Discover Lesmahagow: History, Highland Games and Views

Lesmahagow brings together local history, the Highland Games held annually since 1960, and views across the Clyde Valley. If you are planning a hotel stay in Lesmahagow, these themes can shape your reason for travelling in different ways: history, events and landscape each offer a distinct focus. When choosing a destination, you can first consider whether you are most interested in local history, a date for the Games or the landscape.

Churches and history

Lesmahagow Old Parish Church was built in 1803. A later closure notice is relevant to visits, so check access in advance. Inside the church is a stained-glass panel depicting “The Descent from the Cross”, a copy of Rubens’ painting in Antwerp Cathedral. The English title names the subject, while the local work is a stained-glass panel.

Abbeygreen Parish Church and Manse is built of rubble masonry with dressed-stone detailing and slate roofs. These terms describe different building features: rough stones in the masonry, worked stone sections as decoration, and slate as the roofing material. Alongside the stained-glass panel in Old Parish Church, this highlights the materials and workmanship of another church building.

Lesmahagow was once a thriving mining community. The town developed into an important stop for coaches and later gained significance through the railway and the discovery of coal seams. This gives you a historical sequence for context: first its role in coach travel, followed later by development connected with the railway and coal. The town’s history therefore encompasses buildings as well as transport and mining.

The Highland Games as a reason to travel

The Lesmahagow Highland Games have been held every year since 1960. One specific event-day detail is the procession on 20 June 2026: it travelled from Eastwood Drive via Priory Avenue, Priory Road and Abbeygreen to Glebe Park. The recurring annual event and this dated route are two different planning details: the Games take place every year, while the route given describes the procession on that date. If you are planning a trip around the event, check the dates for your chosen year.

Landscape and everyday routes

Lesmahagow is on higher ground and offers beautiful views across the Clyde Valley. The scenery adds a landscape perspective to the historical and cultural themes and can therefore be a factor in its own right when choosing your destination.

For the school journey, the section from Coalburn to NCN 74 is relevant: it gives children a safe route to and from Lesmahagow High School. This stated function relates to the journey to and from school.

A new 10 km route for everyday travel is planned. It is intended to run from NCN 74 near Auldton (Lesmahagow) through Coalburn and Poneil to Douglas. The details differ in purpose and status: the section from Coalburn to NCN 74 provides the school route, while the 10 km route is a proposed new project for everyday travel.

Discover more destinations: Strathaven, Abington, Cambuslang, Blantyre, Lanark, East Kilbride, Carstairs, Larkhall.

For the wider travel overview: South Lanarkshire.