Peregrine falcon Falls of Clyde Mauldslie Woods If you want to feel the power of the rivers that cut The valley is more open here, with shallower slopes New Lanark the Clyde Valley gorges, this is the place to come. World Heritage Site than the other sites in the Reserve. That made the trees Here the Clyde flows through deep, slow pools SWT Wildlife Reserve easier to harvest, and in the 1800s the wood was before rushing over the famous waterfalls – cleared and replanted. Part of the site was once an Falls of Clyde Clyde Walkway a visitor attraction for hundreds of years. Visitor Centre orchard, one of many producing the apples, pears Woodland Trail and plums for which the Clyde Valley was famous. Great Peregrine falcons nest on cliffs above the river, safe spotted woodpecker from predators but easily seen from the opposite Dundaff Linn Corehouse Trail Now Mauldslie is managed to restore the role native Way to go bank. During the nesting season a camera gives close Bonnington Trail woodland once played in the local economy, as well up views of the birds and their chicks, with pictures as the trees themselves. New trees will be planted, From the car park near Mauldslie Bridge, the path beamed to the Scottish Wildlife Trust website and while work through the Clyde and Avon Valley Mill Weir meanders through attractive open parkland before their Visitor Centre in New Lanark. Landscape Partnership aims to build new markets for reaching the woods. There is a network of well R i v e timber, and to develop woodland management skills. r surfaced paths in the woodland. They are steep In 1786, David Dale harnessed the Clyde’s energy C ly d in places and can be muddy after rain. to drive the mills of New Lanark, which his son-in-law e Robert Owen developed into a model industrial community. Britain’s first commercial hydro-electric scheme was built here in 1926. The elaborate system Hydro-electric Paths of pipes and dams are a reminder that the river is Power Station still a source of renewable energy today. Clyde Walkway Corehouse West Lodge Corra Castle Bonnington Pavilion Corra Linn Way to go Most trails are wide and well surfaced but can be muddy in places after wet weather. There are steep gradients and steps on all paths. Peregrine Watch Site (April – June) The Clyde Walkway from New Lanark to Bonnington Linn (3 miles / 5km out and back) visits all three waterfalls and the Peregrine Watch site (open April – June). The Woodland Trail (2 miles / 3km) is a circular route through ancient woods. It gives spectacular views Bonnington Weir of Corra Linn, the highest of the falls. The Corehouse Trail (1.5 miles / 2.5km) and River Clyde Bonnington Linn Bonnington Trail (1.9 miles / 3km) explore the woods 0 metres 400 0 metres 400 on the west bank of the Clyde. Use the Reserve entrance at West Lodge. 0 miles 0.25 0 miles 0.25 Bonnington Linn www.nnr-scotland.org.uk Clyde Valley Woodlands Getting there The best parking places for each site are shown on the National Nature Reserve Chatelherault Way to go detailed maps. There is a good network of public transport The Clyde Valley’s dramatic gorges made it Chatelherault offers over 9 miles / 15km of trails in the Clyde Valley: check www.travelinescotland.org.uk a fashionable tourist destination in the 1700s. through ancient woodlands and past historic or call 0871 200 2233 for details. Landowners vied with each other to make the most of features. Most trails are wide and well surfaced the features on their ground, but none could compete but can be muddy in places after wet weather. Need to know with the money and care lavished by the Dukes of Chatelherault and Falls of Clyde are popular visitor The Cadzow Oaks Trail (0.5 mile / 0.8km) takes Hamilton on their vast estate at Chatelherault. attractions, with cafés and toilets. There are places to in the Duke’s Bridge, Earthworks and Cadzow Oaks. eat and public toilets in Lanark, near Cartland Craigs A grand hunting lodge marked the line between open It has gentle slopes. & Cleghorn Glen, and in Crossford, near Nethan Gorge. parkland and the untamed gorge, with a terrace built There are steep slopes, unfenced cliffs and deep rivers on The Huntsman’s Ride (0.75 mile / 1.2km) goes to give the best possible view of the woods. Near the all the sites. Please take great care: stay on the paths and through mixed woodland and across the Deer Park lodge are the Cadzow oaks: gnarled, twisted trees keep children and dogs under