A72 road

{{More citations needed|date=April 2025}}{{Infobox road | country = SCT | type = A | route = 72 | map = 200px | map_custom = yes | map_notes = Click map to enlarge | length_mi = 63.1 | length_ref = <ref name="Mile"/> | direction_a = West | terminus_a = {{Jct|country=GBR|A|724}} in Hamilton {{coord|55.7778|-4.0532|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline|name=A72 road (western end)}} | direction_b = East | terminus_b = {{Jct|country=GBR|A|7}} in Galashiels {{coord|55.6189|-2.8121|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline|name=A72 road (eastern end)}} | junction = {{ubl|{{Jct|country=GBR|M|74}} near Larkhall|{{Jct|country=GBR|A|702}} near Biggar}} | areas = North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, Scottish Borders | destinations = Hamilton, Lanark, Peebles, Galashiels }}

The '''A72 road''' is a major route in Scotland connecting Hamilton in South Lanarkshire, with Galashiels in the Scottish Borders. It travels for over {{Convert|60|mi|km|order=flip}} in a south-easterly direction, along the Clyde and Tweed valleys, passing the towns of Larkhall, Lanark, Biggar and Peebles.{{cn|date=May 2026}}

==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 === [[File:The A72 At Wolfclyde - geograph.org.uk - 1077935.jpg|left|thumb|The A72 near Wolfclyde between Symington and Biggar]] 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.{{fact|date=April 2017}}

