Things to do near The Longhouse
Adventure Activities
There is no end of adventure sites across Southern Scotland. I've captured a couple of the mountain bike centres and the well-known paragliding site at Tinto Hill.
Glentress is rightly celebrated for some of the best mountain bike trails in the country, but that's just the beginning of the story.
Visit for walking, tree-top adventure and magnificent views of the Tweed Valley. Explore our Wildlife Room where you can watch our observation beehive, view our live osprey cams and learn more about other wildlife you may encounter in Glentress Forest. There's great coffee, food and cake in our buzzing café too.
29 locals recommend
Glentress Mountain Bike Trail Centre
Glentress is rightly celebrated for some of the best mountain bike trails in the country, but that's just the beginning of the story.
Visit for walking, tree-top adventure and magnificent views of the Tweed Valley. Explore our Wildlife Room where you can watch our observation beehive, view our live osprey cams and learn more about other wildlife you may encounter in Glentress Forest. There's great coffee, food and cake in our buzzing café too.
A 7stanes destination, Innerleithen is renowned for its four downhill trails, all of them orange-graded Bike Park Extreme. There's also some serious cross-country action on the challenging red-graded Innerleithen XC trail.
Innerleithen Trails Carpark
A 7stanes destination, Innerleithen is renowned for its four downhill trails, all of them orange-graded Bike Park Extreme. There's also some serious cross-country action on the challenging red-graded Innerleithen XC trail.
Bring your head for heights and a love for speed, this Go Ape course is definitely one for the adventure seekers. The dramatic Scottish scenery is the perfect backdrop to this dramatically challenging course with a 325-metre-long zip wire across a valley that's a whopping 160ft high! See the adventure unfurl while you traverse the huge Douglas fir trees and zip over the mountain bike trails and open water.
27 locals recommend
Go Ape Glentress, Peebles (Treetop Challenge, Zip Lines, High Ropes)
Bring your head for heights and a love for speed, this Go Ape course is definitely one for the adventure seekers. The dramatic Scottish scenery is the perfect backdrop to this dramatically challenging course with a 325-metre-long zip wire across a valley that's a whopping 160ft high! See the adventure unfurl while you traverse the huge Douglas fir trees and zip over the mountain bike trails and open water.
Welcome to Cloudbusters Paragliding Training School.
Whether you have flown before or are just thinking about trying something different, such as a Cloudbusters fun day, you have made the right choice!
At Cloudbusters, we guide you through all stages of training, from complete beginner to advanced Paragliding Pilots and Paramotorists.
We have single fun day taster sessions and BHPA Certified courses to suit all levels of proficiency, with experienced, friendly and helpful Instructors.
For beginners or fun day , you’ll have a day out you wont forget in a hurry! There’s nothing like the feeling of your first low level flight. Guaranteed smiles all round!!
With our knowledge and experience, we can also advise on the right equipment for you, should you choose to take things further, or perhaps you know a friend who would love to have a go , either way, you can find gift vouchers and other paragliding kit available in our on-line shop which will be available soon.
Cloudbusters Paragliding Centre
36 Lloyd StreetWelcome to Cloudbusters Paragliding Training School.
Whether you have flown before or are just thinking about trying something different, such as a Cloudbusters fun day, you have made the right choice!
At Cloudbusters, we guide you through all stages of training, from complete beginner to advanced Paragliding Pilots and Paramotorists.
We have single fun day taster sessions and BHPA Certified courses to suit all levels of proficiency, with experienced, friendly and helpful Instructors.
For beginners or fun day , you’ll have a day out you wont forget in a hurry! There’s nothing like the feeling of your first low level flight. Guaranteed smiles all round!!
With our knowledge and experience, we can also advise on the right equipment for you, should you choose to take things further, or perhaps you know a friend who would love to have a go , either way, you can find gift vouchers and other paragliding kit available in our on-line shop which will be available soon.
Historical Interest
Scotland has an abundance of historical sites that are well worth a visit. I have included a couple of the local world-famous ones for your interest.
New Lanark World Heritage Site is a unique 18th-century mill village sitting alongside the picturesque River Clyde less than one hour from Glasgow and Edinburgh. Visitors can see recreated millworkers’ houses, historic working machinery and the nearby ‘Falls of Clyde’ waterfalls. There’s a Mill Shop selling locally made textiles, welcoming Mill Café and the 4-star New Lanark Mill Hotel.
12 locals recommend
New Lanark Visitor Centre
New Lanark World Heritage Site is a unique 18th-century mill village sitting alongside the picturesque River Clyde less than one hour from Glasgow and Edinburgh. Visitors can see recreated millworkers’ houses, historic working machinery and the nearby ‘Falls of Clyde’ waterfalls. There’s a Mill Shop selling locally made textiles, welcoming Mill Café and the 4-star New Lanark Mill Hotel.
