www.nnr-.org.uk The woodlandsareoftenhiddenindramaticriver The ClydeValley Woodlands NNRisjointlymanaged Welcome totheClydeValley Woodlands woodlands; eachoneoccupyingitsown and enjoythedramaticscene;atruehiddengem. Here, thereisamoreopenspacewhereyoucansit contrastwiththestillnessofwoodland. in perfect following heavyrain,sprayingathunderousnoise water crashesoveraseriesofrockysteps,especially After 400myouwillreachthe‘MouseFalls’where the narrowinggorge. oaks, drawntallandstraightbythelighthighabove garlic, woodanemonesandroedeerthetowering unfenced dropstotheriverinplaces).Lookoutforwild to therapidsbelow(takecareastherearesteep, dramatic androckyMouseWater asitcascadesdown narrow pathwithunexpectedviewsoftheincreasingly (downstream) tofollowthewater’s edgealonga left the ‘MouseFalls’,werecommendthatyouturn at thispoint.However, excursionto forthisshort The pathcanbefollowedeitherupordownstream Leitchford Bridge. at between fieldstoentertheNationalNatureReserve sign neartotheendofBellefieldRoad,followalane Glen attheCleghorn oak andashwoodland.Starting atasteofthiswonderful walktooffer suggest ashorter parking canbedifficultattheselocationssoherewe BridgetoMouse(4km).However,Cleghorn Glenistowalktheentiregorgefrom of Cleghorn Ideally, thebestwaytosavourhiddengems 1 hour/1.5km Walk A is oneofthefewNNRstobelocatedso National Nature Reserve (NNR),oneofthe National NatureReserve sites. gorges, carved bythewatersofClyde,Avon, gorges, carved only ScottishNNRtoconsistofsixindividual Explore themanypathsthroughthesespectacular managed ‘living’landscapewherelocal by ScottishNaturalHeritage, theScottishWildlifeTrust kingfishers, peregrinefalcons, dippersandmuchmore. badgers, roedeer, otters,greatspottedwoodpeckers, biodiverse habitats.Therichsoilsgivelifetothe build onandsothesoilhasremainedundisturbed communities liveclosetotheirwoodlands backdrop tolocalpeople’s lives.Thisisa protected woodlandsareanimportant close totheCentralBeltofScotlandand and haveforgedcloseculturaltieswiththese dramatic rivergorge.Theseinternationally and SouthLanarkshireCouncil. come toyou.Ifyou’requiet,withluckyoumaysee and sitawhile;it’s alwaysbesttosimplyletthewildlife ancient woodlands,orbetterstill,findaquietspot ecologically richestareasofScotland.This towering oaksthatreachacrossthesegorges. these ribbonsof‘wildland’thatlacetheLanarkshire the MouseandNethan.Here,wildlifethrivesin landscape. These valleys are too steep to farm or landscape. Thesevalleysaretoosteeptofarm for centuries,resultinginsomeofScotland’s most The atChatelherault Bluebells atMauldslieWoods Visitors enjoyingtheancientwoodlands 0 0 Other reserve paths Other reserve Featured Trail metres miles 800 0.5

Photography: Lorne Gill/SNH, Malcolm Muir. Maps by Ashworth Maps and Interpretation Ltd and Fitzpatrick Woolmer. riverside pathfor600m). Glen(followthe toreachCleghorn continue north-east precipitous gorge.To retraceyoursteps;or return, edgeofthe of CastleQuabalancedonthevery of thewalk,youwillpassmedievalearthworks woodpeckers mayalsobeseen.Towards theend summer). Ifyouarelucky, badgersandgreatspotted and greatcarpetsofwoodlandflowers(spring/early As youcontinuewalkingwillpassancientoaks Scotland. built in1822andisoneofthehighestbridges farbelow.above theburn Thethree-span bridgewas Thomas Telford’s Bridge,whichitselftowers Cartland You arenowstandinghighabovethegrandeurof reveals thetruescaleofthisoftenhiddenlandscape. one ofthemostdramaticviewsinLanarkshirewhich Be suretotakealookoveryourshoulderglimpse tumbling awaytoyourrightinthedepthsofgorge. Walk steeplyuphillfor250mwith theMouseWater and leavingthecarparkasitisclosetoatightbend). Bridge(takecarewhenentering spectacular Cartland sideofthe is thesmallcarparkonnorth-west Clyde Valley’s point woodedgorges.Thebeststarting Craigsisoneofthemostdramatic Cartland 1.5 hours/2.5km Craigs Cartland Walk B www.southlanarkshire.gov.uk 01698 426213orvisit call Council–formoreinformation Chatelherault andMauldslieWoods aremanagedbySouth www.scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk 01555 665262orvisit Scottish Wildlife Trust call –formoreinformation Falls ofClydeandNethanGorgearemanagedbyThe 01698 421668orvisitwww.snh.gov.uk call Scottish NaturalHeritage–formoreinformation Glenaremanagedby CraigsandCleghorn Cartland More information Crossford, nearNethanGorge. Glen,andin CraigsandCleghorn , closetoCartland Additionally, thereareplacestoeatandpublictoiletsin attractions, withcafes,toiletsandampleparking. The FallsofClydeandChatelheraultarepopularvisitor the case. responsibly andavoidusingpathswherethatis use –mountainbikersareaskedtobehave andfrequentpedestrian easily damagedsurfaces Some ofthesepathsarenarrow, withfragile your litterhome. wet weather. Removedogwastefromthepathandtake trails areeasytofollow, butcanbemuddyinplacesafter children anddogsunderclosecontrolatalltimes.Most sites. Therefore,visitorsshouldtakegreatcareandkeep are steepslopes,unfencedcliffsanddeepriversatallthe All ofthewalksarelocatedingorgewoodlandsandthere General Information Nature Reserves’onFacebook. Search for‘Scotland’s National

