The Nature of Scotland – Autumn 2011 – Issue 13

Reserve focus
Visit the Clyde Valley and discover a hidden world of ancient woodlands
in rugged steep sided gorges. These woods are outstanding examples
of the ancient deciduous woodlands that once covered most of central
lowland Scotland
Trailing the mighty Mouse
The Clyde Valley Woodlands National Nature Reserve is a real gem located
on the very edge of Scotland's Central Belt. It's made up of six separate
woodlands stretching for some 12 km (7.5 miles) along the meandering
Clyde Valley from Hamilton to New Lanark.
Two of these woodlands, Cleghorn Glen and Cartland Craigs, occupy a twisting
ravine that 'defends' Lanark from the north. They form 4.5 km (3 miles) of almost
unbroken ancient woodlands, which cling to craggy precipices and provide a refuge
for a wealth of wildlife.
The sandstone gorge has been carved by the Mouse Water (locally
pronounced 'Moose'), a short but powerful tributary of the nearby River
Clyde. Paths have long been etched into the sides of these steep valleys,
but recent access improvements have made it possible to walk the
length of these spectacular gorges. In places, the steepness
of the slopes gives the very real sense of actually being up
amongst the oak canopy with the wildlife only
branches away!
Use the numbered map and directions in the
text for this walk through the reserve, which
begins at Cartland Bridge in the west and
follows the course of the Mouse Water
upstream for 4.5 km to Cleghorn Bridge.
3
Fulwood
Bridge
4
Castle Qua
2
1
CARTLAN D CRAIGS
Mouse Bridge
Woodend
Lanark Road
to Lanark
Cartland Bridge
36 The Nature of Scotland