Palacerigg Country Park is a lovely place to bring young people! I work with children and have brought some of them there occasionally! Invarioubly they ask to visit this park again!
You take the cut off for Cumbernauld when you are heading out of Airdrie on the Stirling Road. Turn right and then first left down through the little hamlet of Luggiebank (I just love that name!). At 1st roundabout turn right and then right again at the second roundabout where you will see the sign for Palacerigg Country Park (right turn just about 100yds from r.a.).
It is not very large but is a pretty setting with lots of lovely trees and foliage and this is home to some georgious animals and birds. Two beautiful black swans with red bills sail about serenely in the little lake. You will see pigs (one giant one), goats proudly showing off enviable (if you're a man that is!) goatees, rabbits, hares, ferrets, peacocks, peahens, Zebedee a sacred Asian cow and Eddie the donkey who sadly has a condition that makes him a bit wobbly on his legs! There are any number of lovely animals who look genuinely happy to be there! I have a bit of a thing about animals being kept in captivity but these little creatures do look at home unlike magnificent cheetas, lions, pumas, elephant, giraffes and others of the mighty animal kingdom who appear to be miserable (understandably) and stagnating in badly run zoos and so called safari parks.
There is no charge to enjoy this contact with nature, which is not far from the city of Glasgow.
Parking is free with sufficient space and the little park hosts a cafe and toilet facilities, of course.
A lovely place, particularly for young children or just to have a bit of space in a pleasant little haven for yourself. read more