Calderglen Country Park is a country park in the town of East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire, Scotland. It is situated along the eastern edge of the town and is its principal greenspace and recreation area.[2]
Description
The park opened officially in 1982 and features a small zoo, children's play facilities, display and exhibition venues, a tropical hothouse, and several sports clubs including Torrance Golf Club.
The central area of the park is approached from the old entrance lodge house via the tree-lined driveway of the old estate. The park comprises the gorge portions of the once much more extensive Calderwood and Torrance Estates, with Calderwood Glen occupying the northernmost stretch of the Rotten Calder Water, and Torrance Glen the southern part. Several miles of nature trails run through the park (some prone to landslips),[5] with the longest routes running along the western banks from Flatt in the south to the Hamilton to East Kilbride Expressway (A725) in the north. The northern part of the park is a site of special scientific interest for is carboniferous geology, and the river features a number of waterfalls along its course. The designated woodland within the park totals 33 hectares (82 acres).[6]
Mini zoo, featuring small animals such as meerkats, prairie dogs and owls outdoors, and reptiles and fish in a tropical glasshouse[7]
Ornamental gardens and pond with a chilling statue of Falstaff (previously located at Castlemilk House in Glasgow - Castlemilk and Torrance House were both owned for centuries by the Stuart family)[8]