All map data © Crown copyright 2012 – Ordnance Survey Licence number 100017908. Leaflet © Scottish Natural Heritage 2015. ISBN: 978-1-78391-370-1. Clyde Valley Woodlands TRAILS GUIDE National NatureReserve Cartland Bridge Cartland Cleghorn Glen Cleghorn Walk C Walk D Chatelherault – Green Bridge route Mauldslie Woods 2.5 hours/7.8 km 1.5 hours/3.5 km

From the Visitor Centre entrance follow the road down Start at the information board on the east side of downstream for another 500m. Here, the to the Duke’s Bridge and enjoy spectacular views over Mauldslie Bridge. Follow the is in a tranquil setting and kingfishers, goosanders and the Avon Water. Carry straight on at the ruins of 16th downstream passing favoured fishing spots for otters are regularly seen. century and follow the woodland path. salmon and brown trout. Here, the trail is set within The trail rises into West Brownlee Wood before turning After about ten minutes you will come to an open area the parkland setting of the former Mauldslie Castle right to follow the Garrion Burn. This part of the NNR and the edge of the medieval deer park of Cadzow (demolished in 1935), with many trees over 200 years contains a variety of native woodland, together with Forest, laid out in the 12th century by King David I of old. young woodland developing from former orchards, Scotland. The magnificent, ancient oak trees here date and a coniferous plantation. After following the Garrion from the mid-14th century. The wooded slope ahead is Mauldslie Woods (part of the NNR) which is now broad-leaved woodland with Burn for 300m, the route turns right away from the burn Continue southwards, along the edge of the Oak Park, remnants of earlier larch and spruce plantings. Soon, and climbs over the spur and returns down the slope to passing dense conifer plantations. These conifers will the Clyde swings around to the left, before continuing the River Clyde after 600m. At this point turn left and be felled in 2016, as part of a plan to restore this return along the Clyde Walkway to Mauldslie Bridge. unique landscape by regenerating the ancient, native woodland that had survived intact until the 1960s. Featured Trail

After about three kilometres, the path descends through Other reserve paths native woodland to a footbridge (no longer green). The ford here was known as “Mary Hosies” as Queen Mary is said to have got her stockings wet due to a litter bearer stumbling during the crossing. From the bridge, the path rises to the eastern side of the gorge from where it is a level three kilometre walk back to Chatelherault.

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Featured Trail 0 miles 0.5 Other reserve paths

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A 72 L 0 miles 0.25 AN AR K RO Village Hall AD

B TO LANARK L

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R Crossford O A D Walk E Walk F

TO Falls of Clyde C R A IG N E T H A 2 hours/3km World Heritage Site Featured Trail 3 hours/5.5km N C A ST LE Other reserve paths Falls of Clyde From the car park in Crossford (behind the Village Visitor Centre From the New Lanark World Heritage Site, Hall), walk 400m north along the A72 which follow signs to the Falls of Clyde which bring you brings you over the to the Reserve. Dundaff Linn through two stone arches to the Wildlife Reserve The path runs for a short distance between the above the first waterfall, Dundaff Linn. Follow

Nethan Craigs n houses and river before entering the woodland the red waymarkers along the Clyde Walkway, a th e Mill Weir N and starting a steep climb up 3 flights of steps to passing New Lanark Mill weir, along a delightful r e iv R i R the plateau above with open fields to your right. v boardwalk fringing the river and on past the e r

C ly Bonnington Hydro-electric Power Station. d Along the way, keep your eyes open for wild e flowers in spring and summer, signs of badgers A short but steep climb (with steps) brings you to and listen out for woodpeckers. The path follows the main viewpoint for the highest of the waterfalls, Hydro-electric

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Craignethan Castle O the edge of the woodland, dominated by oak Power Station Corra Linn, one of Scotland’s most dramatic R

L L I M A and birch trees, and then runs between the native scenes. Continue up a short flight of steps as you R R O C woodland of the Reserve and a commercial traverse high above the falls. Before long you W O G A H West Lodge Corra Castle A M conifer plantation to your right. reach the watch site for the breeding peregrine ES L TO Corra Linn falcons (open April–June) and then arrive at Soon the path drops again and there is a Bonnington Linn, the furthest upstream of the Falls viewpoint to the left that provides a spectacular of Clyde. Cross the Power Station weir bridge view of the woodland and crags. Return to and walk a short distance downstream to the the timber steps and follow these down to the Peregrine Watch Site (April – June) waymarked viewpoint for the best views. Craignethan Burn and then climb back up to the dramatic (owned by Return to New Lanark by retracing your steps along 0 metres 400 Featured Trail Historic Scotland and open between April and the Clyde Walkway, or for a slightly longer walk, Other reserve paths September). Return to Crossford by retracing your follow the blue waymarked trail which provides 0 miles 0.25 steps. good views down the Valley to New Lanark.

Bonnington Weir

Maps key River Clyde Bonnington Linn Information centre Wildlife watching Reserve access point National Nature 0 metres 400 Reserve Information Historic structure Wildlife watching 0 miles 0.25 Parking Paths Refreshments Bus Toilets Viewpoint Ranger base Trains www.nnr-scotland.org.uk