The town of Larkhall offers easy access to the rich heritage of Lanarkshire.
Morgan Glen is a wooded gorge in Larkhall, set in the Avon Valley, a delightful beauty spot largely unknown outside the local area. It is a site of special scientific interest as recognition of its importance for wilflife.
Morgan Glen is situated upstream from Chatelherault Country Park, and is a great place to enjoy a peaceful day out with the flowers and woodland birds. Badgers, otters and roe deer feature amongst the resident mammals.
Morgan Glen can be accessed from Larkhall or via the Avon Walkway heading south from Chatelherault Country Park.
Larkhall Attractions
The Clyde Valley Tourist Route is only minutes away and offers plenty for the family on holiday.
With a selection of garden centres, tea rooms, country walks, parks and pony trekking there is plenty to do, not to mention exploring some of Lanarkshire's many heritage museums and centres, in nearby Hamilton, East Kilbride and Motherwell.
If you're after a bit of history, Chatelherault Country Park, is a 5 star visitor attraction and is only two miles away, and includes its own adventure playground.
A little further away lies the ruins of Craignethan Castle, only six miles from Larkhall. Larkhall also features the newly refurbished Shawlands Park Hotel, which offers both accommodation and refreshments.
A Brief History
Larkhall's name is thought to have grown from the Gaelic "Laverockha" meaning "lark on the hill." The area was known as Machanshire and later Dalserf, in the early 14th century and Larkhall wasn't in common usage until the 1900's.
In the past the main industry in Larkhall was weaving, during the 17th and 18th centuries, the old part of the town features original weavers' cottages.
There are several small villages surrounding Larkhall, including Netherburn, Ashgill and Dalserf. The Old Parish Church in Dalserf was erected in 1655 and was renovated in the 1970s. Netherburn is a lively and closeknit community near to Larkhall and down the Avon Gorge from Larkhall is Millheugh.
Millheugh was once a popular site for fruit growing, especially crops such as apples, pears and plums. The area also boasts its own ghost, the Black Lady who is said to haunt the Applebank Inn.