Lanark - Vennels & Girnin Dog

Navigating The Route

This is a circular Detective Mystery around Lanark town centre, with Detectives helping Chief Inspector Laura Norder investigate the deaths of local street festival food vendors Chris P Bacon and Barbie Cue, identify who took them out and recover their stolen takings.

The investigation covers approximately 2 miles and should take around 2 hours to complete. You'll begin on Bannatyne Street near the train station and next to the entrance of the bus station, then work through Lanark town centre, passing the museum, St. Nicholas' Parish Church, the Tolbooth and Castlegate before looping back to the start on Bannatyne Street.

This Trail is not suitable for wheelchairs. The route has narrow pavements and some steep areas, but should be manageable with most pushchairs.

There are several roads to cross, including the main road and retail park entrance. Some sections can be quite narrow, and there are places with no pavement on Castlegate, so keep Mini Detectives close and use the pedestrian and lowered crossings where available.

Getting There

By car: Start your investigation on Bannatyne Street near the train station and next to the entrance of the bus station (ML11 7LB). Kildare Road car park (ML11 7AE) is nearest to the start and free for 2 hours. Morrisons car park (ML11 7LB) is even nearer than Kildare Road, but you need to be a customer. It is free for 2 hours.

By public transport: The Trail starts near the train station and next to the entrance of the bus station, so make your way to Bannatyne Street to begin the case.

Need the Loo?

South Lanarkshire Council run a Comfort Scheme, which means non-customers can use facilities in many of the pubs, cafes and supermarkets along the route - handy intel for Detectives planning a two-hour investigation.

Bring Your Furry Sidekicks

Four-legged Detectives can join the investigation 🐾

The route includes town pavements, steep areas, several road crossings and narrow sections, with places on Castlegate where there is no pavement. Keep canine colleagues close around traffic, the retail park entrance and the busier town-centre stretches.

Food & Drink Stops

Cracking a double food-vendor case is hungry work. There are plenty of pubs, cafes and supermarkets along the route, so supplies should be easy to track down as you investigate.

If you'd rather pack your own provisions, a small park to the left near the bottom of Castlegate might make a pleasant optional diversion for a breather.

Want to Make a Day of It?

St. Nicholas' Parish Church

St. Nicholas' Parish Church is a notable stop on the route, and sharp-eyed Detectives should look out for the simple but interesting sundial on the side wall. Its bell is believed to date from 1110, making it one of the oldest church bells in the world.

Lanimer Day at St. Nicholas' Parish Church

Lanark's local tradition adds extra colour to this part of the case. The crowning of the Queen on Lanimer Day takes place on a temporary stand erected in front of St. Nicholas' Parish Church, under the statue of William Wallace.

The Girnin Dog

Castlegate has one of the Trail's quirkiest bits of evidence: the stone replica of Camp on the roof of a house, locally known as The Girnin Dog. The story says there was ill feeling in the 1840s between the householder and a lady across the road after his dog was found poisoned, so he put the stone dog there with a growling expression staring at her house.

The Tolbooth and Provost's Lamp

The Provost's Lamp dates from the 1890s and is now permanently positioned by the Tolbooth. It used to be outside each provost's house in the days when the royal burgh had a provost, and is now the only gas powered public light in the South Lanarkshire Council area.

Lanark Museum

The route passes Lanark Museum on the way, making it a natural extra stop for Detectives who want more local history once the main evidence has been gathered.