- Women only
- Friendship, not dating
- Free to join
- Local guide
- October 19, 2026
Make Friends in Motherwell, by Strathclyde Park and Dalzell
Motherwell has a much larger share of council and housing association homes than Scotland, and Strathclyde parkrun, about 2.5 kilometres away, had 404 finishers one October Saturday.
33,000+
people in the Motherwell locality, counted separately from Wishaw (Census 2022, NRS)
36%
of Motherwell households are social renters; Scotland 22% (NRS 2022)
54%
of Motherwell homes are owner-occupied, below 63% across Scotland (Scotland’s Census 2022)
Motherwell talks books three times a month
Monthly book groups at Motherwell Library on Hamilton Road, on the first Monday evening, first Wednesday afternoon and first Saturday afternoon, are a dependable way to make friends in Motherwell. Strathclyde Country Park, between Motherwell and Hamilton, has loch walks and a Saturday parkrun, and the free North Lanarkshire Heritage Centre has a viewing tower over the town. Motherwell women can meet up for any of these via Gofrendly.
Motherwell: what people ask first
What is the North Lanarkshire Heritage Centre in Motherwell?
The North Lanarkshire Heritage Centre on High Road has free entry and opens Monday to Saturday. Its Climb Thru Time exhibit tells local history, a viewing tower looks out over Motherwell, and there is an outdoor play area, which makes it an easy, low-cost outing with a new friend.
Where can Motherwell runners do parkrun?
Motherwell’s nearest parkrun is Strathclyde, on tarmac paths in Strathclyde Country Park roughly 2.5 kilometres from central Motherwell; it drew 404 runners and walkers in mid-October 2026, with 23 volunteers helping. Drumpellier Country parkrun in Coatbridge is the next nearest.
Where can you swim near Motherwell?
The Aquatec in Motherwell was agreed for closure in 2023, so the nearest public pools are at Wishaw Sports Centre on Alexander Street, which has main, teaching and toddler pools, a health suite and a café. Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility in Motherwell has a gym but no pool.
Can Motherwell women meet friends through an app?
Gofrendly, a women-only friendship app, helps Motherwell women connect with others close to home, starting by message. A lochside walk in Strathclyde Country Park, with refreshments at the Heron Pod, is a gentle first test of whether you click, before planning anything bigger.
Motherwell, a North Lanarkshire town in transition
In the Motherwell locality social tenancies make up about 36% of homes and only 54% are owner-occupied, very different from the Scottish picture, while around 38% of homes have one occupant. Change is visible too: the town-centre post office reopened in 2026 and three tower blocks came down in December 2025. In a town on the move, a regular group gives the week a steady point.
When the town and your own life are both changing, loneliness can creep in. The Dalzell Estate loop from Strathclyde Park runs 8.5 miles past Dalzell House and the RSPB Baron’s Haugh reserve, Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility has an indoor athletics track and a café, and the nearest public pool is at Wishaw Sports Centre. The Concert Hall is closed because of structural issues, so for shows its team now uses Airdrie Town Hall, and the Heritage Centre on High Road has free entry. Good first stops:
1
Motherwell Library on Hamilton Road.
2
Strathclyde Country Park and its loch.
3
North Lanarkshire Heritage Centre on High Road.
4
Dalzell Estate and RSPB Baron’s Haugh.
5
Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility.
LOCAL TIP
Choose the first-Wednesday crime-fiction group and you may soon have someone to swap theories with.
How to
Motherwell: where to meet people month by month
1
Join the Saturday afternoon book group at Motherwell Library.
2
Walk the Strathclyde Park to Dalzell Estate loop and look for whooper swans in winter.
3
Run or walk Strathclyde parkrun on a Saturday morning.
4
Climb the Heritage Centre viewing tower with a Motherwell woman from Gofrendly.
Apps, and catching up after summer
Motherwell guide and its writers
Gofrendly co-founders Claudia Gård and Ulrika Lilja wrote this Motherwell guide, which our editors then tightened, for women in a changing town who would like a few steady friendships.
Friendship looks different at every stage
More guides for women in this area – each with its own local advice.
Friendship looks different at every stage
More guides for women in this area – each with its own local advice.
Find women near you
See who’s nearby and say hi — it’s free to start.