close control at all times. that are up to 800 years old. to the Grand Avenue. It’s mostly level. Close to the river there’s the same mix of native species The Mineral Railway Trail (1 mile / 1.7km) More information that make the Clyde Valley woodlands so rich for follows the river through mixed woodland. It’s mostly Falls of Clyde and Nethan Gorge are managed by wildlife. Other areas were planted with conifers in the level with some steps. The Scottish Wildlife Trust – for more information call twentieth century, but they are gradually being returned 01555 665 262 or visit www.scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk. The Duke’s Monument Trail (1.4 miles / 2.2km) to the wild woods the Dukes of Hamilton so admired. Chatelherault and Mauldslie Woods are managed by takes in the Duke’s Bridge, Cadzow Castle ruins and South Lanarkshire Council – for more information call Duke’s Monument. It has gentle slopes. VISIT Cadzow Oaks Trail 01698 426 213 or visit www.southlanarkshire.gov.uk. Huntsman’s Ride The White Bridge Trail (3.2 miles / 5.2km) Cartland Craigs & Cleghorn Glen are managed by follows the river before returning along the top Scottish Natural Heritage – for more information call Mineral Railway Trail of the gorge. It’s steep in places with steps. 01698 421 668 or visit www.snh.gov.uk. Duke’s Monument Trail The Green Bridge Trail (5 miles / 8km) takes White Bridge Trail you right along the top of the Avon Gorge. It’s steep in places with steps. Green Bridge Trail 0 metres 800 Search for ‘Scotland’s National Nature Reserves’ on Facebook. 0 miles 0.5 Bluebell Cadzow oaks Creative management by Aaron Lawton Associates, design by EC Design Studio, writing by James Carter, maps by Ashworth Maps and Interpretation Ltd and Fitzpatrick Woolmer, photos by Laurie Campbell and Lorne Gill/SNH. maps by Ashworth Maps and Interpretation Ltd Fitzpatrick Woolmer, Creative management by Aaron Lawton Associates, design EC Design Studio, writing James Carter, All map data © Crown copyright 2012 – Ordnance Survey Licence number 100017908. Leaflet © Scottish Natural Heritage 2015. ISBN: 978-1-85397-806-7. TO HAMILTON Scotland’s oldest and richest trees have never been cut at all. Nethan Gorge A 72 Nethan may be the smallest of the six sites in the LA N A forest lies hidden in dramatic The result is a mixed woodland RK Reserve, but it’s one of the most spectacular. By the RO Village Hall AD path you can see a few tree stumps with many stems B TO LANARK gorges in the Clyde Valley. Since of dappled sunlight, spring L A I R growing from them: signs that the woodland was Crossford R the last Ice Age, rivers have flowers and autumn fungi. O A managed as coppice, with the trees cut every few D gouged deep clefts in the soft Otters roam the riverbanks years to harvest small timber. TO C sandstone: woods of oak, ash, and badgers forage for food in R But peer down through the leaves to the river far below A I G N E and you’ll realise the trees on the gorge sides have T rowan and hazel have been the deep leaf litter, while birds H A N C never been cut. They grow undisturbed until their own A ST growing there since the ice like treecreepers, wrens and weight makes them fall. LE melted away. woodpeckers nest in the trees. The dizzying cliffs made a perfect site for a fortress too. Craignethan Castle is an extraordinary fortified house, People have used these woods There are pockets of this beautiful built around 1530 by Sir James Hamilton. It makes a for centuries, managing the woodland throughout the valley. great starting place for a visit to the gorge. Nethan Craigs trees to provide small timber for Six of the best have been chosen n a th e N fences and tools or pit props for to form a National Nature r e iv mines. But the gorges were too Reserve, where you’ll find car R steep to be completely cleared, parks, clearly marked trails and and on the sheerest cliffs the more information about this remarkable environment. D A O R Craignethan Castle L L T I o Glasgo M A R R O C J5 Badger W O A72 G B799 A H w A725 A M ES 1 L O Bothwell B7029 T A723 de Strathclyde A725 ilbri Nethan Gorge t K B70 Loch Eas To 7 1 M7 A723 ton 4 B75 MOTHERWELL 1 Way to go HAMILTON 4 Newmains A7 J6 A72 A trail runs along the edge of the gorge between A72 Craigneuk A722 To Livings 1 Crossford and Craignethan Castle (0.75 mile / B75 1.2km). The path is well surfaced but narrow and 4 WISHAW 0 metres 400 B755 steep in places, with many steps.