Craignethan Castle is a ruined castle in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. It is located above the River Nethan, a tributary of the River Clyde, at NS816464. The castle is two miles west of the village of Crossford, and 4.5 miles north-west of Lanark.
6 locals recommend
Craignethan Castle
Craignethan Castle is a ruined castle in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. It is located above the River Nethan, a tributary of the River Clyde, at NS816464. The castle is two miles west of the village of Crossford, and 4.5 miles north-west of Lanark.
Biggar Museum Trust aims to collect, store, preserve and record Biggar and Upper Clydesdale’s rich archaeological, social and historical heritage. The museum explores 14,000 years of rural and small-town life in Upper Clydesdale. It focuses on the people who have lived and worked here from prehistoric times up to the mid-20th century.
The objects on display illuminate a small part of their ordinary and extraordinary lives. In addition to the museum galleries, the building encompasses an archive room, stores, retail outlet and a separate area for temporary exhibitions.
Biggar Museum Trust
KirkstyleBiggar Museum Trust aims to collect, store, preserve and record Biggar and Upper Clydesdale’s rich archaeological, social and historical heritage. The museum explores 14,000 years of rural and small-town life in Upper Clydesdale. It focuses on the people who have lived and worked here from prehistoric times up to the mid-20th century.
The objects on display illuminate a small part of their ordinary and extraordinary lives. In addition to the museum galleries, the building encompasses an archive room, stores, retail outlet and a separate area for temporary exhibitions.
Enter what was one of the first small-town gasworks to open in Scotland – and among the last to close. For more than 130 years, the industrial plant made coal gas for use in the town and beyond.
Biggar Gasworks Museum
Gas Works RoadEnter what was one of the first small-town gasworks to open in Scotland – and among the last to close. For more than 130 years, the industrial plant made coal gas for use in the town and beyond.
Sightseeing
A few fantastic natural features both local and some slightly further afield.
The Grey Mare's Tail is one of Scotland's finest waterfalls, a magnificent 60m cascade in the Moffat hills. This walk climbs past the falls and continues up to beautiful Loch Skeen, ringed by craggy hillsides.
25 locals recommend
Grey Mare's Tail Waterfall
Grey Mare's Tail WalkThe Grey Mare's Tail is one of Scotland's finest waterfalls, a magnificent 60m cascade in the Moffat hills. This walk climbs past the falls and continues up to beautiful Loch Skeen, ringed by craggy hillsides.
Tinto is a hill in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. Tinto is an outlying hill of the Southern Uplands, comprising little more than this one top, which stands on the west bank of the River Clyde, some 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) west of Biggar. The peak is also called "Tinto Tap", with the name Tinto possibly deriving from the Scottish Gaelic word teinnteach, meaning "fiery", which may refer to its ancient past as a look out beacon. Further known as the "Hill of Fire" it is also suggested[by whom?] exposed red hue felsite rock visible in many places on the hill helped gave rise to this name due the effect seen when a setting sun illuminates the hillside.
At the summit sits "Tinto Cairn" and with a diameter of 45m and a height of 6m it is one of the largest Bronze-Age round Cairns in Scotland, most of which are found at lower elevations.[1]
An old Scots children's rhyme tells of the "kist in the mist" at "Tintock tap", kist being the Scots word for "chest".
On Tintock tap, there is a mist,
And in that mist, there is a kist,
And in that kist, there is a cup,
And in that cup, there is a drap.
Tak' up that cup, and drink that drap, that's in yon kist, on Tintock tap!
It is accessible for walking and is one of the premier locations for hanggliding and paragliding. Tinto is located near the small villages of Thankerton and Wiston.
Tinto is also the venue for one of the most popular hill running races in Scotland which is held annually in November.
16 locals recommend
Tinto Hill Cairn
Tinto is a hill in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. Tinto is an outlying hill of the Southern Uplands, comprising little more than this one top, which stands on the west bank of the River Clyde, some 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) west of Biggar. The peak is also called "Tinto Tap", with the name Tinto possibly deriving from the Scottish Gaelic word teinnteach, meaning "fiery", which may refer to its ancient past as a look out beacon. Further known as the "Hill of Fire" it is also suggested[by whom?] exposed red hue felsite rock visible in many places on the hill helped gave rise to this name due the effect seen when a setting sun illuminates the hillside.
At the summit sits "Tinto Cairn" and with a diameter of 45m and a height of 6m it is one of the largest Bronze-Age round Cairns in Scotland, most of which are found at lower elevations.[1]
An old Scots children's rhyme tells of the "kist in the mist" at "Tintock tap", kist being the Scots word for "chest".
On Tintock tap, there is a mist,
And in that mist, there is a kist,
And in that kist, there is a cup,
And in that cup, there is a drap.
