The walk explores historic Carmichael Estate and traces the footsteps of Clan Carmichael back to the 14th century. The route offers a pleasant, family friendly walk with fantastic views to Tinto hill and across the surrounding countryside.
Highlights
Carmichael Visitor Centre
The centre includes a heritage exhibition and a farm shop.
Carmichael House
Built in 1734, the house replaces a tower destroyed by Oliver Cromwell. The corridor linking the two wings was added later and removed the need to have a carriage on stand-by to provide transport between them.
Dovecot
Built in 1750, the ornate stone dovecot would have provided the estate with eggs and meat.
Hyndford memorial
The monument sits on top of Carmichael hill and remembers the 2nd earl of Hyndford, who was a distinguished diplomat.
Barracks
The building dates from the time when major landowners where required by the crown to maintain a battalion.
Route
From car park make your way to the Carmichael Visitor Centre. Walk through to the courtyard and on your right hand side is a children’s play area. You can pick the estate walk from here.
Go round the fenced enclosure on to a red gravel path.
Follow the red gravel track as it cuts through a strip of woodland.
Follow track through woodland and turn steeply uphill past a red-brick cottage to reach a T-junction.
At main drive, turn left. Follow the main drive around a walled area. Continue to follow the road to round a left bend, where you will be greeted with views of the Carmichael House ruins.
Continue along the track past the front of Carmichael House and then along the gravel track past a dwelling on your right hand side.
You will come to a crossroads with entrances to fields to your left and right. Take the track on the right.
Pass through a gate and follow the quad bike track uphill.
Continue to follow rising ground to Hyndford monument.
From monument, make your way to strip of conifers. Go round the top of the strip and follow a deer fence steeply downhill.
At the bottom of the hill turn right (second sign on the route)and go round to right at barracks on the gravel track, where you will come to a T-junction.
At the T-junction, turn right to return via outward route past red brick cottage.
Carluke is an old market town at an important crossroads between central and southern Scotland, where old and new roads converge. Once out of Carluke the road is lined with beech and hawthorn.Good views in every direction, especially to Tinto and across the Clyde Valley to Blackhill.
Highlights
Major General Roy
In 1956, a monument in the form of a Trig Point was erected by Ordnance Survey in honour of surveyor and map-maker Major General Roy. The memorial is located at Multonhead, near Carluke, where Roy was born. The plaque reads: “Here stood Miltonhead the birthplace of Major General William Roy 1726-1790 from whose Military Map of Scotland made in 1747-1755 grew the Ordnance Survey of Great Britain.”
River Clyde
The River Clyde starts at an altitude of 472 metres in the Lowther Hills in South Lanarkshire and trails more than 100 miles to the sea. It flows north through South Lanarkshire then turns west and passes through the former industrial village of New Lanark. Here, the river cascades through the Falls of Clyde before the Clyde heads north-west through Clydesdale and on to the city of Glasgow where it widens and forms the Firth of Clyde.
Fiddler’s Gill
A stream rushes through the surprisingly dramatic wooded gorge, which is also a Special Site of Scientific Interest (SSSI).
The Clyde Walkway
A 40 mile/65km riverside footpath from the centre of Glasgow to the Falls of Clyde at New Lanark.
Route
Start in Carluke at the junction of Market Place Road and High Street. Continue along High Street to a roundabout then take right on to John Street
At the junction of John Street and James Street, take the left turn staying on John Street. You will cross a burn and head uphill. This eventually turns into Old Lanark Road.
At the junction of Wilton Street, cross the road going diagonally left into the new houses at Balcastle Cres.
At the “V” in the road, take the right fork and continue straight ahead on the path between the houses to join Old Lanark Road.
Eventually, you meet crossroads with Goremire Road. Go straight ahead on Old Lanark Road. (This looks more like a track than a road and is not suitable for cars.)
At crossroads with Boghall Road continue straight ahead.
Continue until another crossroads. The road naturally bends to the left. At this point, turn right and go through a gate.
Follow a track (Meadow Road) all the way down to the railway.
Cross the railway bridge and continue. You’ll be able to see Tinto Hill from here.
At the main road (A73), cross the road, (take care with this crossing on a busy road). Head down Auchenglen Road. This goes some distance and through Fiddler’s Gill.
