Cambuslang is a nice place, we natives like it particularly because there are trees there. It sounds stupid, but there comes a point where you hit this radius around Glasgow where the only trees are in ‘scheduled’ parks and specific areas. Cambuslang marks both the start and the end of this line… depending on your outlook on life.
Cambuslang has plenty of trees and a nice public park.
Image: Egor Baliasov/Shutterstock.com
Your 5 Minute Guide to Cambuslang!
Cambuslang is easy to get to by road
Image:TreasureGalore/Shutterstock.com
Technically, Cambuslang lies to the south-east of Glasgow city centre on the southern bank of the River Clyde. An interesting fact is that they have never had a town hall there. Technically, this makes it the biggest village in Scotland, with a population of nearly 30,000 people. Cambuslang is quite well located for the commuter too, being close to both East Kilbride & Hamilton and you can drive to Edinburgh in around an hour.
The town (or village) of Cambuslang has been involved in the industrial processes in Scotland since a recorded first foray into coal mining as long ago as 1490. When they were putting up a housing estate in Cambuslang they dug out Iron Age relics… so the town itself is a hell of a lot older than recorded history. Unfortunately, Cambuslang has been built in such a rich area that it has been embroiled in politics over the years and ultimately fell afoul of the Covenanters and Oliver Cromwell in its time.
The Clyde Walkway
Cambuslang being on the Clyde, gives it access to the Clyde walkways and some of the areas where “Braveheart” himself, William Wallace used to hang out. Notable clans in the area included Dundas, Murray (Moray) and even the Hamiltons.
So if you were in this lovely, leafy, town for a few days and you needed something to get up to – what are the attractions? Don’t worry, we have you covered… here is our five-minute guide to Cambuslang to keep you amused… at least for a little while!
Cambuslang – What’s in it?
Some of our favourite Cambuslang attractions are listed below.
Bothwell Castle
This one is set just outside town in the contested territory between Bothwell and Cambuslang – and is also the reason why people consider the town to be so leafy. Bothwell Castle hovers on the banks of the River Clyde in its own area of woodland. It is a stunning medieval castle that, although semi-ruined, still stands to this day. It was the ancestral seat of the clan Murray, and changed hands again and again during the wars of independence.
At least parts of the castle were built as early as the 13th century. That’s pretty impressive for a castle that still stands to this day… imaging how much rain has run down those walls since then. It is a wonder the stones haven’t calcified yet…
The Tollcross Park and Leisure Centre
IF you are in Cambuslang with the kids and you want to kill some time then this place is great. The park brings plenty of choice in outdoor play spaces and picnic areas. There is a gashouse, a children’s farm (slash petting zoo) that is open during the summer, and the Tollcross International Swimming Centre, all in the same area.
They have a courtyard visitor centre and also a burn runs through the centre of the park. It is like a little glen that you can choose to stop by and enjoy, in the heart of the city. Go see for yourself and don’t be afraid to report back!
ScotKart Go Karting
ScotKart Go-karting is fairly big in Scotland. There is something really satisfying about crashing your car repeatedly into your friends. When it is your boss? All the better! Team building is a big hit in the go-kart world and there is no better place to do it than in Cambuslang and with ScotKart. You can go with as big a group as possible… in fact, the more folk you have to smash into – the better!
The Kids Complex
The Kids Complex is the soft play centre that all parents admire. You pick them up after school, take them here, put them in the ball pit, and you can sip some tea. There is nothing wrong with accepting parenting help from trained staff.
Food and drink is available here for those that can afford it. They are also very likely to offer you the chance to hold a kid’s party here. Parties here come with everything and you don’t need extra entertainment. We call that a bonus… especially if you get to sip tea while the party is going on.
Where to Eat, Drink and Party
So where do you go for the more common amenities? If you are looking for somewhere to pit stop with the family then the BISTRO should fill you up. It is Mediterranean food but we have yet to hear a bad word said about it. On the other hand, if you want to enjoy some fine dining in Cambuslang then we suggest you head to Oiishi Japanese. It is out of town and further towards East Kilbride but it is definitely worth the travelling.
If you want to dance the night away in Cambuslang and you can’t be bothered heading the three or four miles into Glasgow then you should visit Enterteasement. It has a corny name but the premise is sound.
Other Things to do Near Cambuslang
So if you want to get out of town for a while, here are some other sights you should see:
- Calderglen Country Park – a deer reservation with its own zoo and other fun things, out near EK.
- M&D’s Theme Park – situated a few miles away in Hamilton/Motherwell, you can find a full day of fun at M&D’s.
- The People’s Palace presents ample opportunity to learn about the Scottish people. We really are a lovely bunch… go find out about us!
Still Got 5?
If you still have five minutes free then there are loads of things you can do in that short time. Head on over to our travel pages and start exploring the world, learn a new skill or start studying law! When you have five minutes free the whole world is your oyster!
