A72 road
Encyclopedia
The A72 is a major route in Scotland
connecting Hamilton
in South Lanarkshire
, with Galashiels
in the Scottish Borders
.
It travels for over 60 miles in a South-Easterly direction, along the Clyde
and Tweed
valleys, passing the towns of Larkhall
, Lanark
, Biggar
and Peebles
.
, following the original A74 (now B7078) before descending into the densely forested Clyde Valley as it skirts around the town of Larkhall. The road follows the meanders of the River Clyde
, with some tight bends, sheer drops and adverse cambers. This section of the road passes through some picturesque villages before sharply climbing the edge of the Clyde Valley to meet the A73
at a very busy forked junction just north of Lanark.
, Edinburgh
to Abington
, South Lanarkshire
road. This short section of road is narrow and often congested as it passes through the small village of Symington
.
. The main square in the centre of Biggar was previously a large market place, with slightly unruly traffic conditions. But following an increase in traffic along this route it has been extensively re-developed, to allow for a more distinct and clear flow of traffic, with parking and a tree-lined side avenue for local access.
. Just south of Blyth Bridge
, it meets with the A721 which connects the western Scottish Borders
towns of Peebles and Galashiels with the M8 at Newhouse
. Less than a mile after this junction, it leaves the course of the A701. This junction of the A72 and A701 at Blyth Bridge is very dangerous for travellers heading north as it is a fork junction which approaches the A72 from a higher position and on a very sharp bend.
at Stobo. It will almost parallel the course of the River Tweed for the remainder of its journey south to Galashiels
.
It passes through the pretty market town of Peebles
and then on through Innerleithen
and Walkerburn
towards Galashiels. It comes to an end at a junction with the A7, which leads on to the Galashiels
Ring Road.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
connecting Hamilton
Hamilton, South Lanarkshire
Hamilton is a town in South Lanarkshire, in the west-central Lowlands of Scotland. It serves as the main administrative centre of the South Lanarkshire council area. It is the fifth-biggest town in Scotland after Paisley, East Kilbride, Livingston and Cumbernauld...
in South Lanarkshire
South Lanarkshire
South Lanarkshire is one of 32 unitary council areas of Scotland, covering the southern part of the former county of Lanarkshire. It borders the south-east of the city of Glasgow and contains many of Glasgow's suburbs, commuter towns and smaller villages....
, with Galashiels
Galashiels
Galashiels is a burgh in the Scottish Borders, on the Gala Water river. The name is often shortened to "Gala" .Galashiels is a major commercial centre for the Scottish Borders...
in the Scottish Borders
Scottish Borders
The Scottish Borders is one of 32 local government council areas of Scotland. It is bordered by Dumfries and Galloway in the west, South Lanarkshire and West Lothian in the north west, City of Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian to the north; and the non-metropolitan counties of Northumberland...
.
It travels for over 60 miles in a South-Easterly direction, along the Clyde
River Clyde
The River Clyde is a major river in Scotland. It is the ninth longest river in the United Kingdom, and the third longest in Scotland. Flowing through the major city of Glasgow, it was an important river for shipbuilding and trade in the British Empire....
and Tweed
River Tweed
The River Tweed, or Tweed Water, is long and flows primarily through the Borders region of Great Britain. It rises on Tweedsmuir at Tweed's Well near where the Clyde, draining northwest, and the Annan draining south also rise. "Annan, Tweed and Clyde rise oot the ae hillside" as the Border saying...
valleys, passing the towns of Larkhall
Larkhall
Larkhall is a town in South Lanarkshire, Scotland and is around southeast of Glasgow. It is twinned with Seclin in northern France.Larkhall sits on high ground between the River Clyde to the East and the Avon Water to the West...
, Lanark
Lanark
Lanark is a small town in the central belt of Scotland. Its population of 8,253 makes it the 100th largest settlement in Scotland. The name is believed to come from the Cumbric Lanerc meaning "clear space, glade"....
, Biggar
Biggar, South Lanarkshire
Biggar is a town and former burgh in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. It is situated in the Southern Uplands, near the River Clyde, around 30 miles from Edinburgh along the A702. The closest towns are Lanark and Peebles, and as such Biggar serves a wide rural area...
and Peebles
Peebles
Peebles is a burgh in the committee area of Tweeddale, in the Scottish Borders, lying on the River Tweed. According to the 2001 Census, the population was 8,159.-History:...
.
Hamilton to Lanark
Starting at the junction with the A724, the road parallels the M74M74 motorway
The A74 and M74 motorways form a major motorway in Scotland. Following an extension opened on 28 June 2011, it connects the M8 motorway west of Glasgow to the English border at Gretna, creating an alternative route for traffic moving from the south to the west of the city...
, following the original A74 (now B7078) before descending into the densely forested Clyde Valley as it skirts around the town of Larkhall. The road follows the meanders of the River Clyde
River Clyde
The River Clyde is a major river in Scotland. It is the ninth longest river in the United Kingdom, and the third longest in Scotland. Flowing through the major city of Glasgow, it was an important river for shipbuilding and trade in the British Empire....
, with some tight bends, sheer drops and adverse cambers. This section of the road passes through some picturesque villages before sharply climbing the edge of the Clyde Valley to meet the A73
A73 road
The A73 is a former trunk route in Scotland, that connects the M74 at Abington, Jct. 13 to the M80 motorway at Cumbernauld. Running for approximately , it passes through the towns of Lanark, Carluke, Newmains, Chapelhall and Airdrie...
at a very busy forked junction just north of Lanark.
