Physical Regeneration
Cuningar Loop Woodland Park, which opened to the public in August 2015, was created on a long neglected area of vacant and derelict scrub land on the banks of the Clyde less than a mile from Rutherglen town centre and directly across from the Athletes’ Village.
This hidden gem was gradually brought back into use by Clyde Gateway, working in partnership with the Forestry Land Scotland, to invest £5 million in what is now the biggest urban park in South Lanarkshire.
The park is a critical cultural element within the Clyde Gateway Green Network Strategy and provides access to high quality green space improving health and well- being for local communities. Moreover the park attracts many visitors from outside Clyde Gateway thereby raising awareness of the area.
A further £2.5m investment into the woodland park began in April 2021 with two new visitor attractions provided by Clyde Gateway.
The new Bothy and Tur at Cuningar Loop provide a gathering place which brings together local communities, groups and visitors in a forest location. The Tur (tower) will be a viewing platform located to the north of The Bothy allowing visitors to take in expansive views over the park.
In February 2023, Deputy First Minister, John Swinney, officially opened a £3.16m extension to park. The major extension has been supported by the Scottish Government’s Clyde Mission, which contributed £2.3m as part of its wider aim to revive the Clyde corridor and rejuvenate the local economy. This was in addition to Green Infrastructure funding from NatureScot, supported by the European Regional Development Fund and part of a wider £15 million investment in urban Scotland.
Visitors to the new extension will also be able to enjoy other new facilities installed recently, including The Bothy – a business and community hub with public toilets, treetop views across the park from the new accessible Tur, and Steuart Padwicks’ ‘Hope’, the COP26 Legacy Sculpture, completed during last November’s conference and providing a symbol of a greener and brighter future.
Please note, at present, The Bothy can only be booked by pre-approved partner organisations. For further information please email gatewayenquiries@clydegateway.com
