Lanark and the Mouse Water

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New Lanark
New Lanark

This time last year, I wrote about New Lanark and the Falls of Clyde. The other Sunday we were back in New Lanark, but this time walking in the other direction. However, as before, we started with the exhibition in the Institute for the Formation of Character – followed by lunch, of course. No walking on an empty stomach!

Currently showing (till 31st March) is Keeping Glasgow in Stitches. This series of banners was made to celebrate Glasgow’s year as European Capital of Culture in 1990. Each of the 12 panels was made by a different group and represents one month of the year. When displayed in order, a representation of the River Clyde runs along the top and they spell out GLASGOW – 1990. It made me feel very nostalgic, especially when reading comments in the Visitors’ Book from embroiderers who had contributed to the work.

Keeping Glasgow in Stitches
Keeping Glasgow in Stitches
Keeping Glasgow in Stitches

The first part of the walk was on pavement – climbing out of New Lanark’s valley, we reached the original town of Lanark and walked down its main street. The imposing church is St Nicholas with its statue of William Wallace.

Lanark
Lanark
St Nicholas

After passing through the town, we took a small country road above the Mouse Water, dropping down to cross it by the bridge in the picture below.

Mouse Water
Mouse Water

From there, we climbed up the other side to Cartland Crags  and followed Mouse Water again, with good views back to Lanark, until it reached the Clyde at Kirkfieldbank.

Lanark from Cartland Crags
Cartland Crags

Here, we crossed the Clyde twice, first on the 1950s road bridge which carries the A72, then we immediately went back over the much more picturesque Clydesholm Bridge which dates from the 1690s. This is now pedestrianised and forms part of the Clyde Walkway.

Clydesholm Bridge
John on the Clydesholm Bridge
Kirkfieldbank Bridge

It was now a straightforward route along the Walkway to New Lanark, a nice cup of tea and the car – but it wasn’t exactly an easy riverside stroll. The banks of the Clyde here are steep and forested, and the path zigzags up and down several times. (My Fitbit told me I had achieved 145 floors that day, one floor being equivalent to about 10 feet.)

Anabel by the Clyde
New Lanark

Our route on this walk came from a new purchase – The Clyde : 25 walks from source to sea by KR Fergus. It’s one of a great series published by PocketMountains which a) aren’t all about mountains but b) do fit into your pocket. Another series we like, which we first bought in the Lake District and have since added several Scottish titles to our collection, is Hallewell’s Pocket Walking Guides. If either of these series publishes guides to where you like to hike then I highly recommend them.

Pocket Mountains
Hallewell’s Pocket Walking Guides

Linked to Jo’s Monday Walks. Head over there for worldwide cyber-hiking.

 

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58 Comments »

  2. Pingback: Jo’s Monday walk : Through the Valley | restlessjo

  4. I LOVE those Keeping Glasgow in Stitches banners. I don’t know why, but I find something immensely appealing about those sort of folk art-looking tapestries and needle work. The little hand-stitched people just crack me up.

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  5. Oh those stitched panels!! So beautiful. And a lovely-looking walk too. But I suspect I’d have to have been dragged away from the Visitor Centre.

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      • Good point! BTW: have you seen Rona Munro’s James plays? I saw ‘James I: The Key Will Keep the Lock’ last night — which had lots of references to Scottish weather! It was absolutely sensational’ some of the best theatre I’ve seen (and I see a lot these days). It’s a Scottish National Theatre production that’s here as part of the Auckland Arts Festival. I hadn’t booked for James II and III because I was a bit unsure if I’d enjoy them (they’re 2 and a half hours long), but now I’m scrambling to get tickets for the last performances.

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          • You’d probably get more out of them than me too; certainly in terms of the history. I went in knowing nothing about that period of Scottish history and came home wanting to learn more. But apart from that; the staging is pretty spectacular and the performances really good.

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            • I actually know very little about Scottish history, at least the pre-Union political history, because I grew up in England. That’s what’s been putting me off slightly, that I might not follow it! I’ll look into it now though.

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              • Same here; we barely teach our own history in NZ, let alone anyone else’s (though you could argue, given the number of Scots here, that THAT is our history). Anyway, don’t let that put you off. The friend I went with had the same concerns, and she just loved the quality of the story-telling and the energy of the whole thing. That sounds more “hippy” than I meant it to!

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  6. New Lanark and falls of clyde were the first stop of our road trip ! We love the exhibits and the little forest walk around. It was great ! But we didn’t go to Mouse Water. I’m glad to discover this new scenery through your pictures.

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  9. Hi Anabel – it does look a lovely part of the world … I’ve visited briefly on a couple of occasions .. but not to look around per se – some day I need to correct that … cheers Hilary

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  10. I first came to Glasgow in 1991 so the City of Culture was still fresh in people’s minds. I think it gave Glasgow a huge boost and we haven’t looked back! Must try and get to New Lanark to see those embroidered banners. On these sunny weekends we’ve been going on walking trips lately, so I will definitely suggest this as our next destination.

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  11. You picked lovely walk Anabel, Lanark and Clyde Valley are beautiful no matter the time of year, and you are spoiled for choice too. I’m in Hamilton so I spend quite a bit of time over this way. One of my favourites is Corehouse, have you been there before? You mention the church and the statue of Wallace, this church goes back to Wallace’s time although what you see today is more modern ( can I call a church built in the 1700s modern! ) and was built over the ruins of the original which dates from the 1100s. There is also St Kentigerns church which is not far from the main street, this was the original parish church and is though to originally have been founded sometime in the 600s. It’s a lovely big ruin with a large graveyard. This church has always began associated with William Wallace.

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  12. I love the art work that is all hand stitched….very original. This town looks lovely and so does the surrounding countryside. What a beautiful day to go for a walk

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  13. Lovely walk in beautiful countryside and towns. I remember buying one of the Hallewell series but can’t remember which one. I simply recognize the design of the cover. I do remember them to be quite useful.

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  14. An interesting walk and post. I have New Lanark on my list of places to visit due to be t’s association with Robert Owen. But so many places, so little time!

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    • It’s very interesting – though it’s a few years since we actually went into the museum itself, we usually go to walk. One of the mills has been turned into a hotel so I quite fancy a weekend there.

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      • I have heard that a stay at the hotel can be quite eventful. I have came across stories of ghostly happenings and terrible nightmares whilst staying there. There was a terrible fire where people were killed and I’ve heard a few stories of people waking during the night roasting and sweating and being unable to breathe due to the intense heat and smoke thats not really there. When they left the room they are fine as though its contained within the room only. Spooky!

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  15. Such lovely views, Anabel. I don;t blame you for having lunch first. Napoleon Bonaparte once said, “An army marches on its stomach.” Mousewater looks like a very peaceful place to live. The Clydesholm Bridge still looks quite sturdy even after over 300 years.

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  18. So many things to digest here, Anabel. I must remember to go back and look at the other half of your walk. New Lanark is another of those places in the Borders I keep meaning to spend a day. The stitching exhibition looks fabulous! Got to check that link too 🙂 Mouse Water! Such a strange name 🙂 Many thanks for joining me again. Have a lovely week!

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