Overview of South Lanarkshire

A unitary authority in central Scotland bordering Dumfries and Galloway, East Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow, North Lanarkshire, the Scottish Borders and West Lothian, South Lanarkshire stretches from the Lowther Hills in the Southern Uplands northwards towards Blantyre, Rutherglen, Cambuslang, East Kilbride, Larkhall, Carluke and Hamilton (the administrative centre) on the southern outskirts of Glasgow. It is bisected from south to north by the M74 motorway which links the north of England to Glasgow. Beyond the urban settlements of Greater Glasgow it is a largely rural area with a handful of market towns including Strathaven, Lanark and Biggar. It has a total area of 1777 sq. km (686 sq. miles), over 70 per cent being upland pasture and moorland. Tourism is concentrated on the picturesque valley of the upper Clyde and places of interest include the former home of the missionary-explorer David Livingstone in Blantyre, Calder Glen Country Park, Chatelherault Country Park and the New Lanark World Heritage Village which has associations with the industrial philanthropist Robert Owen.