When you reach the house at the bottom, take the path to the right and follow a sign to Birkhill Road.
At a junction of Birkhill Road with Nemphar Moor Road, turn right and then left onto Braidwood Road. Cross the road and continue into Crossford.
Just before the river, there is a big signpost to the River Clyde Walkway. Turn here and take the path right. Keep going. At one point the path splits. You can take either side as they join together again.
Continue on the Walkway before coming back up on to a road.
Note: There are some bits of broken boardwalk (diversion in place).
Look for a large house at Milton-Lockhart. There are signs stating where the public can go and where is private. These should be adhered to.
On reaching Milton Road, continue ahead and pass a monument for Major General Roy.
From the monument continue along Milton Road to the junction of Station Road, then turn left on to Station Road.
As you turn into Station Road, on the right there are new paths. These are a nice addition if you want to do more and loop round.
Continue on Station Road, passing Carluke station to a junction with Kirkton Street, where you turn left.
At a main junction, turn right back on to High Street to reach the start point again.
A walk of two halves, the route starts in beautiful Calderglen Park, where there are plenty of attractions and diversions for things to do. The second part of the walk heads across Langlands Moss Nature Reserve.
Highlights
Calderglen Country Park
A lovely park with a children’s zoo, playparks, woodland walks, gallery and the Courtyard Café. It is also the home of historic Torrance House (not open to the public). The northern section of the park is a Geological Site of Special Scientific Interest.
Wooded glen
A scenic wooded glen forged out, by the Rotten Calder River, which is a tributary of the River Clyde extends more than three miles and has many attractive waterfalls and important geological features.
Historic burial ground
The burial ground of the Stuarts of Torrance is situated Crutherland Glen, a short way east of Crutherland House (now the Crutherland House Hotel).
Langlands Moss Nature Reserve
A raised bog was formed around 10,000 years ago at the end of the last Ice Age. Retreating ice left behind hollows where pools of water formed. Over time, dead plant material built up in the water, slowly decaying and creating peat layers. As the peat increased, plant roots were unable to reach the water and died. The only serving plants were mosses. Today, the reserve is home to sphagnum mosses and heather. In summer, the heather is very colourful. It is also a huge carbon store and an important wildlife and insect hub.
Route
Start at Calderglen Country Park. There are several woodland trails to follow through the park.
The Calderglen/Langlands Moss trail follows the “Tor Trail” markers, winding down into the trees and along the river.
The first waymarker directs you to Horseshoe Falls to the left, if you want to walk down to the pretty waterfall.
You can loop back round to join the path, which leads to Langlands Moss.
Otherwise, go right and follow the path through the trees. It is peaceful and quiet.
You might catch a glimpse of Crutherland House, now a hotel, through the trees on the opposite bank of the River Calder.
The track opens up as you walk alongside Torrance House Golf Club.
Follow it down to walk under the road beneath the two bridges. There is an old bridge and the New Flatt Bridge, built in 1999 as part of the Strathaven Road improvements.
Look out or different birds and wildflowers, butterflies, and snails.
Normally the path would continue along the riverside, but a significant part of it has collapsed, so there is a diversion in place. Laminated signs lead the way.
The path joins the main road through Langlands Industrial Estate and it is here you would normally cross into Langlands Moss for the next portion of the route.
However, two malicious fires which destroyed the boardwalk over the Moss and current tree-felling and re-planting works have substantially altered where you can walk.
At this point you can simply retrace your steps and head back into Calderglen via the route you came, perhaps choosing a different trail once inside the park if you want to vary your walk.
If you choose to walk on, there are still parts of Langlands Moss to explore.
As you follow the path from the road, you will pass the Moss itself on your left. Part of the boardwalk remains in place, so it is possible to admire this incredible beauty spot from this point.
However, you can’t cross the Moss via the boardwalk and signs point you to a new woodland walk, approximately 100 yard along the path.
Follow the signs and cross a small wooden bridge over a burn to continue on the woodland walk.
The track takes you along beside the remaining trees and up a slope to the other side of the boardwalk.
From here, you can turn right and walk through the woodland to join the road into Auldhouse village, or retrace your steps down the slope and back out on to the path.
Turn left and walk down through the industrial estate, where you can cross the road and rejoin the walking route back to Calderglen.
The walk through Langlands Moss is not the prettiest at the moment, but significant works are underway to improve this important natural and return to its former glory.
