A72 road
A72 | |
|---|---|
Click map to enlarge | |
| Route information | |
| Length | 63.1 mi[1] (101.5 km) |
| Major junctions | |
| West end | A724 in Hamilton 55°46′40″N 4°03′12″W / 55.7778°N 4.0532°W |
| East end | A7 in Galashiels 55°37′08″N 2°48′44″W / 55.6189°N 2.8121°W |
| Location | |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Constituent country | Scotland |
| Council areas | North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, Scottish Borders |
| Primary destinations | Hamilton, Lanark, Peebles, Galashiels |
| Road network | |
The A72 road is a major route in Scotland connecting Hamilton in South Lanarkshire, with Galashiels in the Scottish Borders. It travels for over 97 kilometres (60 mi) in a south-easterly direction, along the Clyde and Tweed valleys, passing the towns of Larkhall, Lanark, Biggar and Peebles.[2]
Route
Hamilton to Lanark
Starting at the junction with the A724, the road parallels the M74, following the original A74 (now B7078) before descending into the forested Clyde Valley as it skirts around the town of Larkhall. The road follows the River Clyde, with some tight bends, sheer drops and adverse cambers, and meets the A73 just north of Lanark.
Lanark to Causewayend
This section of the road follows the course of the A73 through the town of Lanark and, just before Symington, again becomes the A72. It meets the main A702, Edinburgh to Abington, South Lanarkshire road; this short section of road is narrow as it passes through Symington.
Causewayend to Kaimrig End
This section of the road follows the course of the A702 for approximately 3 miles through the town of Biggar. The A72 enters the village of Skirling before ascending onto higher moorland. This section of road is notorious for accidents due to its high elevation, poor weather and winding route.
Kaimrig End to Galashiels
On this last 9.7 kilometres (6 mi) section of A72, it is the secondary route on the A701. Just south of Blyth Bridge, it meets the A721, and less than a mile further, it leaves the course of the A701. The A72 ascends a high plateau, then descends into the valley of the River Tweed at Stobo, and parallels the Tweed for the remainder of its length.
The road passes through Peebles and then Innerleithen and Walkerburn towards Galashiels. It comes to an end at a junction with the A7, which leads on to the Galashiels Ring Road.
Junction list
| Council area | Location | mi[1] | km | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Lanarkshire | Hamilton | 0.0 | 0.0 | A724 (Union Street / Burnbank Road) / B755 (Wellhall Road) / B7012 – Town centre, Rutherglen, East Kilbride, Hillhouse | Western terminus |
| 1.2 | 1.9 | A723 northeast to M74 – Motherwell, Glasgow, Carlisle | Western terminus of A723 concurrency | ||
| 1.4 | 2.3 | A723 southwest to A724 – Strathaven, Rutherglen, East Kilbride | Eastern terminus of A723 concurrency | ||
| | 4.3– 4.5 | 6.9– 7.2 | M74 northwest – Glasgow | No access to M74 southeast or from M74 northwest | |
| Garrion Bridge | 6.4 | 10.3 | A71 west (Ayr Road) to M74 / B7019 – Kilmarnock, Stonehouse, Carlisle, Larkhall | To M74, B7019, Carlisle and Larkhall signed westbound only; western terminus of A71 concurrency | |
| South Lanarkshire– North Lanarkshire boundary | 6.7– 6.9 | 10.8– 11.1 | A71 east (Horsley Brae) – Edinburgh, Newmains, Overtown | Newmains signed eastbound only; eastern terminus of A71 concurrency | |
| South Lanarkshire | Lanark | 14.7 | 23.7 | A73 north (Glasgow Road) to A8 – Carluke, Airdrie, Glasgow | Western terminus of A72 concurrency |
| 15.0 | 24.1 | A706 north (Hope Street) – Whitburn, Linlithgow | Southern terminus of A706 | ||
| 14.9– 15.1 | 24.0– 24.3 | A743 east (St Leonard Street) to A70 – Carstairs, Edinburgh | Information signed eastbound only; western terminus of A743 | ||
| 17.3 | 27.8 | A70 east – Carstairs, Edinburgh | Western terminus of A70 concurrency | ||
| Carmichael | 17.6 | 28.3 | A70 west – Ayr | Eastern terminus of A70 concurrency | |
| Covington | 23.2 | 37.3 | A73 south to M74 – Carlisle | Eastern terminus of A73 concurrency | |
| Biggar | 26.5 | 42.6 | A702 south / M74 / A74(M) / A73 – Carlisle, Glasgow | To A73 signed eastbound only, To M74, A74(M) and Glasgow westbound only; western terminus of A702 concurrency | |
| 28.2 | 45.4 | A702 north – Edinburgh | Eastern terminus of A702 concurrency | ||
| Scottish Borders | Broughton, Glenholm and Kilbucho | 31.9 | 51.3 | A701 south – Broughton, Moffat | Western terminus of A701 concurrency |
| Kirkurd | 34.5 | 55.5 | A721 northwest – Glasgow | Southeastern terminus of A721 | |
| Kirkurd– Blyth Bridge boundary | 35.1– 35.2 | 56.5– 56.6 | A701 north – Edinburgh, Romannobridge, West Linton | Rommanobridge and West Linton signed westbound only; eastern terminus of A701 concurrency | |
| Peebles | 45.3 | 72.9 | A703 north – Edinburgh | Southern terminus of A703 | |
| Caddonfoot | 58.8 | 94.6 | A707 south – Selkirk | Northern terminus of A707 | |
| Galashiels | 63.1 | 101.5 | A7 (Ladhope Vale) – Town centre, Hawick, Edinburgh | Eastern terminus | |
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
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References
- ^ a b "1 Bridge Pl, Galashiels TD1 1SN, UK to A73, Biggar ML12 6PF, UK to Cadzow Park, 82 Muir St, Hamilton ML3 6BJ, UK to Hamilton Heights, 14 Goldsmith Avenue, Hamilton ML3 7GT, United Kingdom". Google Maps. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
- ^ "A72 - Roader's Digest: The SABRE Wiki". www.sabre-roads.org.uk. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
External links
- Media related to A72 road (Scotland) at Wikimedia Commons