EK NEWS ARTICLE: ERIC KENT  The walk commenced  in bleak heavy snow at Mauldslie Bridge which is approximately about a half mile before the village of Rosebank. Mauldslie Bridge and lodge was built for James Hogier of Newlands, the private bridge and lodge served Mauldslie Castle which lay over the river to the east. The castle, built by the 5th Earl of Hyndford to plans by Robert Adam in 1792-93, was demolished in 1935. The forest and the surrounding  area between Mauldslie Bridge and  Sandilands is and old royal hunting ground established around 1214 called Mauldslie Forest and the  beauty of this area is still with us. As we got into the walk along by the ice laden river Clyde fortune smiled on us and the weather started to improve by the time we arrived at Jocks Burn. We crossed over Jocks Burn close to it meeting the Clyde and then on past the remains of Burnethholm an old estate cottage and on through part of the Clyde Valley National Nature reserve. At the end of this lovely stretch of countryside we crossed over a rough road where the uphill track leads up to the site of the old cottage of Miltonhead where the eminent engineering surveyor and cartographer, Major General William Roy was born in 1726. His father being factor and gardener to the Hamilton’s of Hallcraig Estate near Carluke.  Following the Jacobite Rebellion led by Bonnie Prince Charlie, Roy was directed to produce a map of Scotland. It took him eight years and the hand-drawn result is exhibited in the British Library, London. Roy was later commissioned to set up the network on which all subsequent surveying is based. He wanted to set up a UK organisation for surveying and mapping but Ordnance Survey wasn't created until a year after his death. Roy also studied Roman remains and his book Military Antiquities of the Romans in Scotland was published three years after his death.

The weather continued to improve and we started to see blue sky. The walkers were also enjoying the wildlife as we were fortunate to see considerable numbers of mallard ducks and herons and later in the walk some buzzards. Getting close to the village of Crossford, we passed by Orchard house which is now a nursing home and this was famous for its Italianate style designed terraced gardens which still survive today. Reaching Crossford, we pass by the old bridge over the Clyde which was built in 1793. Before the bridge was built there was a ford and when the river was in spate or if you were wealthy enough to be able to pay for crossing without getting your feet wet there was a ferry boat for the crossing. Shortly after Crossford we pass the Carfin Footbridge which was built in the Victorian times as part of the Carfin Estate which is on the north side of the River. The 90 acre estate  is now known Valley International Park and is set in 90 acres of the most beautiful and stunning forestry on the banks of the River Clyde. The group were enjoying the better weather and the scenery as we headed up the river valley passing by the hamlet of Hazelbank on the opposite side of the river we soon reached the power station at Stonebyres. This is the first of two electricity generating stations built on the Clyde in 1927. The second one is just above New Lanark a few miles further upstream.  Shortly after the Power Station that we passed the Stonebyres Linn with its 21 metre drop which is the first natural barrier to migrating salmon and sea trout and prevents these fish reaching the waters of the upper Clyde. The Route on leaving the Clyde is an old right of way linking the village of Nemphlar with the Clyde. Nemphlar on the high grounds (605 feet) above the right bank of the Clyde, two miles WNW of Lanark town lies among beautiful braes and straggles along them for a considerable distance and the village also covers the site of an ancient chapel of the Knights Templars. After passing through the bottom end of this quiet village and along an interesting country lane we come out close to the Cartland Bridge which was built in 1822 by the famous Scottish Engineer Thomas Telford.  This bridge is extremely elegant when viewed from the side and rises 39 metres above the bed of the mouse river and is one of the highest bridges in Scotland. If you are lucky you may see some pipistrelle bats which often fly about under the bridge during the day.

The Coach picked up the alternate walkers close to the bridge and the main walking group continued on up through the scenic Cartland Craig’s and there are wonderful views to enjoy if the weather is kind. Sir William Wallace is reputed to have lived in the caves below the Craig’s during his battles against the English. The walk winds its way down to the Mouse water and over the Lockhart Mill Bridge This bridge lies on the oldest thoroughfare between Lanark and Carluke, which led by the “Stey Brae," a steep incline fit only for pack-horse and pedestrian traffic which still exists and we followed this down to the centre of Lanark. The Stey Brae is part of one of the two routes from the centre of Lanark to Carluke and beyond via Cartland. It was at one time the main route to Glasgow and the north. The Stey Brae goes back to mediaeval times and is likely to have much earlier time of origin. It is first shown (because earlier maps are not detailed enough to show it) on Roy's Military Survey of Scotland of 1747-55. The other route mentioned on the survey was further west i.e. Mousebank Road. The Stey Brae joins this just east of Woodend. Both routes were superseded when the Telford designed Cartland Bridge was opened on the new Stirling-Carlisle road in 1823. The social hour was enjoyed by all at the Station Inn at Braidwood.