10 Kilsyth 1 Cumbernauld Lanarkshire Moodiesburn Chryston Airdrie Stepps 9 Coatbridge M8 Harthill Cambuslang Bellshill Shotts Bothwell 2 Blantyre MotherwellNewmains Hamilton Wishaw East Kilbride Carluke Larkhall Carnwath 8 Carmichael Strathaven Lanark New Lanark World 3 Heritage site 7 M74 Biggar Tinto Hill 4 Nutberry Lesmahagow Hill 5 “Looking for bright Dungavel Fell ideas for short breaks Douglas and great days out in 6 Culter Fell Lanarkshire? It really Crawfordjohn will take you a month Abington of Sundays if you want Crawford to try everything?” There’s so much to see and do in Lanarkshire. Make M74 Leadhills the most of the great outdoors at one of the area’s Green fine country parks and estates, or discover its rich and Lowther fascinating history at the many museums and heritage attractions, including the Unesco World Heritage Sites at New Lanark and the Antonine Wall near Kilsyth. With so Ballencleuch much fun on your doorstep, what are you waiting for? Law Visit Lanarkshire Central Scotland’s playground If you love walking, you’ll love countryside before it rolls into Carron Valley, the Kelvin Valley walking in Lanarkshire. Scotland’s industrial heartland. and the Kilsyth Hills. Follow in Here you can hike or mean- Unsurprisingly, the river is a Roman footsteps on the Anto- der through a variety of land- walker’s delight. The new 37 nine Wall, or take a West-East scapes, peppered with history mile Clyde Walkway takes trip along the Forth and Clyde and well-served with restau- you from the Unesco World Canal. Or you could take a rants, pubs and tearooms offer- Heritage site at New Lanark, walk on the wild side to the ing refreshment and reward for via Stoneybyre Falls, the RSPB’s 2320ft summit of Tinto Hill and a day well spent. Baron’s Haugh Reserve and enjoy views that, on a clear day, Luckily, few people really through Strathclyde Park. Walk reach as far as the Lake District recognise Lanarkshire’s truly on to the 13th Century and Arran. rural nature and so its hills, Bothwell Castle and to the Serious walkers and fam- valleys and riversides are free David Livingston Centre in ily ramblers alike can find the from crowds and free for you Blantyre before you leave fresh air, peace and interest to enjoy. leafy Lanarkshire for the more in Lanarkshire. A good walk’s The River Clyde rises in industrial scenery down river. not as far as you think. Love the Southern Uplands and It’s not just about the walking? You’ll love walking in flows through the Lanarkshire Clyde though, consider the Lanarkshire. Walk 1 Patrol the Roman Empire’s northwest frontier Map: OS Explorer 348 - 01236 821496 Start/finish: Auchinstarry The Coachman Hotel, 4 Marina, near Kilsyth Parkfoot St, Kilsyth - 01236 Transport: Train - 821649. Croy, 1 mile; Bus stop Distance: 8 miles. - Auchinstarry Marina. Time: 4½ hours. Refreshment: The Difficulty: Moderate Boathouse restaurant Terrain: Canal towpaths, with rooms, Auchinstarry and narrow hill tracks. Marina - 01236 829 200; Conditions underfoot www.boathousekilsyth.com are generally good. Stout The Quarry Inn, Twechar footwear recommended. Walking with the Antonine Wall, a Points of interest Unesco World Heritage site since 1 Auchinstarry Marina 2008, is an exhilarating – home to many barges and experience. house-boats, the terrace of the Boathouse restaurant is a great spot for observing life on the There is enough of canal. OutdoorTrax at the Marina the earthen wall and also has bikes and canoes for hire. ditch remaining to probably abandoned when the be able 2 Forth & Clyde Canal – John Romans arrived. to understand Smeaton, an engineer, chose a its defensive qualities similar route to the Antonine 6 Barr Hill Fort and Roman and marvel at the Wall for his canal linking the Bath House – these are among expertise that got North Sea with the Firth of the best Roman remains on the 37-mile- long Clyde. Work began in 1768 and it the wall. Enough of the floor was opened in 1790. of the bath house remains to wall built in two years. understand how Roman central 3 Dumbreck Marsh heating worked. Following the edge A site of special scientific interest of a high ridge for supporting a range of birdlife The route much of the way the including lapwings, water rail and views over the Kelvin skylarks. From the Auchinstarry Marina, go Valley, Campsie Fells, west from the Boathouse. Climb and Kilsyth Hills (see 4 Croy Hill Roman Fort – one to road and cross to far side of walk 10) are equally of the small forts built at intervals the canal. Follow the canal tow- impressive. of one to two miles along the path east to next bridge. length of the wall. At bridge join road and go right – uphill. At