This route follows these lanes through peaceful hamlets into forgotten corners of the Pentland hills, South Lanarkshire where Covenanters hid out in the 17th century.
Highlights
St. Mary’s Church
A collegiate church, St Mary’s, signposted from High Street in Biggar, dates from 1545 and was built before the Reformation and is the the last collegiate church in Scotland.
Cadger’s Brig
Situated in Biggar and towards the end of this cycle route, the stone, single-arch footbridge is said to originate in the 13th century. Its name derives from it traditionally having been crossed by William Wallace, disguised as a cadger (hawker) on his way to where the English were camped, near Biggar.
Dunsyre Kirk
Mid-way in the cycle route, look out for the iron jougs set into the wall of Dunsyre Kirk. Offenders would be sentenced to wear the iron collar around their neck. It was set at such a height as to make uncomfortable to sit or stand.
Little Sparta
This is the exotically named poetry garden, near Dolphinton, of the late artist Ian Hamilton Finlay. littlesparta.org.uk
Mercat cross
Located in Newbigging, the cross is topped with a stone sun and dated to 1693.
Route
Note: Public Toilets are well signposted at Corn Exchange in Biggar and on road south out of Broughton. Free parking is signposted throughout Biggar.
From the Corn Exchange on High Street in Biggar go left downhill and then go right for Carnwath, B7016. Look for the signposted junction on right after the pedestrian crossing.
Ride uphill out of Biggar and continue for less than a mile. Take the road on the right on a bend to leave the B7016.
Follow the quiet road to a crossroads with A721 and go straight over.
Follow road for just over a mile and you will come to a junction. Turn right, continue straight for 2.5 miles passing straight through Walston.
Coming into some woodland you will see a give way sign and a junction. Turn left here for Dunsyre.
Pass through an old railway bridge and go uphill and round to the left in Dunsyre.
Follow the road for 3 ½ miles to Newbigging.
At a T-junction with A721, near the Mercat Cross, turn left and head out of the village and go downhill.
After a mile and at the foot of the hill, on a bend, turn right on to a quieter road again.
Follow a quiet road steeply uphill. From the top of the hill, a fast downhill takes you to a T-junction with the B7016.
Turn left and then after a short distance (through an “S” bend) turn right for Thankerton and Quothquan. You’ll join the Shieldhill road.
Follow the road into and through Quothquan and after 5 miles from last junction take the fork that is left and slightly rising.
Continue along this road for 1.25 miles until you get to a Y-junction.
Turn left and continue through Cormiston. At the foot of a steep downhill (look for road on left) turn left on to Lindsaylands Road and follow into Biggar. There are blue cycling signs to Biggar here.
At a T-junction at the Cadger’s Brig, turn left to return to start.
This route heads east into the Borders to the village of Broughton where it is claimed the magician Merlin was laid to rest.
Highlights
Biggar
Biggar offers two good opportunities for discovering more about local history, including the Biggar & Upper Clydesdale Museum and Biggar Gasworks Museum.
St. Mary’s Church
A collegiate church, St Mary’s, signposted from High Street in Biggar, dates from 1545 and was built before the Reformation and is the the last collegiate church in Scotland.
Broughton Ales
Broughton Brewery, in the village, has been brewing craft beer since 1979.
Route
Note: Public Toilets are well signposted at Corn Exchange in Biggar and on road south out of Broughton. Free parking is signposted throughout Biggar.
From the Corn Exchange on High Street, turn right and head eastwards for a few 100 metres.
After the shops end – and where the road drifts left – turn right at the junction signposted “Broughton 5 miles, B7016”.
Follow this good rolling road through picturesque farmland to Broughton.
At the T-junction with Broughton Main Street, turn right. There is a coffee shop, Laurel Bank, with outside seating.
Follow Main Street (A701) through Broughton. As you start to climb out of Broughton, turn right.
When the road veers right, stay right and follow for Hartree. The road climbs past Pyatknowe Farm and once over the crest, cycle downhill to the right and then follow the road into Biggar.
The road then climbs and rolls past numerous farms, before a more noticeable steeper uphill and downhill. After 3.5 miles, you’ll join three roads.
Stay right again and follow the road into Biggar. At the T-junction on Station Road and High Street, turn right to return to start.