Chatelherault
Hamilton, South Lanarkshire

Just south of Hamilton town centre on the road to Larkhall (the old A74) this is a modern country park with an astonishing building at the heart of it.

Originally this was said to have been built as a fancy dog kennels for the Dukes of Hamilton and as you can see is an impressive building, open to the public.

These two frontal views were taken looking south.

The steep slope along the front of the building is where a sand quarry was dug at a time when the builidng had yet to be restored.

At the back are some impressive gardens and an added information centre, well worth a visit.

The well cut hedge might only be a foot or so high but it makes a great photograph.

The view from high above the back of the house looking to the north. The avenue of trees looking down to where Hamilton Palace used to be is clearly seen, as is the space that was dug out as a sand quarry in the 20th century.

Sharp-eyed viewers can spot the Hamilton Mausoleum rising above the trees a mile or so away, the last resting place of many of the Dukes of Hamilton. That's Ben Lomond on the left horizon.