Coatbridge at a glance

Industrial heritage and outdoor trails give Coatbridge a range of options for your stay. The Summerlee Museum of Scottish Industrial Heritage is a ten-minute walk from Coatbridge’s railway and bus stops. Circular trails, a signposted route linking two parks and the Monkland Canal offer a variety of routes and historic sites to explore.

Trails by length and route

At Drumpellier Country Park, a fully accessible circular trail runs around Lochend Loch; it is about 1 mile long. The signposted Seven Lochs Trail is 10 km long and connects Drumpellier Country Park, on the edge of Coatbridge, with Hogganfield Park in Glasgow. The two options therefore differ in both length and route: one loops around Lochend Loch, while the other is a signposted connection between two parks.

A 3.1 km section of the Monkland Canal runs to the west side of the railway bridge on West Canal Street in Coatbridge. This section includes the canal, embankments on both sides and a towpath alongside the water-filled sections; parts of the canal are covered over. The three descriptions offer different points of reference: a loop, a connection from park to park, and a canal section with a precisely named endpoint.

Industrial history in the townscape

The Coatbridge section of the Monkland Canal is part of a well-used local heritage trail celebrating Coatbridge’s industrial heritage. The Railway Bridge over Coatbridge Cross is also one of the defining features of the town’s urban and industrial landscape. At Bank Street Basin, striking art installations commemorate the region’s iron, coal and steel industries. These places offer different connections to industrial history: the canal and bridge shape the landscape, while the art installations highlight industrial themes.

The Coatbridge Fountain stands at the corner of Main Street and South Circular Road. It was dedicated in 1890 to Alexander Whitelaw, the then manager of Gartsherrie Ironworks. The dedication adds a specific date and a named person to the architectural and artistic connections.

Museum and leisure attractions

The Summerlee Museum of Scottish Industrial Heritage is located on the site of the former 19th-century Summerlee Ironworks. The museum offers tours of a reconstructed mine. The same museum thus brings together two different connections to industrial history: the site of a former ironworks and a tour of a replica mine.

Visitors can see a model of Scotland’s first iron boat, The Vulcan. It offers another tangible way to explore the history of ironworking while keeping the focus on trails and landscape.

The Time Capsule water park has been fully restored following extensive technical work. As its condition may change due to future work, check the latest information before your visit. The water park features the indoor Tornado Tantrum waterslide, which four people can ride together. The Time Capsule also has an ice rink with skate hire for adults and children.

Discover more destinations: Airdrie, Motherwell, Cleland, Wishaw, Cumbernauld, Shotts, Caldercruix, Bellshill

For the regional travel overview: North Lanarkshire.