Strathclyde Park

Strathclyde Country Park is a country park located in Lanarkshire, Scotland.

The park covers some 4 km², centred on the artificial Strathclyde Loch. It is located next to the River Clyde between Hamilton and Motherwell. Strathclyde Park forms what used to be known as the "Low parks" of the now demolished Hamilton Palace and still includes buildings associated with the palace. The park offers many amenities and attractions such as woodland walks, watersports, and a camping and caravaning site. One of Scotland's theme parks, M&Ds is located close to the park. Until 1996, the music festival T in the Park was held here.

Although the focus of the park is on recreation, a variety of habitats are present, including wetlands and native woodland.

Rowing at Strathclyde Park

Major events held at the loch include the rowing events for the 1986 Commonwealth Games, the 1996 Junior World Rowing Championships (and the World Rowing Championships for non-Olympic events), the 2005 World Rowing Masters Regatta and the 2006 Commonwealth Rowing Championships. In 2007 the World Rowing Under 23 Championships were held within the park from 26 to 29 July.The loch also hosts the National Rowing Championships once every four years, which are normally held in Holme Pierrepont, Nottingham. The Park is home to [http://www.sprc.freeserve.co.uk Strathclyde Park Rowing Club] and the [http://www.scottish-rowing.org.uk/NRA.html National Rowing Academy] .

Major Events

The watersports events of the 2005 Glasgow Special Olympics and the 2006 Scottish Triathlon Championships were staged at the park.

The park is an official venue for the 2011 International Children's Games and the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

The west side of the park is bounded by the River Clyde, which was diverted when the loch was built in 1975. The original course can be seen between the east loch shore and the island. Across the Clyde is the M74 motorway, which creates a significant level of noise. The east side of the park is quieter, with woodland and paths leading up the slopes to Motherwell.

The remains of Bothwellhaugh Roman Fort and a Roman bath house can be seen in the park, where the South Calder Water flows into the loch. There is an arched Roman bridge across the South Calder nearby. The site of the Battle of Bothwell Bridge (1679) is to the north west of the park.

External links

* [http://www.northlan.gov.uk/leisure+and+tourism/parks+gardens+and+play+services/strathclyde+country+park/strathclyde+country+park++facilities+and+services.html Information from North Lanarkshire Council]
* [http://www.abandonedcommunities.co.uk/bothwellhaugh.html Bothwellhaugh, the former mining village now largely submerged under Strathclyde Loch]
* [http://www.sprc.freeserve.co.uk Strathclyde Park Rowing Club]
* [http://www.scottish-rowing.org.uk/NRA.html National Rowing Academy]
* [http://www.strathclydelochsailing.com Strathclyde Loch Sailing Club]