Although two separate villages, Kirkmuirhill and Blackwood have grown and merged over the years to form a small town, although the two parts retain their own names. Lying in the valley of the River Nethan, the town is set in a sleepy, rural landscape, although easy access to the M74 makes it perfect for commuters to Hamilton, Glasgow and East Kilbride keen to escape big town and city living. Kirkmuirhill has small stretch of shops and a selection of convenience stores. Blackwood expanded quickly in the late '70s and was one of the first villages to experience large estate building by private companies. There is also affordable housing available within Kirkmuirhill. The village lies close to Craignethan Castle, a listed monument managed by Historic Scotland.

History

Like many villages in the area, there is evidence of settlements around Kirkmuirhill and Lanark from over 2000 years ago.

Kirkmuirhill's location made it a perfect coach stop for travellers on the main road from

Scotland to England and its residents would

have been mainly weavers, blacksmiths and

saddlers.

For many decades, the Parish Church at Kirkmuirhill has been a focal point for the villagers. The very name of the village is derived from the presence of the Church (Kirk on the Hill), the hill in reference to the steep road leading from Auchanheath. Over the years, Kirkmuirhill Church has been a everlasting presence in the village attracting a large congregation on both the morning service and the evening service. The Church also holds some major events for the children of Blackwood and Kirkmuirhill. Whether it is Covenanters, Holiday Club week, Boys and Girls Brigades, or simply Sunday School Y-Zone, the church plays an important role within the lives of younger people.

Kirkmuirhill Parish Church is one of the 1200 congregations in the Church of Scotland. We believe that God exists—not just as an extension of ourselves—but that he is a real person, the creator of the entire universe. This means God deserves our respect. That means accepting that his way is best (after all, he made us). If we are honest, however, we’ll admit to preferring our way to his way. The Bible—which we believe is God’s message to humanity—calls this attitude “sin.” It tells us that if we separate ourselves from God in this life, he will separate himself from us in the life to come. The good news is that there is a way back to God, here and now. We believe that the man Jesus of Nazareth, who lived in Israel 2000 years ago, was none other than the unique Son of God. We believe that when he was put to death he did something amazing—he took the punishment our sins deserve, so that God could forgive us and allow us to live with him for ever. We are so grateful to God for his mercy that we want to dedicate our whole lives to him. We believe that’s what being a Christian is all about.