Calderglen Country Park is one of Lanarkshire's premier family attractions, The park is a 4-star graded tourist attraction which includes the conservatory, ornamental gardens, children's zoo, extensive nature trails and walks, Courtyard Cafe, toddlers adventure and special needs play areas.
Children's zoo in Lanarkshire
One of the most popular facilities at Calderglen Park is the children's zoo home to a charming and interesting animal collection. Set in attractive gardens and a tropical conservatory, the zoo houses a unique mix of domestic and wild species.
You can visit the family of meerkats, parma wallabies, often with a joey and coatis climbing on their ropes.
Most children love and are attracted to the guinea pigs and rabbits. The birds you can see incluse a barn owl, Amber, white crested laughing thrushes, budgies and finches. If you are lucky you will hear the kookaburras laughing.
Groups may book an informal tour of the zoo with one of the Keepers to find out more about the animals and how we care for them. Find out the animals' favourite foods and how even small zoos like Calderglen are involved in conservation.
For a more formal illustrated talk, groups may book a talk on zoo history. This talk charts the evolution of zoos throughout history and changes in attitudes to captive animal care. It illustrates the improvements in zoo management and what zoos are doing to help endangered animals all over the world.
Another illustrated talk is 'My Rainforest'. Hear personal experiences of the South American Rainforest and find out what makes it so special and worth preserving.
Free admission for children under 16 years.
Walking routes in Lanarkshire
If you would prefer to stretch your legs, within the grounds of Calderglen you can wander along the length of the wooded glen which extends for about 5km along the Rotten Calder river with several attractive waterfalls and important Site of Special Scientfic Interest (SSSI) geological features along the way.
Spring and early summer are the best times for woodland flowers and bird song, especially during early mornings. Foxes, badgers, roe deer and otters may also be seen.
While away, enjoy a lazy summer day out exploring the Calderglen meadows for wild orchids and other interesting flowers. Also look out for butterflies.
Autumn is an especially fine time of year at Calderglen, when the foliage on the trees take on a wide variety of attractive colours and shades - and the toadstools are at their most abundant, together with colourful seasonal fruits and berries.
Calderglen is the perfect destination for your next family day out.
While in East Kilbride, why not pay a visit to the East Kilbride Shopping Centre, which has an Odeon cinema and an indoor ice rink.