📌 Motherwell, North Lanarkshire
★★
🛠️ Riverside section under long term closure due to erosion – circular route not passable at the moment (checked April 2024). A diversion is possible using paths further north; at some point I plan to modify the route given here.
Dalzell Estate and Baron’s Haugh form a peaceful, leafy barrier between Motherwell and the River Clyde. This former hunting ground was sold to the Hamilton family in 1647, who landscaped the grounds and dramatically extended Dalzell House into the mansion you can see today. Much of the attractive estate is woodland interspersed with steep-sided burns; follies, monuments and the family mausoleum and graveyard indicate the family’s former wealth. Meanwhile, extensive wetland immediately to the west is an RSPB site known as Baron’s Haugh: a popular overwintering and nesting habitat for ducks, geese and swans, kingfishers and lapwings, to name a few. Exploring both parts is a delightful way to spend a few hours, with our circuit taking in the main points of interest.
📷 Chronological photo guide
Track near the start 
Slug food! 
Dandelion seed head 
View from Marsh Hide, RSPB Baron’s Heugh 
View from Causeway Hide 
River Clyde 
River Clyde 
Mausoleum & graveyard 
St Patrick’s Well 
Lord Gavin’s Temple 
Woodland by the Dalzell Burn 
Wild garlic by the path 
View of Dalzell House from The Listening Cave 
Muirhouse tower blocks 
Dalzell House 
Covenanters Oak 
Bench sculpture near the finish
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish at RSPB Baron’s Haugh, off Manse Road, 1 mi south of Motherwell town centre
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NS 755552
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.774386,-3.986074
🚌 North Lodge Avenue | 🚆 Airbles (1 mi)
🚗 Car park
📝 Key info
▶ 6 km / 4 mi | ▲ 70 m | ⌛ 2 hr
Features: 🦢 RSPB Baron’s Haugh & hides; 💧 River Clyde; 🌳 Dalzell Estate (various sights – see route info)
⬤ Easy | Good paths or tracks throughout, occasional steep sections.
Download file for GPS➡️ Anticlockwise circuit with various minor detours: start – Marsh Hide – Causeway Hide – Phoenix Hide – Centenary Hide – Chestnut Walk – Mausoleum & graveyard – St Patrick’s Well – Lord Gavin’s Temple – High Arch Bridge – The Listening Cave – cross Dalzell Burn at east end of estate – Dalzell House & Covenanters Oak – Sow Bridge – Japanese Garden – start
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Mute swans, Canada geese, mallards, coots, lots of birdsong, roe deer.
Weather: Sunny intervals, generally becoming cloudier. Temperature climbing to mid teens.
May 2018
