55°43′58″N3°52′50.96″W / 55.73278°N 3.8808222°W /55.73278; -3.8808222
| Clyde Walkway | |
|---|---|
 Corra Linn aboveNew Lanark | |
 | |
| Length | 65 km (40 mi) |
| Location | CentralScotland |
| Established | 2005 |
| Designation | Scotland's Great Trails |
| Trailheads | Partick station,Glasgow55°52′12″N4°18′32″W / 55.870°N 4.309°W /55.870; -4.309 Bonnington Linn,New Lanark55°38′49″N3°46′12″W / 55.647°N 3.77°W /55.647; -3.77 |
| Use | Hiking |
| Elevation gain/loss | 720 metres (2,360 ft) gain[1] |
| Sights | River Clyde |
TheClyde Walkway is a foot and mountain bike path which runs fromGlasgow,Scotland, to just above theUNESCOWorld Heritage Site ofNew Lanark. The path runs close to theRiver Clyde for most of its length. It was completed in 2005, and is now designated as one ofScotland's Great Trails byNatureScot.[1] The route is 65 kilometres (40 mi) long, and combines rural sections on the upper Clyde inSouth Lanarkshire, including theClyde Valley Woodlands National Nature Reserve and theFalls of Clyde, with urban walking through the centre of Glasgow.[2] About 155,000 people use the path every year, of whom about 7,750 undertake multi-day journeys including those covering the entire route.[3]
This section, which is 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) long, starts atPartick station (which is on a railway line fromGlasgow Central station) and proceeds on the north bank of the River Clyde toCambuslang Bridge. The bridge is a short distance fromCambuslang railway station. The path passes by a number of other long distance paths, including the Glasgow to InvernessNational Cycle Route, theKelvin Walkway and paths toEdinburgh,Irvine andGreenock. The path passes a number of sites of interest.
For most of this section the path stays close to the River Clyde. It passesBothwell Castle, the ruins of Blantyre Priory (opposite bank via a detour), theDavid Livingstone Centre, the remains of Craighead Viaduct,Raith Haugh Nature Reserve andBothwell Bridge Lido. Parts of the path also pass extensive remains of past mining spoil, and the wooded confluence of the Rotten Calder Water. After crossing Bothwell Road at the Lido the path formerly returned to the riverside, but has since been rerouted following an upgrade to the Raith Interchange. The walkway here now shares the cycle paths over the interchange and under the M74 in order to connect with Strathclyde Park. Care is needed due to the convoluted routes in this section, and their variety, which often leads to path users becoming lost. This section of the path ends at the Watersports Centre inStrathclyde Country Park. The nearest railway station is approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) away atMotherwell on both theWest Coast Main Line andArgyle Line. This section is 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) in length.
This section, which is 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) long, mostly follows the north bank of the River Clyde through low-lying urban fringe countryside, some of it wooded. It passes the Avon Walkway which can be followed toChatelherault Country Park. The section ends at Cardies Bride which is 5.1 kilometres (3.2 mi) from the closest train station atWishaw.
This section passes through or by a number of sites of interest, including: Baron's Haugh nature reserve, Dalzell House and Park with Roman Fort site, St. medieval Patrick's Kirkyard, the medieval St. Michael's kirkyard (old Cambusnethan Kirk), the ruins of Cambusnethan Priory, various disused Clyde Valley orchards, Garrion Bridge, and finally Garrion Tower. At Cardies Bridge it enters the Mauldslie Woods.
This 10 km (6.2 mi) section runs through attractive areas of riverine countryside, orchards and meadows, much of it wooded. This part of theClyde Valley was once famous for the produce of its orchards and greenhouses. Many remain, though few of the orchards are still in commercial production. The path passes the well preserved Milton Lockhart gatebridge over the Clyde; a memorial to Board of Ordnance pioneer William Roy; and the 16th centuryCraignethan Castle, which sits on a rocky outcrop above the Nethan Water, an important tributary of the Clyde. This section ends at the village ofCrossford. There are bus services to Lanark, and toHamilton. The nearest railway station is approximately 5.6 kilometres (3.5 mi) away, uphill atCarluke.
This section, which is 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) long, is commonly regarded as the most attractive section of the walkway. The path proceeds through furth riverine countryside dotted with areas of settlement along the banks of the River Clyde. It first passes Stonybyres Hydroelectric Station. This came into operation in 1927. The Stonebyres Linn here - one of the four 'Falls of Clyde' - are 21 m (69 ft) high. This marks the upper limit on the Clyde for migrating salmon and sea trout, as they cannot overcome the height of the cascade. After passingLanark town (Royal Burgh granted 1180) the path enters the UNESCO World Heritage Site ofNew Lanark. The village and mills here were mostly built in the late 18th century to harness the power of the River Clyde in order to process cotton using mechanised means. The site is now a restored museum, hotel and events venue as well as residential accommodation in the wider village. Beyond the village the path enters theFalls of Clyde Nature Reserve beside the second Falls of Clyde - Dundaff Linn. Here the route passes the Bonnington Hydroelectric Station, and the remaining two Falls of Clyde. The most spectacular of these is the 28 m (92 ft) highCorra Linn.
This 'upper' Falls of Clyde section of the walkway incorporates the designed landscape of Bonnington, and connects with a wider path network through other estates, such as Corehouse. The area is concentrated in archaeological features, including formal viewpoints, disused bridges, Lady Mary's Well, Lady Mary's Steps, Wallaces Cave, Wallaces Leap, and the Bonnington Pavilion or 'Hall of Mirrors' constructed in 1708.
The path ends in open countryside at the topmost of the falls - Bonnington Linn - where there is a dam and sluice diverts water to the power station downhill.Lanark railway station is approximately 1.5 miles (2.4 km) from New Lanark. The station is one of the termini of theArgyle Line.
