Strathaven

Strathaven

Hikers meet horse riders

Introduction

Tonight, I am reporting on the pleasant country town of Strathaven, about twenty-six miles south of Glasgow. Population is 7350 persons.

Information on Strathaven

The town is very well kept and has much to offer the visitor including:

  • Ruined 16th century castle
  • Imposing churches including the 18th century, Strathaven East Parish Church.
  • Brewery.
  • Many good eating places. We dined at the Strathaven Hotel which dates from the late 18th century.
  • Well kept parks.
  • Pleasant burn (stream) running through the town.
  • A former textile mill.

Strathaven is a good base for hiking. The images herein include those taken during a 7.5 mile hike in countryside around the town. The image portfolio includes:

  • Horse riders.
  • Murals
  • Waterfalls
  • Geese
  • A medieval castle
  • Avon Water (river).
  • A fisherman.
  • Village of Sandford
Town centre
Srathaven Park, Scotland
Strathaven East Church
Fisherman at Avon Water,
Spectacle ‘E’ Falls,
Gaggle of Geese
Sandford,
Avon Water Landscape
Consignment of hay passing through Strathaven
Strathaven Castle
Strathaven Castle
Mural
Strathaven Park

Castle

A brief chronology of this castle is as follows:

  • First castle erected in 1170s by the Baird family whose ancestor fought at the Battle of Hastings in 1066.
  • First stone castle built around 1350. This was burnt down in the 1450s, possibly by King James II. By this time the castle was in hands of the Black Earls of Douglas. Around 1455 the castle seems to have been deliberately slighted.
  • Around the mid 1400s the castle was gifted to Sir Andrew Stewart, Lord Avondale, a supporter of the King.
  • Lord Avondale built the castle in the form that we know today.
  • In 1534 the castle passed to Sir James Hamilton of Finnart, a  military architect. Sir James served King James V as Master of the King’s Works,
  • The castle passed to the Marquesses and Dukes of Hamilton in 1611 in whose hands it remained until 1912.
  • Today the castle is a romantic ruin which is accessible  by the public.

More information for the visitor to Scotland

Information on castles, history, hiking, sightseeing and much more can be found in Visitors’ Guide to Scotland. This book can be found on Kindle and ISBN is 978-1-9161332-0-4.

Back to news