Carluke is a town five miles from Lanark, historically part of Lanarkshire and now within Clydesdale. Fruit-growing and jam-making are its main occupations, and it's a commuter town for Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Understand

The town's war memorial, in the old market square.

Home to over 15,000 people, Carluke is the largest town in Clydesdale, however it is relatively small compared to other towns in South Lanarkshire (the local authority area), with Hamilton and East Kilbride having populations of around 53,000 and 75,000 respectively. Its history dates back to at least 1315 and, in 1662 the town was given the status of Royal Burgh. Originally a market town, Carluke flourished during the era of industrialisation with such work as corn milling, cotton weaving and coal mining being undertaken here, as well as the manufacture of commodities such as bricks, glass and confectionary, with one 19th century jam factory continue to operate in the town to this day.

Get in

By train

Trains run every 30 min from Glasgow Central via Motherwell and Wishaw to Carluke, 50 min, continuing to Lanark (10 min). From the south change at Motherwell, which has fast trains from London Euston and Manchester.

1 Carluke station is half a mile west of the village centre.

By bus

Travelling from Douglas, Biggar, Carstairs or Lesmahagow, first take the bus to Lanark. From Lanark, take service 41 (Lanark to Hamilton) or 240X (Lanark to Glasgow). From Glasgow, take the 240 or 240X from Buchanan Bus Station, however there are several 240 services, some of which terminate before Carluke so ensure the bus you take is destined for either Carluke or Lanark. There are several services which pass through Motherwell and Wishaw before reaching Carluke.

By car

The A73 and A721 are the main roads leading into Carluke. Travelling from Glasgow or Edinburgh, take the M8 and turn off on junction 6 for the A73. If coming from the South of Scotland or England, take the M74, turn off on junction 8 for the A71 and continue to Newmains, where the A71 meets the A73 and continue south to Carluke. Alternatively, take the A7 or A68 to Selkirk, then follow the A707 and then A72 through Pebbles and west towards the A721, which leads directly to Carluke.

See

• 1 High Mill. Built in 1797, the High Mill of Carluke is the most complete Scottish windmill although is in disrepair (updated Dec 2016)

Buy

• 1 Ramsay of Carluke, 22 Mount Stewart St, ☏ +44 1555 772277. Bacon Curers of Distinction since 1857. Quality pork, beef, lamb and cooked meats. (updated Dec 2016)

Sleep

• 1 The Popinjay Hotel, 15 Lanark Rd, Rosebank, ☏ +44 1555 860441. (updated Dec 2016)

Go next

The historic market town of Lanark is a short 10 minute drive away, featuring many listed buildings, restaurants, bars and nature reserves. New Lanark, a UNESCO World Heritage Site is just 5 minutes from Lanark and is home to a well preserved 18th century industrial village.