Cleland combines a coal-mining heritage with church history and a memorial plaque to Sydney Devine; two described routes to Cleland offer another way to explore the area. When planning a stay, two different questions can help: would you mainly like to explore the area's history, or would you like to compare the routes by length and starting point? Cleland railway station is on Bellshill Road in Cleland, North Lanarkshire, and provides a useful landmark for finding your way around.

Mining History and Family Connections

The first mine in what is now Cleland was operating at Swinstie by 1763. Swinstie is therefore a specific local connection to the area's early mining history. The land on which present-day Cleland stands also belonged to the Cleland family estate. Together, these details point to two aspects of the area's history: coal mining and the former ownership of the land.

Alexander Cleland and James Cleland are also connected with William Wallace, but in different ways: Alexander married one of William Wallace's cousins; James fought alongside Wallace at Loudonhill in 1296. Alexander's connection is through marriage, while James's relates to a battle with a specific year and location. These family connections add specific people and events to the history of mining and the Cleland estate.

Church History in Cleland

The Former Cleland Church of Scotland was built in Cleland in 1877/78 and designed by H & D Barclay in a simple Gothic style. In 1929, it united with the original Free Church. That original Free Church was converted into Colville Memorial Hall. The distinction matters for local history: the Former Cleland Church of Scotland is the church built in 1877/78; the name Colville Memorial Hall comes from the conversion of the original Free Church. This helps distinguish the two buildings and their different roles in this history.

The Sydney Devine Memorial Plaque

A memorial plaque to Sydney Devine was unveiled in front of Cleland Primary School. North Lanarkshire Council reported on the unveiling on 12 March 2026. Devine was born in Cleland in January 1940 and attended school there as a boy. His biographical connection to the area thus includes both his birth and his school years there. The memorial plaque adds a personal remembrance to the area's mining and church history.

Two Routes to Cleland

There are two routes to Cleland that can be compared by distance. Route N is 1.7 kilometres long and leads from Calder Bridge, north of Wishaw, to Cleland via Core Path 269. Route U runs for 2.9 kilometres from Carfin to Cleland and partly follows Core Path 268. Route N is therefore 1.2 kilometres shorter; the starting points and the named Core Path sections also distinguish the routes. You can first consider which starting point best suits your plans, then compare the distances. Check current path conditions before setting out.

Discover more destinations: Chryston, Stepps, Holytown, Caldercruix, Gartcosh, Coatbridge, Bellshill, Motherwell

For the overarching travel guide: North Lanarkshire.