Nethan Gorge

Apr 11th, 2023

Mar 30th, 2023

It's possible to do a pleasant 3.5 mile loop walk that starts or ends in Nethan gorge. I walked clockwise from the car park in Crossford, turning left on the Lanark road southwards and along to the narrow footpath on the right - it's directly opposite Holm road next to the memorial cross on the west side of the main road - (easy to miss)! The path climbs up fairly steeply between two hedges. Parts are a little overgrown with brambles and thorny branches so take care. Turn left onto the tarmac road at the top of the path and follow this narrow road uphill. Pausing for a breather and a look at the fine view of the river Clyde and the village below. Ignore a right hand junction just after Blair cottage and keep straight on until you come to some houses at the end of Tillietudlem, and a road (signed) Corra Mill road. There is a brown sign for Craignethan castle. Follow this road as it twists and turns and drops and rises again. Cross the river Nethan (still on the Corra Mill road) and climb again until you reach the gate at the access path leading to the castle. Follow the track to Craignethan castle on the right. Visit the castle if it's open if you like, but there isn't a great deal to see - although it's historically interesting and is probably Walter Scott's "Tillietudlem castle" in his "Old Mortality" novel. When you get to just before the castle look for a wooden signpost on the left marked "Nethan Gorge" and follow this footpath. It can be a little muddy in places. It drops then climbs again with a number of flights of steep wooden steps - not wheelchair friendly. The path is in one of the few bits of ancient Scottish native woodland (250-300 years old). Near the top of the last flight of uphill steps there is a viewpoint off the path to the right - look out for this. It gives good views of the river Nethan below as it flows down to meet the Clyde at Crossford. Continue on the footpath past some fields on the left then descend quite steeply to the main Lanark road at Crossford northwest end. Turn right and follow Lanark road back to the car park - but note that you may want to partake of a little refreshment at the Tillietudlem Inn in Crossford. Especially if those flights of steps have taken fuel out of your legs. I did the 3.5 miles in 1 hour and a half, with some short pauses to take in the views; so perhaps allow 2 hours or so, with another half hour if you want to visit Craignethan castle. It's a pleasant walk, but I don't rate it as highly as other sections of the Clyde Valley woodlands - I prefer either the Falls of Clyde or the river Mouse footpath walk between Cartland Crags and Cleghorn bridge. I did the walk clockwise but it could easily be done in reverse if you have a map.
Feb 10th, 2023

BEAUTIFUL DELIGHTED WILL BE BACK.
Dec 17th, 2022

Beautiful place hidden locally
Jan 31st, 2022