We wake up and, true to the forecast, it’s rained through the night and is still pouring. We postpone our departure as long as we can but the weather doesn’t improve. We leave with all our wet weather gear on, the first time we’ve started a day like this. It’s cold and windy too.
We elect not to climb Tinto (again), this time because we can’t begin a day with our feet soaked through and our boots are no longer even approaching waterproof, despite all our efforts. It gives us a reason to return, although not perhaps to the Tinto Hotel.
We head out onto the A72 which soon joins the A73. It’s a busy road and the visibility is not great. Fortunately for us, there is a speed trap - thank-you @safetycamerascot for protecting us. We decide to turn off on a loop through Thankerton and return to and cross the A73 to another unclassified road.
We steadily climb, meeting some cyclists on the way who are a week into a John O’Groats to Land’s End tour. This reminds me that Richard has mentioned the HoLEwalk in the last few days. As opposed to the Hockering to Cape Wrath HoCWalk, this is (evidently) the Hockering to Land’s End walk, probably about 500 miles, he reckons. It’s taken us thirty years to get round to this route, however.
We continue along the windswept plateau, all at around 200 metres, inhabited by ravens, buzzards and a pair of grey wagtails, as well as sheep and cattle. Gradually, the weather improves, though it’s still cold in the wind.
We briefly walk along the A70, then turn down a hill to the hamlet of Sandilands, then climb up out looking for a lunch spot. We stop on a roughish piece of ground, but are instantly surrounded by flies, so carry on a bit further. We spot a sunny, grassy field and access it via two gates. It’s a lovely spot for some food and a sun-soaked nap.
After lunch, we continue along the road, eventually following a no through road back towards the river Clyde. Rich notices that the river is broad and calm here, with several mallards dabbling and a few mute swans. The tranquility is because the river here has been dammed to generate hydroelectricity since just after World War I. Interestingly, the generator, thought to be the oldest hydroelectric plant in the UK, is now owned by the Drax Group.
We cross the footbridge and walk along the banks of the Clyde to reach the Falls of Clyde. These comprise several beautiful waterfalls formed by meltwater from glaciation. The most impressive is the Corra Linn, beloved of the romantics and immortalised on canvas by JMW Turner.
We are now following the Clyde Walkway and soon arrive at New Lanark, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This is made up of the falls plus the unique 18th century Mill Village focussed on philanthropy, education and the welfare of the workers, providing a model copied by industrial communities across the world. We leave the river and climb up the hill into the county town of Lanark to stay overnight in a lovely flat in the centre.
Total distance so far: 523 miles
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