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.
Dalzell Estate is a picturesque location with a host of features, including ornamental bridges, exotic trees and Japanese gardens. These were the creation of former owners of the estate house, the Hamiltons.
It’s worth taking binoculars and a camera so that you can make the most of the bird hides overlooking the Baron’s Haugh, from where it’s possible to see kingfishers, teal, pochard and red wing, among others.
Highlights
Nature Reserve
RSPB Baron’s Haugh nature reserve takes the form of a flooded marshland in a bend of the River Clyde. The reserve attracts wintering wildfowl, including widgeon and whooper swans.
Old graveyard
A short detour along Chestnut Walk leads to this very spooky graveyard. Peer into the Hamilton family mausoleum and look out for their pet cemetery.
Dalzell House
The centrepiece of the estate, the impressive building is more than 500 years old. The Hamiltons of Dalzell lived here from the 17th century until the early 1950s. Apparently, at least three ghosts also inhabit the building. It is privately owned.
Covenanters’ Oak
The tree was planted by David I and it’s said to be the oldest living thing in North Lanarkshire. This oak sheltered secret religious services held by Covenanters in the 17th century.
Japanese gardens
A pocket of eastern serenity, the gardens were laid out in the 18th century to resemble those of the temple of the Buddha at Nagasaki.
White walk
This roadway was originally created so that miners making their way to work each day didn’t spoil the view from the Dalzell House.
Route
This walk follows the red route, the longest of five marked routes that explore the reserve and estate.
Leaving the RSPB car park, you follow a path signposted “to the hides”. Follow this red ash path downhill to junction with broad path.
Turn right on-to broad path. Watch out for hide on the left.
Turn left off main footpath on-to narrow path through trees.
After a short distance turn left again to join footpath by the River Clyde and follow for about one mile.
At the junction with the Chestnut Walk go through the gate. If you want to see the graveyard go up Chestnut Walk here for a couple of hundred metres, then cross a little stone bridge to the left and retrace your steps back to continue.
Walk up Lime Walk to continue along the riverbank.
At the end of the Lime Walk turn uphill away from the Clyde and go through gate.
Keep left at each fork in the path as you go uphill. Path winds through yew trees and skirts the edge of housing.
At junction with footpath (green route) turn right downhill using the steps guarded by green railing. Once over the burn and marshland the path turns uphill.
At the top of the steps turn left and continue straight on for Dalzell House.
At junction with tarmac road turn left past Dalzell House’s impressive frontage and then right downhill past the Covenanters’ Oak.
At bottom of the hill cross bridge and then turn right or follow path through Japanese gardens.
A short distance beyond the gardens turn left off the main avenue. When path forks go to the right.
Cross tarmac road (White walk) to return to car park.
Take a walk back in time on the short and easy route though the village of Douglas, which sits on Douglas Water.
With every step, you will encounter significant people and events in Scotland’s history from the Wars of Independence with England to World War II.
Highlights
James Gavin Memorial
“Bloody” Claverhouse – John Graham of Claverhouse, 1st Viscount Dundee – cut off James Gavin’s ears with his own tailoring shears as punishment for attending an illegal prayer meeting during a period in the 17th century known as the Killing Times.
St Bride’s Church
The clock in the hexagonal tower was a gift from Mary Queen of Scots and is said to be the oldest working town clock in Scotland. The remaining aisle contains the tomb of Sir James Douglas, who was Robert the Bruce’s right-hand man.
Sun Inn
The private home is claimed as the oldest building in Douglas and has served as an inn and a courthouse. Bloody Claverhouse often stayed here when on patrol.
Polish War monuments
Carved in stone, these insignia are a lasting reminder of the exiled Polish army’s stay here during World War II.
Cameronian Monument
The Cameronian regiment was disbanded here in 1968. The Angus regiment became known as the Cameronians.
Douglas Castle
Now just a ruined tower, Douglas Castle was renamed Castle Dangerous by Sir Walter Scott. It was the scene of a particularly dastardly act during the Wars of Independence when an English patrol was tricked into believing the castle was empty. The tower was built as a folly and is not part of the original castle, which is on an adjacent site.
Angus Monument
The Earl of Angus – who was the first Colonel of the Cameronian Regiment – points to the spot where the Angus regiment (the Cameronians) was raised in 1689.
