Lanarkshire ~ Scotland

This County is divided into north and south and each has its own headquarters for administration. In the north this is in Motherwell and in the south in Hamilton. Lanarkshire is in the heart of the central belt of Scotland and has a good combination of market towns and relaxing parks. It is also a short ride to the bright lights of Edinburgh and Glasgow. The county covers an area of about 860 sq miles. The main town for the whole region is East Kilbride and has a population of 73,000 people. In the late 20th Century this town grew from a rural village and emerged into the sixth largest town in Scotland and is a central place to join the main motorways.There are plenty of primary and secondary schools and Lanarkshire is ideally placed being an hours drive to 8 of the finest universities in Edinburgh. This area has exciting regeneration projects ongoing one of these is the old Ravenscraig steelworks being completey redeveloped into a new community which will be a benchmark for the 21st century.

Geography

The area is low lying and urbanized in the north which is a legacy from an age of heavy engineering works and the production of coal and steel. There are a variety of places to visit including the Falls of Clyde, Wildlife Reserves and the shores of the River Clyde. County parks and centres of heritage are plentiful and Craignethan Castle.

Further south in the county the area is quite urban heading north and more rural in the south but the River Clyde flows throughout. The New Lanark World Heritage Village is the site of an 18th century cotton mill which has been restored and is now one of Scotland's main attractions with visitors from all over the world.

Industry

This has always been a manufacturing area and the production of pharmaceuticals, electronics and processing of foods and drinks in conjunction with engineering and textiles are the main employers. Other key sectors are financial services, plastics and distribution. Local employers include Rolls Royce, Honeywell Control Systems and Morgan Stanely. The more rural parts of the county have farming and in the urban section in the north dairy farms operate. In the valleys of the Clyde there is fruit cultivation. Lanarkshire is exporting its products to Holland, the United States and Germany. The Eurocentral which covers 650 acres is Scotland's main manufacturing and distribution of freight centre and has the potential when fully developed to provide 8,000 new jobs.

In 2005 a Tourism Action Plan was launched and this industry is now an important asset to the local economy.

Cities, towns and villages within Lanarkshire