The Nature of Scotland â Autumn 2011 â Issue 13
The Nature of Scotland â Autumn 2011 â Issue 13 The Nature of Scotland â Autumn 2011 â Issue 13
24 2 1 Cartland Bridge Start from the car park at Thomas Telford's spectacular Cartland Bridge and climb up the initially steep path that leads from there. You rapidly gain height until you reach a log seat after 200 metres. Look back through the oak canopy for truly dramatic views of the pillared bridge and the plunging gorge below. The beautiful three-span bridge was built by Telford in 1822 and soars 39 metres (128 feet) above the chasm. 2 Castle Qua The path soon begins to drop towards the Mouse Bridge at Woodend and you pass the remnants of Castle Qua, a fort perched on the gorge edge. It dates back to 1100, but only a low earth mound remains today, so it's easily missed (it's more apparent in winter). Little is known of the castle, except that it once had an underground living space. 4 Cartland Bridge viewed from high on the reserve. 5 Otters use the reserve. Keep a close eye on still water in the early morning or evening and look for signs of their presence, such as droppings or webbed footprints in the mud. 6 The Mouse Water rises in peat bogs to the northeast of Lanark and flows into the River Clyde. 3 Mousebank to Fulwood After leaving Cartland Craigs, the path crosses the narrow Mousebank Road and follows the river through marshy fields for 500 metres before entering the ancient woodlands of Cleghorn Glen. You soon reach the recently built Fulwood Bridge, which allows access across a burn that's liable to spate and has in the past cut short many a walk. If you're quiet (and lucky!) you may spot dippers, kingfishers and even otters in this area. 38 The Nature of Scotland
5 4 6 Mouse Falls Three hundred metres upstream from Fulwood Bridge there's a fine viewpoint where log seats provide an idyllic rest site. It overlooks a series of small waterfalls where the Mouse Water surges through the rocks. The more acid soils hereabouts lead to a localised woodland of oak and birch, with blaeberry and heather beneath. Elsewhere, the woodland is more typically made up of ash, oak, dog's mercury, wild garlic and woodrush. www.snh.gov.uk 39
- Page 1: Scottish Natural Heritage Autumn 20
- Page 4 and 5: Credits The Nature of Scotland The
- Page 6 and 7: Autumn 4 The Nature of Scotland
- Page 8 and 9: 2 The art of love In autumn, it's n
- Page 10 and 11: 1 The power of natural play 8 The N
- Page 12 and 13: value of smaller scale, loose, natu
- Page 14 and 15: 7 8 If you go down to the woods Nat
- Page 16 and 17: People of all backgrounds and circu
- Page 18 and 19: Personal stories On the edge of Dun
- Page 20 and 21: NEWS Dolly scientist working on clo
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- Page 24 and 25: NEWS Extra rangers help capercailli
- Page 26 and 27: Inspired by nature 1 As usual, we r
- Page 28 and 29: In our third article to mark the 20
- Page 30 and 31: 3 Floating homes Office workers wel
- Page 32 and 33: Dualchas coitcheann Common heritage
- Page 34 and 35: Supporting sporting interests 32 Th
- Page 36 and 37: 2 Bad press Promoting country sport
- Page 38 and 39: Reserve focus Visit the Clyde Valle
- Page 42 and 43: 7 7 There are good numbers of badge
- Page 44 and 45: SNH Area News Northern Isles and No
- Page 46 and 47: SNH Area News Strathclyde and Ayrsh
- Page 48 and 49: Events diary 2011 October Friday 7
- Page 50 and 51: Hare’s-tail cotton grass, Uath Lo
- Page 52 and 53: Bruce Percy 1 Coming from an arts b
- Page 54 and 55: Lorne Gill Lorne is the full-time p
- Page 56: Sandra Bartocha Sandra is a German
- Page 59 and 60: 1 interested to learn about some of
- Page 61 and 62: 1 Red kites are good for business.
- Page 63 and 64: “The project to reintroduce red k
- Page 65 and 66: 67 8
- Page 68: www.snh.gov.uk
24<br />
2<br />
1<br />
Cartland Bridge<br />
Start from the car park at Thomas Telford's spectacular Cartland Bridge and<br />
climb up the initially steep path that leads from there. You rapidly gain height until<br />
you reach a log seat after 200 metres. Look back through the oak canopy for truly<br />
dramatic views <strong>of</strong> the pillared bridge and the plunging gorge below. <strong>The</strong> beautiful<br />
three-span bridge was built by Telford in 1822 and soars 39 metres (128 feet)<br />
above the chasm.<br />
2<br />
Castle Qua<br />
<strong>The</strong> path soon begins to drop towards the Mouse Bridge at Woodend and you<br />
pass the remnants <strong>of</strong> Castle Qua, a fort perched on the gorge edge. It dates<br />
back to 1100, but only a low earth mound remains today, so it's easily missed (it's<br />
more apparent in winter). Little is known <strong>of</strong> the castle, except that it once had an<br />
underground living space.<br />
4<br />
Cartland Bridge<br />
viewed from high on<br />
the reserve.<br />
5<br />
Otters use the reserve.<br />
Keep a close eye on<br />
still water in the early<br />
morning or evening<br />
and look for signs <strong>of</strong><br />
their presence, such as<br />
droppings or webbed<br />
footprints in the mud.<br />
6<br />
<strong>The</strong> Mouse Water rises<br />
in peat bogs to the<br />
northeast <strong>of</strong> Lanark<br />
and flows into the River<br />
Clyde.<br />
3<br />
Mousebank to Fulwood<br />
After leaving Cartland Craigs, the path crosses the narrow Mousebank Road and<br />
follows the river through marshy fields for 500 metres before entering the ancient<br />
woodlands <strong>of</strong> Cleghorn Glen. You soon reach the recently built Fulwood Bridge,<br />
which allows access across a burn that's liable to spate and has in the past cut<br />
short many a walk. If you're quiet (and lucky!) you may spot dippers, kingfishers<br />
and even otters in this area.<br />
38 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Nature</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Scotland</strong>
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