Route
From the Douglas Arms, walk along Main Street.
Go to the right at a newsagents, past old St Bride’s Church and the Sun Inn.
Continue downhill to the left to a lodge and enter the castle policies.
Keep to a broad track that skirts Stable Loch.
At a ruined tower (Castle Dangerous) go to the left downhill and cross iron bridge.
Walk towards a cottage and then go to the right.
Head through double gate on left and follow a track uphill through trees.
At the top of the hill, turn left and follow a forestry track. (German POWs marched along this track from their camp to the pit head baths at Douglas West.)
The track narrows and you need to squeeze through trees to join a broad track and turn left.
At remains of mine buildings, turn left downhill through light woodland.
Continue to cross Douglas Water on a blue bridge.
Skirt playing fields and follow a lane to a road. Turn right and follow the road to the rear of St Bride’s church.
Continue to Angus monument and turn left to go downhill. At the foot of the hill turn left and then right to return to start on Main Street.
Lamington Hill is a lower summit in the Southern Uplands and this walk of around 4.5 miles includes some 530ft (160m) of ascent. The summit at 1614ft (492m) above sea level is marked with a trig pillar and there are great views of the surrounding countryside and the Clyde valley. Across the River Clyde, you’ll see the popular hill walking destination of Tinto.
Highlights
Marilyn
Lamington Hill is classified as a Marilyn, which is a peak with a prominence of 150m or more on all sides. The name was coined as a pun in contrast to the better known Munros, which are the 282 Scottish mountains with a height of more than 3,000ft. There are more than 1,500 Marilyns in Britain.
Lamington
The village is reputed to be the home of Marion Braidfute, the legendary wife of William Wallace. It is also said that the name is the origin of Lamington sponge cake, which is popular in Australia, although there are other claims to the naming of this sweet treat, too.
St Ninian’s Church
The building in Lamington looks ordinary until you walk around to the north side of the church. Here, as if inserted into the wall as an afterthought, are the blocked remains of a doorway surrounded by a magnificent Norman carved arch.
Route
Start at the car park by Lamington Church on the A702.
Turn left out of the car park back to the A702 and head right to the minor road signed Baitlaws Estate Walkers.
The walk begins on an easy tarmacked road and makes for a pleasant start to the walk.
Continue along the tarmacked road towards Baitlaws House.
Just before Baitlaws house, there is a gate on the left. This is signposted for walkers.
Follow the track under the trees to another gate (don’t take the stile just before the gate).
At the foot of the hill go through the gate and down to the burn to a bridge over the burn.
Once over the bridge, follow the track up a short steep incline to an opening where you will see a gate and an estate track making its way uphill.
Continue on the estate track as it gradually rises up the hill towards a tree plantation.
At the tree plantation take the quad bike track on your left-hand side up the steep grassy slope of the hill. The trig point comes into view as you near the summit.
Once at the summit, there are fantastic views of the surrounding countryside and hills.
From the summit, you can either retrace your footsteps or take the obvious quad bike track along the ridge of the hill back towards Baitlaws House.
Once back on the main estate track, retrace your steps.
The market town of Strathaven is the starting point for a peaceful walk next to Avon Water and to a beautiful waterfall. You’ll enjoy strolling on banks filled with colourful wildflowers in spring and summer. Look out for grey wagtails and dippers and, if you are lucky, you might spot otters.
Highlights
Strathaven Castle
Now in ruins, the castle has a gruesome past. One of the lords who owned this fortress apparently punished his wife by having her bricked up alive inside a purpose-built enclosure. More recently, human remains were found when part of the castle walls collapsed.
Spectacle E’e (eye) falls
The unusual name is the result of an incident involving a local lad who fell in love with the miller’s daughter. The miller disapproved and put an end to the romance. In revenge, the lad placed an eye glass in the mill’s thatch. The thatch soon caught fire and the mill was burned to the ground.
Strathaven Brewery
A producer of real ales with a local character. facebook.com/StrathavenAles
Route
Leave the Common Green in Strathaven by Main Street (south).
Cross the road to the Castle Tavern and go round into Todshill Street.
Follow Todshill Street and then carry straight on to leave Strathaven.
Once out of Strathaven, cross the stile – signposted “Sandford 1 mile”.