=== Kaimrig End to Galashiels === On this last {{Convert|6|mi|km|order=flip}} 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== {{SCTinttop|length_ref=<ref name="Mile">{{cite web|url=https://www.google.com/maps/dir/55.6194898,-2.8107545/55.6385742,-3.6789599/55.7790567,-4.0367329/55.7777726,-4.0534372/@55.6196239,-2.8115019,17.92z/data=!4m4!4m3!2m1!1b1!3e0!5m1!1e1?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MTIwOS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D|title=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|publisher=Google Maps|access-date=17 December 2025}}</ref>}} {{GBRint |county=South Lanarkshire |cspan=5 |location_special=Hamilton |lspan=3 |mile=0.0 |road={{Jct|country=GBR|A|724|B|755|B|7012|name1=Union Street / Burnbank Road|name2=Wellhall Road|location1=Town centre|city2=Rutherglen|city3=East Kilbride|location4=Hillhouse}} |notes=Western terminus }} {{GBRint |type=concur |mile=1.2 |road={{Jct|country=GBR|A|723|M|74|dir1=northeast|to2=yes|city1=Motherwell|city2=Glasgow|city3=Carlisle}} |notes=Western terminus of A723 concurrency }} {{GBRint |type=concur |mile=1.4 |road={{Jct|country=GBR|A|723|A|724|dir1=southwest|to2=yes|city1=Strathaven|city2=Rutherglen|city3=East Kilbride}} |notes=Eastern terminus of A723 concurrency }} {{GBRint |type=incomplete |location=none |mile=4.3 |mile2=4.5 |road={{Jct|country=GBR|M|74|dir1=northwest|city1=Glasgow}} |notes=No access to M74 southeast or from M74 northwest }} {{GBRint |type=concur |location=Garrion Bridge |lspan=2 |mile=6.4 |road={{Jct|country=GBR|A|71|M|74|B|7019|dir1=west|to2=yes|name1=Ayr Road|city1=Kilmarnock|location2=Stonehouse|city3=Carlisle|city4=Larkhall}} |notes=To M74, B7019, Carlisle and Larkhall signed westbound only; western terminus of A71 concurrency }} {{GBRint |county_special=South Lanarkshire– North Lanarkshire boundary |type=concur |mile=6.7 |mile2=6.9 |road={{Jct|country=GBR|A|71|dir1=east|name1=Horsley Brae|city1=Edinburgh|city2=Newmains|location3=Overtown}} |notes=Newmains signed eastbound only; eastern terminus of A71 concurrency }} {{GBRint |type=concur |county=South Lanarkshire |cspan=8 |location=Lanark |lspan=4 |mile=14.7 |road={{Jct|country=GBR|A|73|A|8|dir1=north|to2=yes|name1=Glasgow Road|city1=Carluke|location2=Airdrie|city3=Glasgow}} |notes=Western terminus of A72 concurrency }} {{GBRint |mile=15.0 |road={{Jct|country=GBR|A|706|dir1=north|name1=Hope Street|location1=Whitburn|city2=Linlithgow}} |notes=Southern terminus of A706 }} {{GBRint |mile=14.9 |mile2=15.1 |road={{Jct|country=GBR|A|743|A|70|dir1=east|to2=yes|name1=St Leonard Street|city1=Carstairs|city2=Edinburgh}} |notes=Information signed eastbound only; western terminus of A743 }} {{GBRint |type=concur |mile=17.3 |road={{Jct|country=GBR|A|70|dir1=east|city1=Carstairs|city2=Edinburgh}} |notes=Western terminus of A70 concurrency }} {{GBRint |type=concur |location_special=Carmichael |mile=17.6 |road={{Jct|country=GBR|A|70|dir1=west|city1=Ayr}} |notes=Eastern terminus of A70 concurrency }} {{GBRint |type=concur |location_special=Covington |mile=23.2 |road={{Jct|country=GBR|A|73|M|74|dir1=south|to2=yes|city1=Carlisle}} |notes=Eastern terminus of A73 concurrency }} {{GBRint |type=concur |location_special=Biggar |lspan=2 |mile=26.5 |road={{Jct|country=GBR|A|702|M|74|AM|74|A|73|dir1=south|city1=Carlisle|city2=Glasgow}} |notes=To A73 signed eastbound only, To M74, A74(M) and Glasgow westbound only; western terminus of A702 concurrency }} {{GBRint |type=concur |mile=28.2 |road={{Jct|country=GBR|A|702|dir1=north|city1=Edinburgh}} |notes=Eastern terminus of A702 concurrency }} {{GBRint |type=concur |county=Scottish Borders |cspan=6 |location=Broughton, Glenholm and Kilbucho |mile=31.9 |road={{Jct|country=GBR|A|701|dir1=south|location1=Broughton|location2=Moffat}} |notes=Western terminus of A701 concurrency }} {{GBRint |location=Kirkurd |mile=34.5 |road={{Jct|country=GBR|A|721|dir1=northwest|city1=Glasgow}} |notes=Southeastern terminus of A721 }} {{GBRint |type=concur |location_special=Kirkurd– Blyth Bridge boundary |mile=35.1 |mile2=35.2 |road={{Jct|country=GBR|A|701|dir1=north|city1=Edinburgh|city2=Romannobridge|city3=West Linton}} |notes=Rommanobridge and West Linton signed westbound only; eastern terminus of A701 concurrency }} {{GBRint |location=Peebles |mile=45.3 |road={{Jct|country=GBR|A|703|dir1=north|city1=Edinburgh}} |notes=Southern terminus of A703 }} {{GBRint |location=Caddonfoot |mile=58.8 |road={{Jct|country=GBR|A|707|dir1=south|location1=Selkirk}} |notes=Northern terminus of A707 }} {{GBRint |location=Galashiels |mile=63.1 |road={{Jct|country=GBR|A|7|name1=Ladhope Vale|location1=Town centre|city2=Hawick|city3=Edinburgh}} |notes=Eastern terminus }} {{jctbtm|keys=incomplete,concur}}

== References == {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{commonscat-inline}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:7-0072}} Category:Roads in Scotland Category:Transport in South Lanarkshire Category:Transport in the Scottish Borders Category:Hamilton, South Lanarkshire Category:Larkhall Category:Lanark Category:Peebles Category:Innerleithen Category:Galashiels Category:Clydesdale Category:Tweeddale