City of Glasgow

Chatelherault Country Park

Scotland's Highlands & Islands - Rough Guide

Photographs of Chatelherault Country Park

at Hamilton in central Scotland

The Hunting Lodge in Chatelherault Country Park

Chatelherault Country Park is at Hamilton

on the outskirts of Glasgow in central Scotland.

The name is derived from the town of Châtellerault

in France,

from the title Duc de Châtellerault

held by the Duke of Hamilton.

The country park surrounds the hunting lodge
of the old Hamilton Palace.

The Hunting Lodge in Chatelherault Country Park

Map of Chatelherault Country Park

There are extensive walkways
through the forests of the park
and alongside the River Avon
flowing through the park

Map of Chatelherault Country Park

showing walkway

alongside the River Avon

The White Bridge over the River Avon

in Chatelherault Country Park.

The Avon is a tributary of the River Clyde.

The Avon joins the Clyde

at Strathclyde Country Park

The Duke's Bridge

over the River Avon

in Chatelherault Country Park

Canmore - Duke's Bridge

Aerial view of The Duke's Bridge

over the River Avon

in Chatelherault Country Park

Canmore - Duke's Bridge

The ruins of Cadzow Castle above the River Avon in Chatelherault Country Park

The ruins of Cadzow Castle

above a gorge on the River Avon

in Chatelherault Country Park

Cadzow Castle was constructed between 1500 and 1550.

The town of Hamilton was formerly known as Cadzow

until renamed in honour of the 1st Lord Hamilton.

The ruin is a category B listed building

and a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

Two of the Ancient Cadzow Oak Trees in Chatelherault Country Park

Two of the Ancient 500 years old

Cadzow Oak Trees

in Chatelherault Country Park

Remnants of a medieval hunting park.

The Duke's Monument

in Chatelherault Country Park

Road Bridge over the Avon

Railway Bridge above weir

on River Avon

Gazebo - Lord Gavin's Temple in Dalzell Park

The Hunting Lodge

in Chatelherault Country Park

Campsie Fells and The Hamilton Mausoleum from Chatelherault Country Park

Campsie Fells, Glasgow

and The Hamilton Mausoleum

from Chatelherault Country Park

Sculptures in Chatelherault Country Park

Aerial view of Chatelherault Lodge

Map and Route Description for Baron's Haugh & Dalzell Estate

The Hamilton Mausoleum

at Strathclyde Country Park

The Mausoleum was the resting place

of the family of the Dukes of Hamilton.

It was built in the grounds

of the now-demolished Hamilton Palace.

Map and Route Description of Walk

around Chatelherault Country Park

Map of Cycle Run

around Chatelherault Country Park

Location: South Lanarkshire
Map: OS Landranger 64 or country park map .
Distance: 5 miles ( 8km )
Time: 1 hour
Terrain: hilly, steps; path

Chatelherault Country Park, lying just to the south of Hamilton, is easily accessible and ideal for getting away from it all. This mountain bike route follows a trail through attractive woodland in the Avon gorge. An unavoidable large ﬂight of steps will exercise your arms.
From the car park cycle past the excellent visitor centre and continue downstream for 300m before turning left at a sign for the Cadzow Oaks. Cross the Duke’s Bridge over the Avon Water to soon see the ruins of Cadzow Castle before reaching the 500-year-old gnarled oaks. An Iron Age earthen fort can also be seen here.
Continue above the gorge on the Green Bridge Trail. The gorge is home to a surprisingly healthy selection of wildlife, which includes otters.
The woods also have populations of badger, roe deer, mink and colourful jays.
Pedal on to descend and cross the Green Bridge, followed by a long ascent up a ﬂight of steps. Once completed the return crosses ﬂatter terrain as the path runs above the gorge and by Riccarton Golf Course.
Follow the signs back to the visitor centre by the imposing Chatelherault house. Built more than 250 years ago to a William Adam’s design for the Duke of Hamilton as his hunting lodge, its unusual name is derived from the French town of Chatellerault, as the title Duc de Chatellerault was bestowed on the nobleman.