Lanark and Tinto Circular
An excerpt from Bike Clydesdale by Paul Lamarra
Look out for:
Kirkfieldbank - a steep descent from Lanark takes you into Kirkfieldbank. It is still possible to cross the Clyde on the old Clydesholm bridge - a narrow stone bridge constructed in the 17th century and in use until 1959.
Douglas Valley - classic rural scenes - patchwork fields, lanes lined with hedgerows and stone dykes. Pause on the hump backed bridge over the Douglas Water to survey the scene.
Carmichael - ancient seat of the Clan Carmichael who have occupied these lands for almost 1000 years. There has been a church in Carmichael dedicated to St Michael since the 12th century. The current church was built in 1750 however an external staircase form the original church has been incorporated into it. Use the loupin stane at the entrance to the churchyard to remount your bike. The small park on the far side of the church is an ideal spot for a picnic.
Tinto Hill - beyond Carmichael the route skirts the base of Tinto Hill - at 707 metres it is the highest point in the Central Lowlands. Tinto Hill has been a special place to local people for several millennia. There are many prehistoric sites on and around the hill and the summit is topped by Scotland's largest cairn.
The cairn was built during the Bronze Age probably as a burial cairn although it may also have been used for fixing the date of the winter solstice.
Donald Cargill memorial - Cargill was a hardline Covenanter who was arrested close to this spot. He was then taken to Edinburgh where he was tried and executed. He had a price on his head of 500 merks and was arrested by a bounty hunter Irvine of Bonshawe.
Convington - the small but surprising collection of buildings at Covington includes a 15th century church, a fortified tower and a large 16th century dovecot.
The tower was built by an infamous branch of the Lindsay family; its walls are 11 feet thick; it is surrounded by a dry moat; and within its wall there is a pit dungeon and a garderobe. The dovecot would have housed 500 pigeons, which would have been kept for their eggs and meat.
There is also a cairn opposite the farm that commemorates Robert Burns' stay here in1786.
The Route
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