[2][3] The ancient kings of Strathclyde owned a hunting lodge and royal palace in the woodlands near Cadzow, the old name for Hamilton.

A Bronze Age burial site was found in the forest, with an urn and the body of a woman having been undisturbed for up to 3000 years.

[4] It is possible that during the early medieval age, this land was the power centre of the lost kingdom of Goddau, which is mentioned in Old Welsh poetry from the 6th century.

After Strathclyde ceased to be independent in the 11th century, the hunting lodge and palace came under Scottish control, and at some point the site became Cadzow Castle.

The country park is centred on the former hunting lodge, a folly designed to be seen from the now demolished Hamilton Palace at the end of a broad grass slope forming an avenue with lines of lime trees.

Historic Scotland began renovating the lodge in the late 1970s, including the fine Georgian plasterwork, and a visitor centre was built to the rear.