Go downhill through the field keeping to the right.
Cross the bridge over Avon Water and then turn right upstream.
After a short distance, turn left to follow the Kype Water.
Staying on this bank, continue to steps. A short detour to the right heads through remains of old mill for close-up view of the falls.
To continue, climb steps and follow the stream as it tumbles over a series of cascades/
Cross a small bridge, remembering to close the gate, and continue straight on through the field towards a fence. There is a stile.
Follow sign to the right towards Sandford.
In Sandford, go right and cross bridge and continue straight on to main road.
At the main road, turn right and follow the B7086 (broad pavement) into Strathaven. The brewery is by the old bridge over the Avon on your left.
The Clyde Walkway is a great place to head for an easy bike ride, especially with families. There is plenty of wildlife to spot, too, including wildflowers, mammals, butterflies and birds.
There are lots of places to stop for a picnic or to see some of the various attractions, such as Dalzell House and Estate and Baron’s Haugh Nature Reserve.
It is possible to cycle shorter sections by joining the Walkway at different points.
Highlights
Watersports at Strathclyde Loch
There is a range of waterports are available to try during the summer months (April–September). It was a venue for the Commonwealth Games 2014 and home of the Scottish Rowing Academy.
Strathclyde Park
There is a variety of rural attractions with 1100 acres of mature woodland, rough wetland, and open water, providing wildlife refuges for more than 150 different species of animals and birds. The park has more than 20 miles of paths for cyclists, walkers and runners.
Dalzell Estate
The estate was originally a Royal hunting forest owned by the Dalzell family, until it was sold in 1647 to the 5th Laird of Orbiston, James Hamilton. In the 18th century, the barren estate lands were transformed into an orderly and landscaped park. Later additions included the arboretum in the 19th century and the Japanese garden in the 1920s. In 1952, Dalzell House and grounds passed into public ownership.
Dalzell House
The centrepiece of the estate, the impressive building is more than 500 years old. The Hamiltons of Dalzell lived here from the 17th century until the early 1950s. Apparently, at least three ghosts also inhabit the building. It is privately owned.
Nature reserve
RSPB Baron’s Haugh nature reserve takes the form of a flooded marshland in a bend of the River Clyde. The reserve attracts wintering wildfowl, including widgeon and whooper swans.
Route
Starting at Airbles Train Station, turn left and go down Airbles Road, across a roudabout.
Pass Airbles Cemetery on the left and then turn left into Airbles Farm Road, briefly joining Greenacres before a left into Ross Drive.
At end of Ross Drive (where it meets Ross Gardens), go straight ahead down the steps.
Keep going straight along Ross Crescent, then across the grass and on to Sandilands Crescent.
Continue on this crescent and turn left on to Prentice Road.
At this point, you will join a path and you should look for a left fork. This takes you down to the River Clyde.
Head under the road bridge and you will find yourself in Strathclyde Park.
Enter the park and stay left. You will eventually go in front on the watersports centre (clockwise round the loch).
When you exit the watersports area (past a green metal fence), turn left and across the park road, Here there is a bridge over the Clyde.
Go over the bridge then turn left (do not go through the M74 tunnel towards Hamilton).
You will now be walking along a tree lined path that runs parallel to M74 southbound.
Continue until this meets the road bridge over the Clyde, go up the steps and turn left crossing the bridge.
Once across the bridge, turn left on the first path and head down steps to keep going left until you go under the road bridge with the Clyde to your right.
Continue here, retracing yours steps back to Prentice Road.
When the path reaches Prentice Road, continue and take first right after the houses and before the grass area.
There is a signpost down to the Clyde. Follow this path on to the Clyde Walkway and turn left.
Continue on the path. You will go under the railway bridge and past a sign for Baron’s Haugh Nature Reserve and Dalzell Park.
Continue until you reach a junction in the paths. Take the left, which goes uphill.
At the junction there is a patch of concrete ground to the left of the path, which you should follow.
Go up this path and you will find the backs of houses on your right.
This path will eventually emerge on Camp Road. Turn left and go over the railway bridge between the houses.
Turn right at the junction with Elmhurt then first right. This road looks like a cul-de-sac but at the top there is a set of steps and path.
Follow this path and you will eventually appear at the Electric Bar.
Turn right and you will be back at Airbles Train Station.