Greenlink Cycle Path facts for kids
The Greenlink Cycle Path is a special path for bikes in North Lanarkshire, Scotland. It goes straight from Strathclyde Country Park to the centre of Motherwell town. This path is about 7 kilometres (4.3 miles) long.
The Greenlink project started in 2005. It was a big team effort. Many groups worked together for three years. These groups included North Lanarkshire Council, Scottish Natural Heritage, and Forestry Commission Scotland. They all helped make this great path.
Exploring the Greenlink Cycle Path
The Greenlink Cycle Path starts inside Strathclyde Country Park. It begins near the old Bothwellhaugh Roman Fort. From there, the path winds through the park's beautiful woodland areas. It even goes over the West Coast Main Line railway tracks.
Next, the path crosses through the Bellshill golf course. It then follows the south-east edge of Bellshill town. You will travel over the South Calder Water river. The path also goes over the A721 road.
The cycle path then goes around the Forgewood area of Motherwell. It heads towards Braidhurst High School. After that, it passes under the Argyle Line railway. The path continues towards the new Cathedral Primary School and Fir Park nursery. The Greenlink Cycle Path ends in a residential area. It stops at the Aquatec sports centre, which is right next to Motherwell town centre.
Future Plans for the Path
There are exciting plans to make the Greenlink Cycle Path even longer. The idea is to extend it beyond Motherwell town centre. This extension would connect the path to the new town of Ravenscraig.
When the path was first planned, the goal was to link Strathclyde Park directly to the old Ravenscraig steelworks site. However, the development of Ravenscraig was delayed. Because of this, the path currently stops at Motherwell town centre. The future extension will help complete the original vision.
Awards and Recognition
The Greenlink Cycle Path has won some special awards. In 2011, it received the Level 3 It's Your Neighbourhood award. This award came from Beautiful Scotland for its great development.
In the same year, the cycle path also won an award for Scotland's Finest Woodland. This award was given by Stewart Stevenson. He was the Minister for Environment and Climate Change at the time. The award ceremony took place at the Royal Highland Show. These awards show how important and well-loved the Greenlink Cycle Path is.
