Lanark

Beyond the town, the countryside takes over. Campsites and glamping are spread across the farmland and valley sides: Pentland View Campsite, North Lodge Glamping, Collierhall Farm, Cartland Craig's, Clyde Valley Caravan Park and Cleghorn Farm all give a more open-air, rural way to base yourself, with the Clyde Valley's mix of woodland, gorge and farmland right on the doorstep.

For things to do, New Lanark itself is the obvious draw, but closer to the town centre Lanark Loch is a good spot for a walk, with water and green space that's easy to reach without a car. It's a fairly quiet destination in terms of formal attractions, which suits the way most people use it: as a base for exploring the wider Clyde Valley rather than ticking off a long list within the town itself.

Eating out in Lanark is broad rather than flashy, with a genuinely large spread of restaurants for a town this size. You'll find everyday favourites like China Chef and Eastern Spice for a takeaway-style meal, cafés such as Audrey's Coffees for something simpler, and more sit-down options at Bartons Bistro and Crossburn Kitchen. Out towards the villages, places like Brocketsbrae Village Hall and the Carstairs Junction Welcome All Hub show how food and community life overlap in this part of Lanarkshire, while Ebis rounds out a scene that's more varied than the town's size might suggest.