Sport and Leisure at Strathclyde Country Park

Article by Harry Young

As a centre for outdoor recreation, Strathclyde Country Park in Lanarkshire ranks as one of the best in the UK. There is a vast range of activities available within its four square kilometres and continues to attract visitors since its creation in 1965. Activities fall into two main areas: water-based and land-based.

Water-Based Activities

The focal area of the park is Strathclyde Loch, an artificial loch which is a major centre for watersports and caters for enthusiasts and those who just want a fun day out. It is home to Strathclyde Park Rowing Club and the Scottish Rowing Centre whose training facilities are the best in Europe. The Rowing Club welcome both competitive and recreational rowers and offer state-of-the-art facilities to both. Beginners enrolling in the Rowstart course are guided through the basics of rowing and progress to single sculls while experienced rowers enjoy the world class training facilities.

Other watersports at the Park include canoeing, jet skiing, windsurfing, dingy sailing, and water-skiing. Equipment and training for each are available for hire. For those who just want to mess about on the water, there are pedalos, Canadian canoes and bumper boats. The loch is regularly monitored by rescue boats to ensure that all loch users are safe at all times.

The loch and rivers Clyde and South Calder also support a healthy population of coarse fish and reasonably priced fishing permits are available.

Land-Based Activities

Football fans are well-catered for with seven pitches and a 7-aside football centre. The surrounding land is criss-crossed by purpose built tracks for jogging, cross country running, and there are also seven miles of bridle paths for horse riders, and three different courses for orienteering. The paths are also suitable for cycling and indeed it is possible to hire bikes at the watersport centre.

Major Events

Strathclyde Country Park and its loch have hosted a number of major events over the years. The T in the Park music festival was held there between 1994 and 1997. The loch is a regular venue for national and international rowing competitions, the most prominent of which was the Commonwealth Games in 1986. It also hosts sailing and canoeing regattas and will be the venue for the triathlon in the 2014 Commonwealth Games. The extensive showgrounds is the venue for country fairs and public exhibitions, many of which attract tens of thousands of visitors.

Nature

There is a variety of countryside at Strathclyde Park such as woodland, parkland and wetlands that are networked with nature trails and paths which visitors are free to roam. The park is a sanctuary and breeding ground for around 150 different wildlife species. Visitors are welcome to make use of the services of the park’s resident Rangers who take regular guided walks throughout the year.

Theme Park

Dominating the skyline at Strathclyde Park is the giant ferris wheel belonging to M&D’s theme park. There is also a variety of white knuckle rollercoasters and thrill rides or for the more faint-hearted there’s an indoor entertainment complex with bowling, amusements and tropical rainforest. The park has excellent visitor facilities including ample free parking and disabled access.

Getting There

Getting to Strathclyde Country Park couldn’t be easier as it is very accessible lying just off junction 5 on the M74 motorway in the Clyde Valley close to Hamilton and Motherwell. Between April and September, a regular bus service operates from Buchanan Street Bus Station in Glasgow.

About the Author

Harry Young works for Toltech Internet Solutions and writes on behalf of The Moorings Hotel, Motherwell – a 3 star hotel and restaurant providing quality accommodation and great food all at affordable prices.

Sport and Leisure in Glasgow

Article by Harry Young

Glasgow has always had a strong sports profile. There is an exciting range of sport and leisure activities to take part in during a stay in Scotland’s largest city – Glasgow. For golfers there are numerous courses nearby to choose from or if it’s a more leisurely stroll you’re after, there is a range of local parks within a close proximity. Here are some of the highlights of sport in Glasgow.

Football

Whether you want to go and watch a big game or have a kick about with friends, Glasgow is a football Mecca. Two of the world’s most famous clubs – Rangers and Celtic – reside here, and the electric matchday atmosphere in the city is second to none. Tickets can be hard to come by sometimes, especially for Old Firm games, but some hotels offer matchday packages including tickets and accommodation.

For the amateur player, there is an impressive network of football centres and facilities. These range from coaching resources to indoor and outdoor five-a-side pitches. Operated by Glasgow City Council, bookings are available at the Glasgow Green Football Centre, where pitches can be booked up to seven days in advance.

Golf

Glasgow has the highest concentration of golfers in Scotland. There are eleven private clubs and five public courses, each offering a different golfing experience with varied prices and facilities.

Although a round at some private clubs must be booked well in advance, Culture and Sport Glasgow’s public courses – three 18-hole and two 9-hole – are play per play at very affordable rates, and have no restrictions on who can play.

Snow Sports

Glasgow has answered the call by growing numbers of skiers and snowboarders by offering superb indoor and outdoor snow sports facilities.

The Glasgow Ski & Snowboard Centre in Bellahouston Park is an outdoor centre with a floodlit dry slope. It has excellent instructional facilities, comprehensive hire and equipment servicing, and organised ski schools for skiers and boarders of all ages.

Just outside Glasgow at Braehead is SNO!zone. This massive venue is the only indoor ski centre in Scotland with real snow. It caters for skiers, snowboarders and tobogganists, and with two slopes of differing lengths and gradients, suits all skill levels. The smaller slope is dedicated to novices, but the main slope is often modified with varied layouts including freestyle, gnarly lines and rails.

Leisure Centres

Fitness fans are spoiled for choice in Glasgow as there is a wide range of leisure centres with many standard and exciting options. Two celebrated centres are Bellahouston Leisure Centre and Xscape.

Bellahouston Leisure Centre lies in beautiful Bellahouston Park and offers a complete package. It has both indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a 10 court sports hall for badminton, five-a-side, volleyball, two squash courts, and to unwind after all that exercise there are saunas, a spa, and steam room.

In Xscape at Braehead, Glasgow has a state-of-the-art sports and leisure facility. Its outstanding feature is the Skypark. This 60m long aerial adventure course is 15m off the ground. Harness up, and, after scaling the climbing wall, traverse swinging rungs and platforms, a cargo net, rope ladders and zip wire, all under the watchful eye of trained instructors.

Xscape also offers fun activities such as ten pin bowling, a snowslope, mini golf, laser tag arena, and soccer circus. And with a variety of restaurants and cinema, it’s a perfect day out for a group of friends or the whole family.

About the Author

Harry Young works for Toltech Internet Solutions and writes on behalf of Noಊ. Queens Drive. A 4 Star Boutique hotel, No. 10 Queens Drive is the ideal base for Glasgow sports and leisure, shopping, and business alike.

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