Thousands of local residents and visitors flocked to Lanark for the sixth annual Jurassic Lanark dinosaur trail, which organisers have hailed as a "roaring success." The seven-week attraction featured huge sculptures of prehistoric creatures placed around the town centre and Castlebank Park, with a new third trail created for 2026 that extended to New Lanark, Falls of Clyde, Lanark Agricultural Centre, and Langloch Farm.
New Attractions and Highlights
The trail included special activities such as puppet shows, a dinosaur dig, and a hit new attraction where visitors could recreate the infamous toilet scene from the original Jurassic Park film. Dinosaur hunters were greeted by summer scenes including a spinosaurus in the heart of the town centre, an allosaurus at Bannatyne Street, and new additions like a triceratops at the agricultural centre and an iguanodon overlooking historic New Lanark.
One of the highlights was the recreation of the terrifying Jurassic Park toilet scene by gardeners from Lanark Community Development Trust, with materials donated by local businesses. Visitors queued up for the chance to "take a unique photo just before our roaring T-Rex eats you!" Business improvement organisation Discover Lanark, which runs the summer trail, called it "inspired" and "a much-photographed highlight."
Visitor Feedback and Economic Impact
Discover Lanark manager Antonia Pompa told the Hamilton Advertiser: "Our Jurassic Lanark trails once again drew in many thousands of dinosaur hunters to the town – and seeing the smiles on the faces of so many children certainly made all the hard work organising and running the event worthwhile."
Pompa added: "Over 93 per cent of respondents to our visitor survey rated the event as ‘very good’, and the event drew visitors from across the central belt and well beyond. The event continues to bring substantial benefits to the town’s retail and hospitality outlets, with over 87 per cent spending money on something to eat and drink and 62 per cent spending in a shop or on souvenirs."
Plans for 2027
Jurassic Lanark was first staged in 2021 and is now described as "one of the biggest and most-attended events in the calendar for Lanark town centre." The monster, mini, and new explorer trails were once again loved by visitors, with feedback calling the dinosaur attraction "absolutely brilliant again" and "another excellent display – it never fails to impress."
With plans already afoot for a seventh year in 2027, Discover Lanark thanked all host venues, staff volunteers, and supporting businesses "who entered into the spirit of our dinosaur spectacular" and "everyone who visited Lanark and contributed to a fantastic atmosphere around the town – we look forward to welcoming you back again."
