About Strathaven

Feb 19 2008 By Carla Callaghan

The picturesque town of Strathaven attracts visitors from around all over Scotland with its beautiful surroundings, shops and history.

Built around the Powmillion Burn, the village inhabits stunning architecture and boasts a wide range of restaurants and tearooms.

The name “Strathaven” pronounced “Stray-ven” takes the name from the Gaelic for what later become known as Avondale, the valley of the Avon Water.

For the keen historian, the town’s heritage trail offers an enchanting walk taking in both historical and modern Strathaven.

The ruins of Strathaven Castle is an area of great interest dating back to the early 1400s. The castle comes complete with dark tales of human bones being found within the walls when a portion of the castle fell down in the nineteenth century.

Steeped in medieval history, the now pleasant town was a Covenanting stronghold, with nearby Drumclog acting as the site of a famous battle between Covenanting and Government forces in 1679. There are a number of gravestones and monuments relating to the Covenanters, which can still be visited in Strathaven.

Summertime is busy in this lively town with various schools and families taking trips to the large Edwardian Park, which hosts seasonal activities including putting, tennis and boating.

Another popular event is the Strathaven hot air balloon festival taking place in August.