Into the Valley

This is a reasonably challenging but very rewarding route. As the name suggests, we head down into the Clyde Valley, which unfortunately means that we also have to climb back up! Don’t be put off - there are only a couple of steep sections - and pushing is always allowed.

The route is predominantly on quiet roads and includes a coffee/cake/roll/scone stop at the Tinto Tea Room.

We leave the historic market town of Lanark and head down to Kirkfieldbank to cross the river Clyde for the first time. Rather than the busy KIrkfieldbank Brae, we will travel down via the back road at Nemphlar.

We then climb back up via the back roads to Sandilands. The road is quiet so there is no traffic pressure and we can take the time required.

We then head over to Carmichael and skirt round Tinto Hill, one of the more popular walking routes in Southern Scotland. Tinto Hill is the highest point in Central Scotland and is known as the ‘Hill of Fire’, which may refer to its ancient past as a look out beacon.

Following a pit stop at the Tinto Tea Room, we head over to Covington passing a memorial to Rev, Donald Cargill, a 17th century Scottish Presbyterian and Covenanter and a memorial to Robert Burns. Both men are believed to have stayed at Covington Mains Farm.

We then head over to Pettinain and cross the Clyde again before climbing back up to Lanark along the cycle lane.

Please note that the vast majority of this route is on cycle paths and quiet roads, but the journey out of Lanark and the 0.5 mile stretch between the Pettinain road end and Hyndford Bridge is on busier A roads.