde, with the ruins of a great round keep and a later great hall. It is cared for by Historic Environment Scotland.

The castle is about 160 metres from the car park along a level path and a paved path runs round the courtyard, although the keep and hall are reached by steep stairs.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Paid entry

What their access information confirms

  • Partly step-free

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Uddingston

David Livingstone Birthplace, Blantyre

Photo: Nigel Thompson, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Museum · Blantyre

David Livingstone Birthplace

The David Livingstone Birthplace is a museum in the mill tenement in Blantyre where the explorer and missionary was born in 1813, reopened by the National Trust for Scotland after a major refurbishment. The grounds by the River Clyde have gardens, a café and play areas.

The museum and café sit together by the car park, so a carer can plan the visit around a short look at the exhibitions and a sit-down in the grounds.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Paid entry, free for National Trust for Scotland members

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Blantyre

Biggar, Biggar

Photo: Jim Barton, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Market town · Biggar

Biggar

Biggar is an old market town in the hills of upper Clydesdale, with an unusually wide High Street lined with independent shops, tea rooms and the Corn Exchange. Tinto Hill rises to the west of the town.

The wide, flat High Street has parking along it and cafés close together, so a carer can keep the walking short.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Biggar

Strathaven, Strathaven

Photo: Billy McCrorie, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Market town · Strathaven

Strathaven

Strathaven is a small market town on the Avon Water, with the ruins of Strathaven Castle above the old town centre and George Allan Park running along the river. The town is known for its toffee, its bakeries and its independent shops.

The town centre is compact with cafés close to the castle ruins and the park, so a carer can plan a short circuit with a tea stop.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Strathaven

Regular groups and events in South Lanarkshire

Something to go back to every week or every year, from our research into what older people enjoy doing in South Lanarkshire.

  • MusicSouth Lanarkshire Orchestral Society concerts and rehearsalsAn amateur orchestra that rehearses through the season and gives public concerts in the area. A carer can check the concert dates, arrange transport and sit alongside, which makes an evening out possible for someone who would not travel into Glasgow.Details
  • Music · LanarkLanimer Day bands and processions in LanarkLanark's Lanimers week each June fills the town with pipe and brass bands, parades and the crowning of the Lanimer Queen. A carer can plan an early spot on the route with a seat and a clear way back to the car, so someone can watch the bands without standing for hours.Details
  • Photography · East KilbrideEast Kilbride Camera ClubA local camera club with regular meetings, talks and competitions for members of all standards. A carer can handle the driving and kit, so someone can keep up the club nights and outings without worrying about the practicalities.Details
  • PaintingDrawing and painting classes with South Lanarkshire Leisure and CultureThe council's leisure and culture service runs drawing and painting courses for adults in venues across the county. A carer can book a place, carry materials and stay for the session, which suits someone returning to painting after a break.Details
  • Painting · BiggarBiggar Little Festival arts programmeAn annual autumn festival in Biggar with exhibitions, visual arts events and talks across the town's halls and venues. A carer can pick one or two daytime exhibitions, plan a break for lunch and avoid a long day on the feet.Details
  • SportsActivage sessions for older adultsActivage is South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture's programme of gentler fitness, gym and swimming sessions aimed at older adults. A carer can arrange the timetable, come along to the class and help with changing rooms so attendance does not lapse.Details

Hobbies and carers who share them in South Lanarkshire

At a glance

The nine places side by side

What each place’s own access information confirms. “Ask” means it does not say, not that it is missing.

PlaceTimeCostStep-freeToiletCafé
New Lanark World Heritage SiteLanarkhalf a dayPaid entryAskAskAsk
Chatelherault Country ParkHamiltonhalf a dayFreeAskAskAsk
Low Parks MuseumHamiltonan hour or twoFreeYesYesAsk
Calderglen Country ParkEast Kilbridehalf a dayFree outside, paid insideAskYesYes
National Museum of Rural LifeEast Kilbridehalf a dayPaid entryYesAskAsk
Bothwell CastleUddingstonan hour or twoPaid entryPartlyAskAsk
David Livingstone BirthplaceBlantyrean hour or twoPaid entryAskAskAsk
BiggarBiggaran hour or twoFreeAskAskAsk
StrathavenStrathavenan hour or twoFreeAskAskAsk

Where the places are in South Lanarkshire

The county’s boundary, numbered as on this page, with the main towns for reference.

RutherglenCarluke123456789
  1. 1New Lanark World Heritage Site, Lanark
  2. 2Chatelherault Country Park, Hamilton
  3. 3Low Parks Museum, Hamilton
  4. 4Calderglen Country Park, East Kilbride
  5. 5National Museum of Rural Life, East Kilbride
  6. 6Bothwell Castle, Uddingston
  7. 7David Livingstone Birthplace, Blantyre
  8. 8Biggar, Biggar
  9. 9Strathaven, Strathaven

What it costs

What a day out with a carer costs in South Lanarkshire

Carers in South Lanarkshire charge £19 to £20 an hour through PrimeCarers, typically £19, with our fee included. A four-hour outing is about £76 for the carer’s time. Entry, food and parking are extra, and travel costs are only payable if you agree them with the carer in advance, in writing. The cost of home care in South Lanarkshire has the full figures.

Photographs on this page are from Wikimedia Commons, credited under each one.

Questions

Questions families ask about days out in South Lanarkshire

New Lanark World Heritage Site in Lanark, Chatelherault Country Park in Hamilton, Low Parks Museum in Hamilton, Calderglen Country Park in East Kilbride, National Museum of Rural Life in East Kilbride, Bothwell Castle in Uddingston, David Livingstone Birthplace in Blantyre, Biggar in Biggar and Strathaven in Strathaven. Each has its own section on this page with what its access information confirms, the cost and how long to allow.

The access information for Low Parks Museum and National Museum of Rural Life describes a step-free route. Low Parks Museum and Calderglen Country Park have an accessible toilet. Low Parks Museum lends wheelchairs. Access changes, so ring ahead about anything your parent depends on.

Chatelherault Country Park, Low Parks Museum, Calderglen Country Park (outside free, inside paid), Biggar and Strathaven. Parking is often charged even where entry is free.

Yes. A companion carer can drive your parent there, walk at their pace, help with the toilet and meals, and bring them home. 22 of the carers with a rate near South Lanarkshire drive. Visits are booked by the hour, typically £19 an hour here with our fee included. Companionship care in South Lanarkshire shows who is available.

Often. Many attractions let a carer or companion in free, or at a reduced price, with a disabled visitor, and some ask for proof such as a letter or a benefit award. It varies, so check each place’s access or prices page before you go.

Where the nearest carers live

From the profiles of the carers based within about 45 minutes of South Lanarkshire

Where the nearest carers live. A carer close to home can manage a longer day out.

Companionship care in the counties around South Lanarkshire

Days out in the areas around South Lanarkshire

Companionship care by town in South Lanarkshire

Each town page shows the carers who list it as home, with their rates and reviews.

Find a carer who could take them out in South Lanarkshire

See carers near South Lanarkshire who drive, with their photos, interests, rates and reviews. Talking to them is free and nothing is booked until you say so.

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