Tak' up that cup, and drink that drap, that's in yon kist, on Tintock tap!
It is accessible for walking and is one of the premier locations for hanggliding and paragliding. Tinto is located near the small villages of Thankerton and Wiston.
Tinto is also the venue for one of the most popular hill running races in Scotland which is held annually in November.
The Pentland Hills range runs south-west from Edinburgh before fading away past Dunsyre (the start of the 20-mile Pentland Way) and so to the Clyde valley.
The Medwin Water, a subsidiary of the Clyde, flows between these lowly Pentlands and the detached and more impressive 1,692ft/516m Black Mount. Whilst Black Mount’s summit trig point indicates its importance in Ordnance Survey affairs, in my opinion the hill is more notable for being on the Clyde/Tweed watershed.
The hill extends for over three miles above 300m and at the northern end is an almost separate bump, 1444ft/440m White Hill. Black Mount is covered in dark heather, the northern bump in tussocky grass, and it is those contrasting colours which presumably have given rise to the names of the hills. Nevertheless, everything was white on our day.
Black Mount can be approached from Dunsyre, though there is no public transport, whereas a start from Dolphinton can take advantage of the frequent Stagecoach bus service (phone Traveline 0871 200 2233) on the A702. However, despite the lack of public transport, Martin and the Mountain Hare had settled on a start from the village of Walston, west of the hill. I am indebted to them for the following anti-clockwise circuit, extended post-hill by taking a low-level return via Dunsyre and part of a dismantled railway.
Black Mount
The Pentland Hills range runs south-west from Edinburgh before fading away past Dunsyre (the start of the 20-mile Pentland Way) and so to the Clyde valley.
The Medwin Water, a subsidiary of the Clyde, flows between these lowly Pentlands and the detached and more impressive 1,692ft/516m Black Mount. Whilst Black Mount’s summit trig point indicates its importance in Ordnance Survey affairs, in my opinion the hill is more notable for being on the Clyde/Tweed watershed.
The hill extends for over three miles above 300m and at the northern end is an almost separate bump, 1444ft/440m White Hill. Black Mount is covered in dark heather, the northern bump in tussocky grass, and it is those contrasting colours which presumably have given rise to the names of the hills. Nevertheless, everything was white on our day.
Black Mount can be approached from Dunsyre, though there is no public transport, whereas a start from Dolphinton can take advantage of the frequent Stagecoach bus service (phone Traveline 0871 200 2233) on the A702. However, despite the lack of public transport, Martin and the Mountain Hare had settled on a start from the village of Walston, west of the hill. I am indebted to them for the following anti-clockwise circuit, extended post-hill by taking a low-level return via Dunsyre and part of a dismantled railway.
he Falls of Clyde is the collective name of four linn on the River Clyde near New Lanark, South Lanarkshire, Scotland. The Falls of Clyde comprise the upper falls of Bonnington Linn, Corra Linn, Dundaff Linn, and the lower falls of Stonebyres Linn. Corra Linn is the highest, with a fall of 26 metres.
11 locals recommend
Scottish Wildlife Trust - Falls of Clyde Visitor Centre and Wildlife Reserve
2 New Lanark Rdhe Falls of Clyde is the collective name of four linn on the River Clyde near New Lanark, South Lanarkshire, Scotland. The Falls of Clyde comprise the upper falls of Bonnington Linn, Corra Linn, Dundaff Linn, and the lower falls of Stonebyres Linn. Corra Linn is the highest, with a fall of 26 metres.
This narrow gauge railway operates between Scotland's highest villages, Leadhills and Wanlockhead.
The railway has been built on the track-bed of the erstwhile Caledonian Railway branch line which ran from Elvanfoot to Wanlockhead and was opened in 1901 and closed in 1938.
Explore the lead mining museum at Wanlockhead and marvel at the skills of the lead miners who dug their shafts to below sea level and excavated miles of tunnels in their search for lead ore and silver.
14 locals recommend
Leadhills and Wanlockhead Railway
Station RoadThis narrow gauge railway operates between Scotland's highest villages, Leadhills and Wanlockhead.
The railway has been built on the track-bed of the erstwhile Caledonian Railway branch line which ran from Elvanfoot to Wanlockhead and was opened in 1901 and closed in 1938.
Explore the lead mining museum at Wanlockhead and marvel at the skills of the lead miners who dug their shafts to below sea level and excavated miles of tunnels in their search for lead ore and silver.
City advice
Getting around
Local Taxi Service
BIG RED TAXIS - Taxi Service in Coulter
Opening Hours ; Mon: 6:00 am – 11:30 pm ; Tue: 6:30 am – 11:30 pm ; Wed: 6:30 am – 11:30 pm ; Thu: 6:30 am – 11:30 pm ; Fri: 8:30 am – 2:00 am.