Thanks to The Clyde Walkway is a partnership venture based on 3 co-operation and agreement. North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire and Glasgow City Councils would like to acknowledge the help and support of the many agencies and organisations involved in its development, management and promotion, including: Scottish Enterprise, Scottish Natural Heritage, The Big Lottery, Sustrans, The Forestry Commission, The Paths for All Partnership, Strathclyde European Partnership, Scottish Power, Scottish Wildlife Trust, VisitScotland, The Glasgow & Clyde Valley Green Network Partnership. We would also like to thank, in particular, the many individual landowners along the route who have given their support and co-operation to the project. The Clyde Walkway Strathclyde Country Park to Cardies Bridge k n a the erb lo riv chside and the Produced for Community and Enterprise Resources by Communications and Strategy 027182/Feb16 The Clyde Route description and features of interest Walkway From the northern end of Strathclyde Country Park the tarmac route can be picked up along the western banks of Strathclyde Loch. The loch was formed Strathclyde Country Park in the late 1970’s, flooding the site of Bothwellhaugh village. At the same to Cardies Bridge time the course of the River Clyde was straightened to run along the western edge of the loch. The only remaining In short... section of the Clyde’s original course flows From Strathclyde Country Park in the behind the island in the loch. The loch is north, along the banks of the River Clyde the focal point for water based activities to Cambusnethan Woodlands in the south. including sailing, rowing and canoeing. The park covers 1100 acres and includes This 7.5 mile section passes through mature woodland, rough wetland and mature woodland and farmland with a grassland. Strathclyde Loch is an ideal variety of interesting features to see and wildlife refuge and boasts 20 miles of sites to visit along the way. paths, a fifth of which are wheelchair accessible, including the route around the loch. There are also facilities for cyclists and horse riders. The Walkway follows the strip of land The Mausoleum was built for the between the River Clyde and Strathclyde 10th Duke of Hamilton in 1858 as a family Loch down to the Watersports Centre . chapel and tomb. It has a dome standing By following the route around the eastern 36 metres high and has been described side of the loch you will reach the “Roman as “an extraordinary work of architectural Bridge” crossing the South Calder Water sculpture rather than a building”. It is and the sites of the Roman Fort and reputed to have the longest echo in Bath House. The Fort consisting of clay Europe at 15 seconds due to its very poor ramparts and ditches occupied a very acoustics. Because of mining subsidence strong defensive position. The area is now the mausoleum and surrounding ground overgrown but the grassy ramparts can have sunk some five metres. To continue still be seen standing up to 1.2 metres towards the town centre head past the high and 15 metres wide. The Bath House sports facilities and retail park onto the made up of a cold room, two warm rooms, Town Square. Continue along Castle Street, a hot room and a semi-circular plunge Quarry Street and Brandon Street bringing bath was excavated in 1975 from an area you to the railway and bus interchange at now within Strathclyde Loch and relocated Hamilton Central. From the watersports to its present site. centre there are also links to Chatelherault Country Park via the footbridge From the watersports centre you can reach crossing the Clyde. To reach Chatelherault the centre of Hamilton by crossing the join the Avon Walkway Cycle Path footbridge over the Clyde and continuing just before the M74 underpass, continue through the M74 pedestrian underpass through the North Haugh and along the towards the Mausoleum. banks of the River Avon to Chatelherault. © Photography Jamieson Allan Mausoleum, Hamilton This also forms part of the proposed NCR Continue upstream up onto Prentice Road No. 74 linking Glasgow with Carlisle. and past the private house picking up the Follow the western bank of the River Avon route on the right about 50 metres along around the South Haugh to old Avon this road. Continue along the banks of the Bridge. Cross the bridge and pick up the Clyde under the massive stone piers of the path for Chatelherault. At Chatelherault, Motherwell/Hamilton railway viaduct and the old hunting lodge of the Dukes of onto the Royal Society for the Protection Hamilton has been painstakingly restored of Birds Baron’s Haugh Nature Reserve . to its former glory after falling into almost complete dereliction. The lodge is now the The nature reserve which is a haven for centrepiece of the Country Park housing a stunning array of birds, mammals and a visitor and exhibition centre, which