Lanark to Symington
This section of the road follows the course of the A73, through the town of Lanark, over Hyndford Bridge and forks left from the A73 just before Symington, again becoming the A72.Symington to Causewayend
Leaving the A73 just north-west of Symington, the road follows its own course for a short distance, before meeting the main A702A702 road
The A702 is a major road in Scotland, that runs from Edinburgh to St. John's Town of Dalry in Dumfries and Galloway. It is the last section of a sometimes recommended route between London and Edinburgh, the English and Scottish capitals, which now follows the M1, M6, A74 and A702 roads, rather than...
, Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
to Abington
Abington, South Lanarkshire
Abington is a village in the Scottish council region of South Lanarkshire,close to the M74 motorway, marking the point where it changes name to the A74, following the upgrade of the former A74 road. The West Coast Main Line between Glasgow and London also emerges from the Clyde Valley at this...
, South Lanarkshire
South Lanarkshire
South Lanarkshire is one of 32 unitary council areas of Scotland, covering the southern part of the former county of Lanarkshire. It borders the south-east of the city of Glasgow and contains many of Glasgow's suburbs, commuter towns and smaller villages....
road. This short section of road is narrow and often congested as it passes through the small village of Symington
Symington, South Lanarkshire
Symington is a small village in South Lanarkshire, Scotland, 3 miles southwest of Biggar, 10 miles east of Douglas and 13 miles southeast of Carluke...
.
Causewayend to Cambuswallace
This section of the road follows the course of the A702 for approximately 3 miles through the town of BiggarBiggar, South Lanarkshire
Biggar is a town and former burgh in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. It is situated in the Southern Uplands, near the River Clyde, around 30 miles from Edinburgh along the A702. The closest towns are Lanark and Peebles, and as such Biggar serves a wide rural area...
. The main square in the centre of Biggar was previously a large market place, with slightly unruly traffic conditions. But following an increase in traffic along this route it has been extensively re-developed, to allow for a more distinct and clear flow of traffic, with parking and a tree-lined side avenue for local access.
Cambuswallace to Kaimrig End
Just north of Biggar, the road re-gains its own route. Passing over some regularly flooded moorland, it enters the picturesque village of Skirling before ascending onto some higher moorland. This section of road is notorious for accidents as it is high, has poor weather and is very winding.Kaimrig End to Blyth Bridge
This is the last section of A72, where it is the secondary route on another primary road. It shares this 6 mile section with the A701A701 road
-Route:The A701 leaves Dumfries and travels north to meet the A74 at Beattock. It thens joins the A74 for a short spell before branching off to the north-east towards Moffat and ultimately Edinburgh....
. Just south of Blyth Bridge
Blyth Bridge
Blyth Bridge is a small hamlet in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland, near to West Linton.It is located in a bend on the A701 which goes from Moffat to Edinburgh, close to the junction with the East-West road the A72 which goes to Peebles....
, it meets with the A721 which connects the western Scottish Borders
Scottish Borders
The Scottish Borders is one of 32 local government council areas of Scotland. It is bordered by Dumfries and Galloway in the west, South Lanarkshire and West Lothian in the north west, City of Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian to the north; and the non-metropolitan counties of Northumberland...
towns of Peebles and Galashiels with the M8 at Newhouse
Newhouse, North Lanarkshire
Newhouse is a hamlet and major road interchange located in North Lanarkshire, Scotland. Sited 2 miles from the village of Salsburgh, from nearby Holytown and about north east of Motherwell....
. Less than a mile after this junction, it leaves the course of the A701. This junction of the A72 and A701 at Blyth Bridge is very dangerous for travellers heading north as it is a fork junction which approaches the A72 from a higher position and on a very sharp bend.
Blyth Bridge to Galashiels
From here, the road follows its own course for the next 25 miles. It ascends a high plateau on a very narrow and winding, but picturesque section, before descending into the valley of the River TweedRiver Tweed
The River Tweed, or Tweed Water, is long and flows primarily through the Borders region of Great Britain. It rises on Tweedsmuir at Tweed's Well near where the Clyde, draining northwest, and the Annan draining south also rise. "Annan, Tweed and Clyde rise oot the ae hillside" as the Border saying...
at Stobo. It will almost parallel the course of the River Tweed for the remainder of its journey south to Galashiels
Galashiels
Galashiels is a burgh in the Scottish Borders, on the Gala Water river. The name is often shortened to "Gala" .Galashiels is a major commercial centre for the Scottish Borders...
.
It passes through the pretty market town of Peebles
Peebles
Peebles is a burgh in the committee area of Tweeddale, in the Scottish Borders, lying on the River Tweed. According to the 2001 Census, the population was 8,159.-History:...
and then on through Innerleithen
Innerleithen
Innerleithen is a small town in the committee area of Tweeddale, in the Scottish Borders.-Etymology:The name "Innerleithen" comes from the Scottish Gaelic meaning "confluence of the Leithen", because it is here that the river joins the Tweed. The prefix "Inner-/Inver-" is common in many Scottish...
and Walkerburn
Walkerburn
Walkerburn is a small village in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland, on the A72 about from Peebles and from Galashiels.Founded in 1854 around the mill to house the workers, Walkerburn now has a population of around 660.-External links:History...
towards Galashiels. It comes to an end at a junction with the A7, which leads on to the Galashiels
Galashiels
Galashiels is a burgh in the Scottish Borders, on the Gala Water river. The name is often shortened to "Gala" .Galashiels is a major commercial centre for the Scottish Borders...
Ring Road.