Cycle through Lanarkshire’s Iron Working Past
The cycle from Lanark is first class and shows off Lanarkshire at its best. Demanding in places, for the most part it follows delightful country lanes around classic rural landscapes. Look out for the roadside memorials that reveal a surprising side to this part of Lanarkshire.
Lanark, Tinto and Covington Cycle Route
Map: OS Landranger 72
Start/Finish: LanarkRailway Station
Transport: Train: Lanark
Refreshment: Lanark is well served by tearooms, pubs and restaurants
Distance: 25 miles
Time: 3-4 hours
Difficulty: Moderate/hard
Terrain: mostly back roads but short section of A72 at start and A70 towards end; road surface rough in places.
Points of Interest in Lanark, Tinto and Covington, South Lanarkshire
1. Clydesholm Bridge is the very narrow bridge at Kirkfieldbank. Built in the 17th century.
2. Tinto hill – at 707 metres this is the highest point in the central lowlands. A straightforward climb to the top (1 ½ hours) from where the view is excellent.
3. Cargill memorial marks the spot where Thomas Cargill, a Covenanter, was arrested in 1689 during the Killing Times.
4. Covington is a hamlet of thatched cottages, and further on at the farm there is a medieval keep and dovecot where Robert Burns spent the night, there is a cairn to commemorate his visit.
The Route
- From Lanark railway station, go towards town centre. Continue through traffic lights and descend on High St. Follow road through narrow point at church and continue downhill. Take left for Hamilton A72-steep downhill. Cross River Clyde and turn first left onto Riverside Road and right into Kirkfield Road and climb out of Kirkfieldbank.
- Take left fork on edge of Kirkfieldbank-Byretown Road and continue to climb. At top of climb road follow road round to right and continue to T-junction.
- Turn left and follow road for about 1 ½ miles.
- At junction take left for Sandilands and descend to bridge over river-tight corner. Continue to T-junction at dairy.
- Turn right and follow road round to left and climb past red telephone box to junction with A70. Join cycle lane on your left and follow to right turn for Carmichael 2-take care.
- Follow road to right at farm and continue to crossroads in Carmichael-old signpost.
- Turn right and continue through Carmichael. Turn right at foot of hill. Follow road round to left (dead-end ahead) and continue to Lochlyvoch Farm. Continue through the farm yard and follow road for 2 miles to A73 at Tinto tearoom. Go straight over A73 for Thankerton. Continue into Thankerton and take left signed for Carstairs and Carnwath – Boat Road.
- Turn left over railway, descend out of Thankerton. Continue straight on at Boat Farm and climb to first Newtown of Covington and then Covington Mains Farm.
- Beyond farm road swings to left. Turn right for Pettinain. Follow road to T-junction.
- Turn left and descend towards new homes in Pettinain. Go to the right-signed Carstairs Junction 2 ¼ and climb steeply into Pettinain.
- At next T-junction turn left and descend to River Clyde and then continue into Carstairs Junction.
- At T-junction at church turn left and continue uphill past Carstairs Junction station (trains for Glasgow and Edinburgh).
- Turn right over railway and follow left to Carstairs village. Keep the green on your right and continue to T-junction with Lanark road. Turn left and leave village.
- Follow A70 for ¾ mile. Continue straight on when A70 goes right and take the first right uphill into Cleghorn.
- Continue to traffic lights at A706. Turn left and follow A706 (not A743) into Lanark.
- At T-junction opposite YMCA turn left and follow High Street to station.
If you wish to explore more of Lanark and Forth, why not take the Forth, Wilsontown and Braehead Cycle Route.