Restoration work has been carried out to an iconic pathway in South Lanarkshire.

The Clyde Walkway at Mauldslie Woods has been repaired and upgraded as part of the Heritage Lottery Fund supported Clyde and Avon Valley Landscape Partnership (CAVLP).

Running for 40 mikes from the centre of Glasgow to New Lanark World Heritage Site and the Falls of Clyde, the path provides a scenic access route into Mauldslie Woods.

In recent years the path had significantly degraded, with often very wet and muddy sections developing. With support from Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and South Lanarkshire Council, around 1.3km of footpath has been re-established.

Access has been improved 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.

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Scottish Natural Heritage Paths and Projects Officer, Stuart Davies, said: "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."

The council's Landscape and Access Development Manager, Simon Pilpel, said: "More than 15,000 visits a year are made to this section of the 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."

Ewan Bachell, CAVLP Development Officer, said: "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."

(LM)