crest of hill go Added to this, view 5 Castle Hill Iron Age fort to the right signed for Antonine the engineering feat – now topped by a ‘trig point’, Wall. Follow broad track and and wildlife of the Castle Hill was constructed continue uphill. At fork in Forth & Clyde Canal. more than 2000 years ago. It was the path take the left signed Forth and Clyde Canal and the Antonine Wall - Twechar via Antonine Wall, 3 follow path through A803 Kilsyth miles. Dumbreck Marsh trees. After short distance go off Start/end Emerge into a in field dotted with to the right, to follow the rising elv Croy Hill r K ground. On the right are the first ve mature trees. In the Ri Auchinstarry Forth & Castle Hill Marina field you will find glimpses of the Antonine Wall. Clyde Follow clear path uphill to the canal Bar Hill the remains of the Croy top of Croy Hill and then into a Roman Bath House Twechar shallow dip. and Fort. Exit from Follow obvious track downhill, this pathless area by aiming for the right hand edge of gate over the hill to houses. Continue to tarmac road. the left and out of Go to the right through green B8048 sight from the bath gate and left to continue to main house. road (follow the narrow track Follow broad and not the black footpath). ditch are obvious as it sweeps path away from black gate and at Cross the road to take up into a dip and then up to the top the second track signed Barrhill Wood, of Castle Hill. gate turn right downhill. Emerge Roman Fort and Twechar. After experiencing the at Twechar war memorial and On leaving woodland go sharp marvellous views from trig turn right again downhill through right and then left to follow the point at the top of Castle Hill, the village to rejoin the canal. left hand edge of shelter belt. This descend to the west and step Turn right and take up towpath. is the most spectacular section through gap in stone dyke. With Follow back to Auchinstarry of the wall. The earthen wall and Antonine Wall on your right Marina. Walk 2 A haven for walkers and wildlife Map: OS Explorer 343. Bus stop - Adele Street station) - 01698 268393; Start/finish point: at Broomside Crescent www.electricbar.co.uk RSPB visitor car park 750 yards. Distance: 3.5 miles. accessed by North Refreshment: Time: 2-3 hours. Lodge Avenue. Electric Bar Difficulty: Easy Transport: Train - (adjacent to Airbles Terrain: Good footpaths Airbles 1¼ mile. railway throughout. Dalzell Estate & Baron’s Haugh Nature Reserve Binoculars would be a good idea on this A721 walk as sightings of birdlife and wildlife are Start/end guaranteed. There are Shieldmuir four hides overlooking P Dalzell P Muirhouse the Baron’s Haugh Park B754 from where kingfishers, KEY: DALZELL teal, pochard and red Railway Baron’s Haugh Clyde wing may be spotted. Wa Nature Reserve lkwa WoodlandNetherton The Dalzell Estate y Place of with its ornamental interest bridges and temples, exotic trees, Japanese the centrepiece of the estate this Turn left off main footpath on-to narrow path through trees. gardens and ordered impressive building spans more than 500 years. The Hamiltons of After a short distance turn left planting indicate that Dalzell lived here from the 17th again to join footpath by the river it was regarded by century until the early 1950s; a Clyde and follow for about one its wealthy former home they had to share with at mile. At the junction with the owners, the Hamiltons, least three ghosts. Chestnut Walk go through the as no more than a gate and take up the Lime Walk very large garden. 4 Covenanters’ Oak to continue along the riverbank. Nevertheless the result planted by David I, it is the oldest At the end of the Lime Walk turn is a very picturesque living thing in North Lanarkshire. uphill away from the Clyde and and relaxing walking This venerable oak sheltered go through gate. Keep left at each fork in the environment. secret religious services held by Covenanters in the 17th century. path as you go uphill. Path winds This walk follows through yew trees and skirts the the red route, the 5 Japanese gardens edge of housing. longest of five marked a pocket of eastern serenity, routes that explore the the gardens were laid out in the At junction with footpath (green reserve and estate. 18th century to resemble those route) turn right downhill using of the temple of the Buddha at the steps guarded by green Points of interest Nagasaki. railing. Once over the burn and marshland the path turns uphill. 1 RSPB Baron’s Haugh 6 White walk this sunken At the top of the steps turn left nature reserve centred on roadway was created so that and continue straight on for flooded marshland in a bend miners making their way to work Dalzell House.