Work has been underway to restore a vital part of one of Scotland’s Great Trails, the Clyde Walkway, at Mauldslie Woods.

The Clyde Walkway runs for 40 miles from the centre of Glasgow to New Lanark World Heritage Site and the Falls of Clyde, and at this point provides a scenic access route into Mauldslie Woods. Mauldslie Woods are one of six woodlands that make up the internationally protected Clyde Valley Woodlands National Nature Reserve (NNR), one of the ecologically richest areas in Scotland.

A crucial part of the path network both within the NNR and the wider network, a core path, and a part of the National Walking and Cycling Network, this part of the trail is used by a wide variety of visitors. In recent years the path had significantly degraded, with often very wet and muddy sections.

The project is part of the Heritage Lottery Fund supported Clyde and Avon Valley Landscape Partnership (CAVLP), with support from Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and South Lanarkshire Council. It has seen the re-establishment of well over a kilometre of footpath.

This important work has significantly improved the access for 1.3km around the main entranceway at Mauldslie Bridge for the wide range of path users which include pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders. This includes access for the community of Law, wider access for the community to the Clyde Walkway was improved via the Law to Mauldslie Clyde Walkway Community Links maintenance project in 2016.

Upon completion, the path was visited by Scottish Natural Heritage Paths and Projects Officer, Stuart Davies. He says, “Scottish Natural Heritage is pleased to be able to help fund improvements to this part of the Clyde Walkway.  The Clyde Walkway is one of Scotland’s Great Trails and forms part of the National Walking and Cycling Network which comprises over 6000km of routes for walking and cycling across Scotland. You can find out about the National Walking and Cycling Network on the SNH website www.snh.gov.uk/NWCN.”

The project was managed by South Lanarkshire Council’s Landscape and Access Development Manager, Simon Pilpel. He says, “We are delighted to have worked in partnership with CAVLP to implement the project to upgrade this important part of the Clyde Walkway. Over 15,000 visits a year are made to this section of route and we anticipate that now the path has been upgraded even more people will visit and enjoy the beautiful natural heritage of the area.”

The work was completed ahead of the launch of the free downloadable Clyde Walkway app, due to become available in the early summer.

Ewan Bachell, CAVLP Development Officer, says, “The upgraded pathway is a vital part of both the Clyde Walkway and woodland trail, within the parkland setting of the former Mauldslie Castle Estate, a predominantly broad-leaved woodland with remnants of earlier larch and spruce plantings. The upgraded path follows a meander in the River Clyde where kingfishers, goosanders and otters are regularly seen.”

For more details, and to view local trails including the Clyde Walkway and Community Links, visit www.clydeandavonvalley.org/explore.