butterflies is made up of a mix of meadow, provides information on the cultural and marshland, scrub, woodland and wetland natural heritage of the area. habitats. There are several bird hides around the Haugh where you can view The Walkway leaves the southern end of and enjoy the great selection of wildlife Strathclyde Country Park and continues on show. Alternatively, you can follow upstream along the north bank passing the northern edge of the Baron’s Haugh under the Clyde Bridge (Hamilton along the blue waymarked route to the Road A723). From this point both Hamilton main entrance and car park for Haugh and and Motherwell town centres can be Dalzell Estate. Here you will find more reached by using the pavements and information about the history and wildlife cycleways running alongside the A723 you will discover on the Estate and Reserve. (crossing the M74). Dalzell Estate was the hunting ground of Alternative route the Dalzell family until 1647 when it was sold to the Hamiltons who developed Another route, away from the river can be the house and the grounds creating the followed through Carbarns Woodland and basis of what you can see today. There onto Highmainshead Wood, collectively are number of waymarked routes through known as Cambusnethan Woodlands. The the Estate which will take you past woods contain a mixture of plantation features such as the Japanese Garden, the forestry and semi-natural woodland with Arboretum and the Covenanters Oak - both native and exotic species. In the the oldest living thing in Lanarkshire and past the site was actively managed for its then back down to the Clydewallk onto timber, evidence of which is still visible the Limewalk and then on to the in the small areas of former coppice Adders Gill . woodland. Cambusnethan Priory can be seen overlooking the Clyde between Alternatively, follow the northern edge the two woodlands. Major-General Sir of Baron’s Haugh along one of the two Graeme and, Lady Emily Lockhart built waymarked nature trails. This leads to the this beautiful old mansion and surrounding access point and car park on Manse Road. grounds in the 1800’s. The house was From here there is a shorter route suitable inhabited until the 1970’s, when it was for wheelchairs and pushchairs. Access unfortunately destroyed by fire. to bus and rail services to Hamilton, Motherwell, Lanark and Wishaw are about The route then briefly rejoins the River 15 minutes walk from Manse Road car Clyde at the end of Highmainshead Wood, park on Airbles Road (B754) via North before heading down to the A71. Lodge Avenue and Leven Street. © Photography Jamieson Allan Chatelherault, Hamilton Joining of routes The area around Adders’ Gill forms part of the natural flood plain to the River Clyde Follow the track that joins Lower and and consequently can be under water at Upper Carbarns’ Farms southwards for certain times of the year. Because of this about 200 metres and then leave the track two seasonal routes are described below. to follow the route along the riverbank again. Continue along the riverbank to Summer route Highmainshead Wood. Follow the path through the woodland and along the edge From the end of Lime Walk the route of the burn. Just after crossing the burn continues through the gate into an area the route joins onto a track which, after formerly occupied by the Adders’ Gill heading right, emerges onto the busy pumping station where water was drawn A71 at Garrion. from the Clyde for use at the Ravenscraig Steelworks. Continue upstream along the Take care when crossing the A71 onto river bank through the fields, crossing the the B7011 (Law Road) and following the gate onto the track joining Lower Carbarns grass verge downhill to Cardies Bridge Farm with Upper Carbarns Farm. over the Garrion Burn. Alternatively, the pavement along the side of the A71 can be followed down to Garrion Bridge and then southwards towards Dalserf and Rosebank. Winter route Responsibility Before crossing the gate into the Follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code Adders’ Gill pumping station area, by acting in a courteous and responsible follow the path uphill through the manner and avoid damaging or disturbing woodland onto Shields Drive. Cross the natural heritage of the area. through to Muirhouse Road and onto Please respect the fact that much of the Barons Road. Turn right onto Muirhouse land through which the Clyde Walkway Drive and left onto Merryton Road. passes is privately owned and is a Cross through to Kirkhill Place and working landscape. right onto Kirkhill Road. Take the route through Kirknethan Woodlands and right, Some sections of the Clyde Walkway onto Carbarns Road. Continue downhill pass close to or through areas of natural along Carbarns Road passing the water hazard such as cliffs, deep and fast treatment works and entrance to Lower flowing water, steeply sloping and Carbarns Farm.