Discover what secrets are tucked into the Clyde and Avon Valley by taking part in an exciting and vibrant Festival, Saturday 6 to Sunday 14 May 2017.

The programme includes a staggering 38 family-friendly events offered over a fun-packed nine days. Events include walks, talks, exclusive tours, children’s activities, a song writing workshop, musical performances, an orchard open day, photography walks, Blossom Day and Landscape and Heritage Conference. All but two events are FREE. Full listings, including entry and booking details are below.

The Clyde and Avon Valley, a designated Area of Great Landscape Value (AGLV), is renowned for its arresting beauty, nationally significant ancient gorge woodlands, crumbling castles, old Estates, riverside settlements, fertile land and bountiful orchards.

The Festival takes place down the length of the Clyde and Avon valleys from Hamilton to New Lanark and Strathaven respectively. Locations include the picturesque Dalserf village, Carluke, Chatelherault Country Park, Cleghorn Glen, Dalzell Estate, Falls of Clyde, Hamilton, Lanark, Larkhall and Stonehouse.

It offers visitors the chance to follow in the footsteps of the people who have traversed the Clyde and Avon Valley through time to the present day, from the ancient Kings and Queens of Strathclyde to Mary Queen of Scots, J. M. W. Turner, Wordsworth, local fruit growers and the people that care for the landscape today.

The Festival is organised by the Heritage Lottery Fund supported Clyde and Avon Valley Landscape Partnership (CAVLP) in collaboration with local attractions, organisations and community groups. These includ South Lanarkshire Countryside Rangers, North Lanarkshire Countryside Parks, Scottish Badgers, CAVLP Heritage, Clyde River Foundation, Clyde Valley Orchards Co-operative, Dalserf Church, Falls of Clyde Heritage Group, Get Walking Lanarkshire, ice cream architecture, Lanark and District Archaeology Society, Lanarkshire Songwriters, Scottish Natural Heritage and Scottish Wildlife Trust.

Led by local experts or representatives from national organisations, each tailored event offers locals and visitors alike the chance to get under the skin of the Clyde and Avon Valley with the people who know it best.

The Festival kicks off with fun for all of the family at the ever popular Blossom Day at Overton Farm, Saturday 6 May, 9am – 1pm. Visitors will be able to shop for fresh, local produce and crafts at the Farmers Market and Craft Fair, and enjoy the local school art competition.

“Blossom Day is the perfect way to start the Festival. It signals the arrival of the Clyde Valley blossoms, which is when many people agree that the Clyde and Avon Valley looks its best,” says Donna Marshall, CAVLP Programme Manager.

She continues, “The blossom is also a reminder of the Estate owners, monks and fruit growers who have cared for orchards throughout history, helping to entrench the orchards as a unique feature in the wider landscape.”

The 3 events provide opportunities for everyone to get involved. Four Health Walks, provided by Get Walking Lanarkshire, have been included in the programme for those who can’t access the beautiful but tricky natural gorge terrain of much of the landscape.

The programme includes five Roots, Routes and Walking Boots guided walks and five photography walks in Carluke, Glassford, Lanark, Larkhall and Stonehouse through the Make Your Way project. These walks will highlight new routes created in each of the locations and provide participants with the chance to learn how to capture features of the routes with professional photographer Mark Archibald. The routes take in heritage features whilst providing active travel opportunities between main points in each of the towns.

There’s still time to submit papers for inclusion in the Landscape and Heritage Conference taking place in New Lanark on Saturday 13 May. Co-ordinated by CAVLP Heritage, the conference is a chance to showcase your group’s work relating to the people, history, heritage, archaeology and landscape of the Clyde and Avon Valley. Find out more and send your 100 word abstract to pmurtagh@yorkat.co.uk.

“Now in its third year, it’s great to see the Festival growing from strength to strength,” says Sarah O’Sullivan, CAVLP Communications Officer.

She continues, “From nine events in 2015, to 16 events in 2016 and 38 in 2017, the Festival is testament to the growing energy and enthusiasm in this special part of Scotland to celebrate what makes it unique. The Landscape and Heritage Conference, showcasing community heritage projects on Saturday 13 May, and the Fruits of Their Labours songwriting workshops and concert on Sunday 14 May, are a wonderful way to conclude the Festival.”

The Festival ties in with Scotland’s Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology #HHA2017 in 2017, offering chances for the public to get under the skin of all of these aspects in the Clyde and Avon Valley.

Participants are also invited to enter a photo competition which will run for the duration of the Festival, for their chance to win prizes provided by the organisers. Simply tag the Clyde and Avon Valley Landscape Partnership using #ClydeAvonValley on Facebook: Clyde and Avon Valley Landscape Partnership – CAVLP, Twitter: @ClydeAvonValley, or Instagram: @clydeavonvalley.

All but two events are FREE and listed below. Please visit www.clydeandavonvalley.org/join-in/events for individual event descriptions including meeting points.

