Motherwell

By air

Supergolden

• Strathclyde Country ParkLarge park surrounding an artificial lake, created in the 1970s and submerging the former mining village of Bothwellhaugh. It's bounded to the west by the diverted River Clyde, and by M74 which can be noisy - the east of the park is quieter. There are woodlands and wetlands, and the remains of Roman Baths. There's a water sports centre, M&Ds theme park and a camping and caravaning site.

• Motherwell Cathedral

  phone: +44 1698 263045
  address: 31 Coursington Rd ML1 1PP
  Red-brick Gothic building designed by Pugin and completed in 1900, now the seat of the RC diocese of Motherwell. Note the organ, renovated in 2008.

• North Lanarkshire Heritage Centre

  phone: +44 1698 274590
  address: High Road ML1 3HU
  This is the main repository for archives and records for North Lanarkshire.

• Dalzell Estate & Baron's HaughA designed landscape around Dalzell House (which is nowadays private flats), with wetlands and woods providing a nature reserve. With Japanese Gardens, and Baron's Haugh is an RSPB reserve with bird hides.

• See Hamilton (four miles west) for the Duke of Hamilton's mausoleum and Chatelherault Country Park.

Gregyscotland

• has a regular programme of events. It's within the Civic Centre and council offices at the junction of Windmillhill St and Airbles Rd.

• M&D's Theme Park

  phone: +44 1698 333777
  address: Strathclyde Country Park ML1 3RT
  Theme park and funfair, Amazonia tropical house, ten-pin bowling, crazy golf, amusement arcade and several eating places. Check ahead for closures of various sections. Alona Hotel is adjacent.

• Aquatec Motherwell

  phone: +44 1698 332828
  address: 1 Menteith Road ML1 1AZ
  Leisure centre with pool, large gym, dance studios and health suite. Cleanliness and maintenance erratic.
• Watch football ie soccer at

  Motherwell FC

  phone: +44 1698 333333
  address: Fir Park Stadium, Fir Park St, Motherwell ML1 2QN
  They play in the Scottish Premiership, the top tier of Scottish football. The stadium, capacity 13,000, is a mile southeast of town centre off A721 Windmillhill St.

Supergolden

• Brandon Shopping Centre is just south of the railway station in the fork of the tracks. It's the town's main retail centre, with a pedestrianised outdoor mall lined with shops and fast-food places. Free toilets and nearby parking.
• ASDA and Aldi are south next to Brandon, and reached by walkways.

• There's a fast food strip from the railway station south into Brandon shopping centre.

• Da Claudio Restaurant

  phone: +44 1698 264384
  address: 388 Brandon Street ML1 1XA
  Friendly place for pizza & pasta.

• Tony Macaroni

  phone: +44 1698 266272
  address: 352 Brandon Street ML1 1XA
  Budget chain Italian.

• Hup Lee Buffet

  phone: +44 1698 253313
  address: 131 Merry Street ML1 1JP
  All you can eat Chinese buffet, good food for the price. They also have a takeaway on Windmillhill St.

• Indian Villa

  phone: +44 1698 254851
  address: 68 Windmillhill Street ML1 1TA
  Small good-value Indian.
• Toby Carvery is at M74 jcn 5 next to the Holiday Inn Express. It's open daily 07:00-23:00.

• There's a strip of pubs along Merry Street east of the station. These include Horseshoe Bar at the junction with Muir St, Railway Tavern at no 31, The Brandon Works a JD Wetherspoon at no 61, Woodcutter Bar at no 127, and Burns Tavern at no 210 on the corner of Dalziel St.
• Another strip runs south towards Windmillhill St. Here are The Brandon Bar, New Century Bar at no 49, Windmill Tavern at no 75, and Steelworks Bar & Grill (formerly Jack Daniels) round the corner on Glencairn St.
• Electric Bar is west, next to Airbles railway station, while The Bullfrog is south along the road to Wishaw.

• The caravan site is at M74 jcn 5 next to the Holiday Inn Express. It's open all year, with 45 camping pitches and 107 caravan hook-ups.

• Holiday Inn Express

  phone: +44 1698 858585
  address: Strathclyde Country Park ML1 2RB
  Reliable budget chain just off motorway.

• Alona Hotel

  phone: +44 1698 333888
  address: Strathclyde Country Park ML1 3RT
  Well-run place by the park, close to motorway.

• Best Western Moorings Hotel

  phone: +44 1698 258131
  address: 114 Hamilton Road ML1 3DG
  Good central hotel.

• Dalziel Park Hotel

  phone: +44 1698 862862
  address: 10 Hagen Drive ML1 5RZ
  Mid-range place by woodlands and golf course, often used for weddings & other functions.

• Bentley Hotel

  phone: +44 1698 265588
  address: 19 High Road ML1 3HU
  Victorian house near town centre, some facilities worn.

• Wishaw General Hospital

  address: 50 Netherton Street, Wishaw ML2 0DP
  This is the closest hospital, 2 miles south of Motherwell, and has A&E facilities.

• Hamilton a few miles west is industrial but has Chatelherault Country Park.
• New Lanark is a well-preserved 19th C mill complex and model town.
• Glasgow and Edinburgh both rank as must-see and are easily accessible by train or by road.