Walking
2. Beattock; Southern Upland Way; Daer reservoir; Elvanfoot; Crawfordjohn; Pagie Hill; Douglas; Douglas castle policies; Bonnington Linn; New Lanark; Clyde Walkway; Kelvin Walkway; West Highland Way.
This is a challenging route that is wild and lonely in places. There are good views of the Lowther Hills from Beld Knowe and of the Southern Highlands from Pagie Hill.
There is an open bothy at Brattleburn (NT 015 069) and a B&B at Allershaw Lodge (NS 962 125).
Confident navigation skills and OS Explorer Sheet 335 are necessary for the section across the moors between Crawfordjohn and Douglas.
Beyond Douglas the route is much more straightforward as it follows the Douglas valley and then the Clyde walkway via New Lanark to Glasgow.
Beattock to Douglas - 25 miles
Follow the Southern Upland Way west along the minor road from Beattock. Continue to follow it north through the commercial forestry to emerge onto hillside close to the summit of Beld Knowe (517 metres).
Follow the SUW to the Daer reserve. Leave the SUW and follow the reservoir access road northwest to A702.
Turn right at A702 and follow north for three miles into Elvanfoot – there is an ample verge and traffic is light along this section of the A702.
About 500 metres north of Elvanfoot, at Elvanfoot farm, leave A702 on the left to follow track towards mobile phone transmitter. Continue past the transmitter and follow good track that runs parallel to the power line. Follow good track over pass.
On far side follow track overlooking M74 round to the left and through the gate into Glencaple. Descend to ford and then climb away to north. Take track on left before you reach Glencaple. Follow track east up Glengonnar to ford river at caravan club site.
Turn left onto the B797 and follow for one mile. Turn first right onto the minor road that climbs over the Apache Pass. Descend to good picnic spot and continue into Crawfordjohn.
The next section involves crossing featureless moor, the right-of-way is intermittent and the ground can be very boggy in places.
From Crawfordjohn follow the track that starts from the telephone box and goes in the direction of Blairhill. Continue past Blairhill on good track. However after the second gate it is necessary to take a diagonal line across the field to cross into the next field at the far away corner (N).
Climb to top of small hillock and then descend across the field to opposite corner (NE). Cross fence and dyke and follow dyke (NNW). At the end of the dyke cross the fence and aim for bridge over the Scottish coal conveyor belt and access road running east to west – marked out by two tall iron posts.
Cross bridge and follow good track at first past circular sheepfold. Track is intermittent but continue uphill towards the summit of Pagie Hill marked by a trig point.
Follow the fence north from Pagie hill to gate. Cross the gate and follow track downhill into forestry. Continue downhill on steep gravel track and then onto Springwell Road. Follow Springwell Road into Douglas to junction with Ayr Road (A70).
Douglas to New Lanark – 10 miles
From Springwell Road continue straight over onto narrow one-way street. At the end of the street go to the right and continue downhill to West Lodge. Continue into castle policies and follow broad track by small loch.
At ruin of Douglas castle (Sir Walter Scott’s Castle Dangerous) turn right uphill and then left again at top of short rise and follow track east to gate. Cross gate and join NCN 74 that runs alongside the A70.
Follow NCN 74 east under the M74 and the round to the left at roundabout. Follow NCN 74 over dual carriageway. Follow NCN 74 for 500 yards. Turn left and follow quiet tree-lined lane.
At junction with other road go to the right and continue along this road for a further 2 ½ miles. Beyond turning for Sandilands road goes sharply to left however continue straight on.
Follow narrow road to weir. Cross river Clyde and follow path downstream through very pleasant woodland. Follow footpath all the way to New Lanark.
New Lanark to Glasgow: The Clyde Walkway – 40 miles
Signposted route. Follow the main road out of New Lanark to 200 yards beyond tenement row. Join walkway on left.
Approaching Motherwell there are sections that are prone to flooding and there is no clear footpath – let the Clyde be your guide. However the banks of the river can be unstable and you should not follow the river too closely.
At Bothwell Bridge go through the village of Bothwell and take the second left after the Bothwell Bridge hotel – Blantyre Road. Follow to Blantyre Mill Road and turn right down to river. Resume Clyde Walkway at suspension bridge by turning downstream(bridge leads to David Livingstone Centre).
Also at Newton walkway is being improved and redeveloped and the route may not be obvious in places.
New Lanark: accommodation; youth hostel; eating & drinking; heritage; heritage/museum; wildlife.
www.newlanark.org.uk
Kirkfieldbank: accommodation; eating & drinking shop; campsite.
Crossford: eating & drinking; shop.
Barons Haugh RSPB nature reserve: www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/b/baronshaugh/index.asp
Motherwell: accommodation; eating & drinking; heritage; shop
Strathclyde Park: accommodation; eating & drinking; campsite; visitor centre.
Bothwell: accommodation; shop; eating & drinking; heritage/museum.
Uddingston: accommodation; shop; eating & drinking.
Cambuslang & Rutherglen: accommodation; shop; eating & drinking.
Glasgow: accommodation; youth hostel; shop; eating & drinking; heritage/museum.
The Kelvin Walkway: Glasgow to Milngavie (West Highland Way) – 9 miles
The Kelvin Walkway leaves the Clyde Walkway at the Heliport by the river Clyde and follows the river Kelvin through Kelvingrove Park and the Botanic Gardens.
Short detours to the Glasgow transport museum, Glasgow Youth Hostel, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and the University of Glasgow.
The West Highland Way: Milngavie to Fort William – 95 miles
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