Saturday 6 May

• Blossom Day, Overton Farm, Carluke, 9am – 1pm. No booking required
• Salmon Homecoming Celebration – Smithycroft, 11am – 1pm. No booking required
• Dalserf Church Open Day, Dalserf, 12 noon – 4pm. No booking required
• Botanical Wander on the Monkey Road, Larkhall, 2 – 4pm. Book at Kerry.thomson@southlanarkshire.gov.uk / 01355 276 885

Sunday 7 May

• Make Your Way Photography Walk, Glassford, 10:30am – 12:30pm. Book at myw@icecreamarchitecture.com
• Hamilton Mausoleum Tour, Hamilton, 12 noon – 1pm. Book at lowparksmuseum@southlanarkshireleisure.co.uk / 01698 452382. Please note there is a £3.50 charge for adults and £2 for concessions
• Kirkfieldbank Community Open Day, Kirkfieldbank, 12 noon – 3pm. No booking required
• Make Your Way Photography Walk, Stonehouse, 2 – 4pm. Book at myw@icecreamarchitecture.com
• The Origins and Significance of the Clyde Guided Walk, New Lanark, 2 – 5pm. Book at carseview@care4free.net / 01555 662 034

Monday 8 May

• Roots, Routes and Walking Boots: #MakeYourWay, Larkhall, 6 – 7:30pm. Book at myw@icecreamarchitecture.com
• Corehouse Estate and Corra Castle Guided Walk, Lanark, 6:30 – 8:30pm. Book at lpreston@scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk
• Aviation Archaeology in Clydesdale, Lanark and District Archaeology Society, Lanark, 7:30 – 9pm. No booking required. Please note this event is £3 for non-members

Tuesday 9 May

• Get Walking Lanarkshire: Chatelherault Health Walk, 10:30 – 11:30am. Book at hubensp@northlan.gov.uk / 01698 402 077
• Get Walking Lanarkshire: Greenhead Moss Health Walk, Wishaw, 10:30 – 11:30am. Book at hubensp@northlan.gov.uk / 01698 402 077
• Roots, Routes and Walking Boots: #MakeYourWay, Lanark, 6 – 7:30pm. Book at myw@icecreamarchitecture.com

Wednesday 10 May

• Apple Day Primary Schools Concert, Kirkfieldbank Village Hall, 1:30 – 2:30pm. No booking required
• Get Walking Lanarkshire: Stonehouse Health Walk, Stonehouse, 10:30 – 11:30am. Book at hubensp@northlan.gov.uk / 01698 402 077
• Make Your Way Photography Walk, Larkhall, 6 – 10pm. Book at myw@icecreamarchitecture.com
• Historical Mills Guided Walk, The Falls of Clyde, New Lanark, 6:30 – 8:30pm. Book at lpreston@scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk
• Castles, Craigs and Creatures Guided Walk, Cartland Craigs, Lanark, 7:30 – 9:30. Book at 01698 421 668
• The Lost Kingdom of Cadzow Guided Walk, Chatelherault Country Park, 7 – 9:30pm. Book at chris.mcginley@southlanarkshire.gsx.gov.uk

Thursday 11 May

• Roots, Routes and Walking Boots: #MakeYourWay, Carluke, 7:30 – 9:30pm. Book at myw@icecreamarchitecture.com
• Cleghorn Glen Dusk Wildlife Walk, Lanark, 8 – 10pm. Book at 01698 421 668
• Friday 12 May
• Get Walking Lanarkshire: Hamilton Health Walk, 10:30 – 11:30am. Book at hubensp@northlan.gov.uk / 01698 402 077
• Cadzow Uncovered – Site Clearance, Chatelherault Country Park, 11am – 3pm. Book at chris.mcginley@southlanarkshire.gsx.gov.uk
• Family Badger Watch, The Falls of Clyde, New Lanark, 6:30 – 9:30pm. Book at lpreston@scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk

Saturday 13 May

• Clyde and Avon Valley Landscape and Heritage Conference, New Lanark World Heritage Site, 10am – 6pm. Book at www.cavlp.eventbrite.co.uk.
• Nature Ninjas Spotting Workshop, Chatelherault Country Park, 10am – 12:30pm. Book at projectofficer@scottishbadgers.org.uk / 07565 813 401
• Beasties at Braidwood Bug Hunt, Braidwood Pond, 10:30am – 12 noon. Book at louisa.maddison@southlanarkshire.gov.uk
• Salmon Homecoming Celebration – Millheugh, 11am – 1pm. No booking required
• Dalserf Church Saturday Teas, 12 noon – 4pm. No booking required
• Our Hidden Jewel in Dalzell Estate Guided Walk, Motherwell, 1:30 – 3:30pm.  Book at 01698 402 090

Sunday 14 May

• Make Your Way Photography Walk, Lanark, 10:30am – 12:30pm. Book at myw@icecreamarchitecture.com
• Roots, Routes and Walking Boots: #MakeYourWay, Stonehouse, 11am – 1pm. Book at myw@icecreamarchitecture.com
• Songwriting Worshop, Crossford Inn, 1 – 5pm. Book at billy.garriongill@gmail.com / 01698 359 326 / 07889 727 254
• Make Your Way Photography Walk, Carluke, 2 – 4pm. Book at myw@icecreamarchitecture.com
• Roots, Routes and Walking Boots: #MakeYourWay, Glassford, 3 – 5pm. Book at myw@icecreamarchitecture.com
• Fruits of Their Labours Lanarkshire Songwriters Concert, Flowers of Scotland Garden Centre, Rosebank, 7:30 – 10pm

Find out more and download the full programme at www.clydeandavonvalley.org/festival and view the video from last year’s Festival on the link below. For your chance to win prizes, share your photos of the Festival on social media using #ClydeAvonValley on Facebook @Clyde and Avon Valley Landscape Partnership – CAVLP, Twitter @ClydeAvonValley and Instagram @clydeavonvalley.

 

Get in the festival mood by watching the short film from last year: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEuwz0jKIb8

 

For more information contact Sarah O’Sullivan, Communications Officer, Clyde and Avon Valley Landscape Partnership, sarah.osullivan@clydeandavonvalley.com / 01555 663 430