21/7/15
I rejoined my friend Andrew in Glasgow for part of the southern section of his walk from Cape Wrath to Stranraer. My new lightweight Lowa boots stood up to the test ( of not wrecking my feet) even though the route varied between tarmac and bog over the course of the journey and included a 30 mile day.Another friend Richard was also along having joined Andrew near Loch Lomond.
Photo album
here best viewed as slide show.
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| A welcome from Richard and Andrew at Finnieston Quay |
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| The Clyde in central Glasgow |
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| The People's Palace on Glasgow Green |
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| Templeton Carpet Factory - now a microbrewery and restaurant |
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| Crossing the river at Cambuslang |
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| Clyde near Uddingston |
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| Bothwell Castle |
The last part of the day involved negotiating major roadworks around the M74 Raith Interchange north of Strathclyde Loch.The footpath diversion signing wasn't up to much but there'd been a trail race along the CVW route the previous weekend and the yellow marking on the ground came to our rescue a few times.
22/7/15
It was Richard's turn to suffer from blistered feet and he decided to make his own way by public transport to meet us at New Lanark ,tonight's destination.Andrew and I left the urban landscape behind and walked through a more rural setting mostly on good riverside paths.
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| The Clyde at Barons Haugh |
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| Left over from the race - presumably it washes off eventually |
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| New signs and path maintenance once you move between North and South Lanarkshire |
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Downstream from New Lanark
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We made quick work of the 16 miles between Motherwell and New Lanark,arriving around 4pm. Richard and Andrew were booked in at the Youth Hostel but when I'd made my own arrangements shortly before the trip it worked out better value for me to stay at the hotel.A bit of luxury.
23/7/15
Richard was leaving today and we all had an early breakfast at the hotel before Andrew and I headed off on a long day across to Sanquhar.Our route left the river a couple of miles upstream from New Lanark and then followed minor roads above Douglas Water ,with a short detour for early elevenses and lunch supplies at Cairn Lodge services ,before heading south up the A74 old road.
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| Starting off from New Lanark | | | | | |
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| Corra Linn |
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| Folkerton Mill near Douglas Water |
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| Marker post near Uddington |
From tarmac to bog!
After a stretch uphill along the cycleway we left the road to continue on old hill tracks to Crawford.While these are still shown on the map they've mostly disappeared on the ground and some sections were slow going.
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| Across the bog |
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| Crawfordjohn |
A quick late lunch stop then another short stretch of road before heading up the trackless Glen Snar and across the watershed at Reecleuch Hill down to Wanlock Water.
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| Climbing out of Glen Snar -this section was fairly slow going |
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| Old mine workings above Wanlockhead |
The last 6 miles from here to Sanquhar were along the South Uplands Way on a much clearer path which made for quicker going and we reached our destination at around 7.45 pm.
The day worked out at just short of 30 miles.
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| Cogshead |
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| Nearly there |
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| Moot Hall opposite the Nithsdale Hotel where we stayed |
(a catch up post written on 9/11/15 ,a wet and windy November day)
