Tour
Rosslyn Chapel and The Lowthers
The
gently rolling, seemingly empty landscape of the Lowther
hills makes a tranquil contrast to the busy towns in the
north, their prosperity built on textiles and mines. Yet
each has its own fascination. While Clydesdale is a rich
valley devoted to growing fruit and vegetables, New Lanark
is the site of one of the most exciting ventures in Scotland's
industrial history.
Airds
Moss
Wild
stretch of high moorland where government troops defeated
Covenanters in 1680, and leader of the Covenanters -- Richard
Cameron -- was killed. The Cameron Stone monument marks
battle site.
Arbory
Hill
Remains
of a well-preserved Iron Age fort crown hill on east bank
of River Clyde; walled enclosure lies inside ramparts and
ditches.
Auchinleck
Two
local 18th-century personalities are commemorated in parish
church museum with portraits and mementos: James Boswell,
biographer and friend of Dr Johnson; and gas-lighting pioneer
William Murdoch. Boswell is buried in the family mausoleum
next to church.
Barons
Haugh Nature Reserve
Mixed
woodland, parkland and freshwater marsh; haunt of dabbling
ducks and peregrine falcons. Hides give splendid views of
waders.
Blackhill
Remains
of Lanarkshire's largest Iron Age fort, with Bronze Age
cairn on summit. Fine views over the Isle of Arran and hills
around Loch Lomond.
Blantyre
Industrial
town and birthplace of explorer Dr David Livingstone; born
1813 in an 18th-century weaver s house in Shuttle Row. Now
restored as The Livingstone National Memorial with mementos,
including journals, surgical instruments and relics from
Africa.
Calderglen
Country Park
Over
300 acres of wooded gorge and parkland with nature trails,
woodland, and river with water-falls. Natural history displays
at the Visitor Centre. Children's zoo and adventure playground.
Carstairs
Old
village surrounds village green in rich farming country.
Rare 15th-century crucifixion stone preserved in vestibule
of church, dating from 1794. Wild moorland was invaded by
the Caledonian Railway in 1845, and a new village sprang
up to house station workers.
Cartland
Crags
Precipitous
cliffs overhang rocky chasm, through which Mouse Water river
plunges. Impressive three-arched bridge spans gorge; one
of highest road bridges in Scotland, built by engineer Thomas
Telford in 1823.
Chatelherault
Country Park
Ten
miles of woodland and country walks on the edge of Glasgow,
where ancient breed of white cattle grazes parkland. Handsome
18th-century lodge, designed by William Adam, once belonged
to Dukes of Hamilton.
Craignethan
Castle
Fine
example of 16th-century military architecture, in picturesque
setting above small River Nethan. Stronghold of the Hamiltons,
supporters of Mary, Queen of Scots; partly dismantled by
her opponents in 1579.
Crawford
Quiet
village overlooking grazing land on a bend in the Clyde.
Site of Roman fort. Fragment of 16th-century castle lies
opposite village across the Clyde.
Crawfordjohn
Little
township at foot of 1400ft Mountherrick Hill. Countryside
of grassy hills, described by Dorothy Wordsworth as being
'inhabited solitude' in 1803. Countryside was favourite
hunting ground of James V.
Cumnock
Industrial,
market town on Lugar Water. Bust of James Keir Hardie, a
founder of the Labour Party, stands outside town hall. Local
history displays at Baird Institute Museum. Snuff box collection
at Dumfries House, 2 miles west, built by William Adam in
1757 for the 4th Earl of Dumfries.
Dalveen
Pass
Wild
pass, 114Oft high over Lowther Hills from Crawford to Durisdeer;
one of the finest view-points in the Lowlands.
Douglas
Coal-mining
town with fragment of 18th-century castle; model for Sir
Walter Scott's Castle Dangerous. A coal seam, opened beneath
it in the 1940s, reduced into ruins. Earlier castle on site
was stronghold for the warlike Douglas family; clan warriors
buried in St Bride's Church.
Falls
of Clyde
Scottish
Wildlife Reserve on both banks of River Clyde, with spectacular
falls and woodland walks. Bonnington Linn is most famous
fall; beloved of poets and romantic painters. Visitor Centre
in the old dyeworks, beside river in New Lanark. Look for
badger, roe deer and red squirrel. Kestrels nest safely
on gorge ledges and wood-land birds include great spotted
woodpecker and willow tits.
Hamilton
Rare
example of attractive industrial town. Octagonal church
(1732) designed by William Adam, with Covenanters' monument
in churchyard. Hamilton District Museum, housed in 17th-century
inn, retains original stables and Assembly Rooms dating
from 18th century.
Lamington
Small
Clydesdale village, transformed in 19th century from a place
of 'rotting peat-roofed hovels' into a charming 'new town'
by Alexander Baillie-Cochrane. Robert Burns visited church,
with Norman doorway dated 1647. Ruined Lamington Tower carries
date of 1589.
Lanark
Peaceful
market town, declared a royal burgh when David I built 12th-century
castle, now vanished. Ruins of 12th-century Church of St
Kentigern survive. People's hero William Wallace said to
have lived and raised his forces here for Wars of Independence.
His statue stands in 1777 parish church.
Lanark
Moor Country Park
Boating
and fishing on the loch, picnic areas and golf on shore,
good walks through woods.
Leadhills
Situated
1350ft above sea level, surrounded by bare hills that yielded
lead for centuries. Allan Ramasy Library has records and
maps of mining ventures. Hill-top graveyard has memorial
to John Taylor, who died aged 137, after a century of working
in mines. Longevity attributed to fresh uplands air.
Lesmahagow
Small
town on edge of moorland, also known as Abbey Green. Priory,
founded by Benedictine monks in 1144, no longer stands.
Lowther
Hills
Quiet
hills, frequented by sheep and grouse, overlook the Elvan
Water, the Glengonnar, the Wan-lock and the Mennock. Once
rich in mineral wealth; gold and lead attracted miners for
centuries.
New
Lanark
Cotton-mill
village of austere buildings, preserved as living museum
and memorial to social reform. Village founded 1785 by Glasgow
merchant David Dale, and the inventor of a spinning frame,
Richard Arkwright. In 1800, Robert Owen (Dale's son-in-law)
managed and improved working conditions, providing schools
and homes for workers. Local history exhibits on display
in visitor centre.
Sanquhar
Town
post office, opened in 1763, survives as Britain's oldest
post office. Granite monument pays tribute to two declarations
made by the Covenanters -- in 1680 and 1685-- renouncing
their allegiance first to Charles II and then to James VII
of Scotland.
Strathaven
Silk-weaving
town in the Middle Ages. Some weavers' cottages still line
older streets. Powmillon Burn flows through three public
parks. Gorge dominated by 15th-century castle ruin, below
which Old Town Mill is an arts centre.
Strathclyde
Country Park
Mao-made
loch, nature trails, fun park and sandy beaches. Extravagant
Hamilton Mausoleum, built in the 1840s by 10th Duke of Ham-ilton.
Huge bronze doors and multicoloured marble inside. Make
a noise and listen for remarkable echo.
Tinto
Famous
landmark, rising 2335ft. Long climb to summit for views
over Lake District and coast of Northern Ireland.
Wanlockhead
Lonely
moorland village, 1380ft above sea level, where gold was
once panned from neighbouring streams. Beam pump is a relic
of lead-mining days. Disused mine is now part of Scottish
lead-mining museum.
