M74 Junction 5 dog walk near Motherwell, Scotland

ML1 3RT

M74 Junction 5 dog walk near Motherwell, Scotland - Dog walks in Scotland
M74 Junction 5 dog walk near Motherwell, Scotland - Dog walks in Scotland
M74 Junction 5 dog walk near Motherwell, Scotland - Dog walks in Scotland
M74 Junction 5 dog walk near Motherwell, Scotland - Dog walks in Scotland

Description

A very handy stopping point whether you're heading north or south, as this enormous park spans almost the complete distance between Junctions 5 and 6.   Enjoy a tranquil leafy walk alongside the loch or, if you have kids to please, there's a beach and funfair/theme park that should satisfy younger passengers.   Update:  a DwD member recently visited the park and found things had changed. Please read her review below. 

Disabled Access Available
Refreshments Available
WC Available
Free Parking Available
Children's Activities Available
No Height Restriction
Sleep Not Available

Details

GPS coords for car park: 55.7970, -4.0336 What3Words: ///sunk.able.vital  Dog poo bins. Meals available at the Toby Carvery (in the Express Holiday Inn) just before the exit for M74 Junction 5. This walk is easily accessible from junction 6 as well.   The park is also home to Scotland's first theme park with a Wimpy and other cafes and children's entertainment. This is on the right side of the road before the 4th car park.    Foreshaw beach, the 5th car park, is popular with families and gives access to a grassy lakeside ‘beach', children's playground, WCs, and an ice-cream van in Summer.    The final car park, just before the Toby Carvery, serves the visitor centre. The visitor centre is located here, but this dingy building appeared to be closed permanently and the disabled WCs behind it were also locked on the day we visited.

Full Walk Details

Length of walk: 25-60 minutes    We started from the 3rd car park and headed into the woodland away from the road. The path leads down to the lakeside, and joins what seems to be a semi-circular, hard surface, waterside pathway which can be accessed from most of the car parks. On a sunny July day the park didn't feel at all crowded, and the choice of paths either by the water or criss-crossing the surrounding woodland can make this into quite a long hike if you wish.