Make Your Way Glassford

Round the Yards, Round the White'll, Round the Newark, Round the Stanes, Round the Kittymuir and Round the Burnside, with links to National Cycle Route 74 and the Avon Water.

Make Your Way in Glassford on Round the Yards, Round the White'll, Round the Newark, Round the Stanes, Round the Kittymuir and Round the Burnside.  The Make Your Way digital trails can give you the opportunity to explore your local area online, and then go out and find all the details and beauty of the Clyde and Avon Valley for yourself. Take these trails as inspiration, then get out there and enjoy them in the sun, wind, rain and cloud, all year round. 

Explore local heritage as well by finding the numbered Heritage Points in the MYW maps, some of which are referred to in the descriptions below. The trails feature unique signage created by designers Martin Campbell and Zoe Pearson, with information researched by Ewan Allinson. Have a look at the Make Your Way Glassford map to identify the sites of the different installations, pictured below. More information on interpretation informing the signage can be found under 'Other Resources'. 

Download and print paper maps by clicking the links under ''Other Resources'.

Round the White'll

Total distance: 2.5km

Rural walk suitable for all weather with outstanding views through the surrounding countryside and and Avon Valley, connecting into hidden and significant points of heritage such as the Glassford Stones. The name comes from the surrounding White Hill area and White Hill farm, both identifiable on Ordnance Survey Maps from the late 19th Century. 

1. Start at Glassford village centre - historically known as 'The Lawn'.

Walking from the village centre, head along Hunterlees Road. Maybe you can notice the carvings on the trees at the bend of the road. White'll or Whitehill is the name of a local farm.

2. Walk down Hunterlees Road towards Muirburn Road.

As you come to the juncture of Hunterlees and Muirburn Road, the site of Glassford Castle (Heritage Point 8) is on your left. This part of the walk takes 5-10 minutes.

3. Turn right at the junction of Hunterlees and Muirburn Roads.

Further on down, Hunterlees Road has earned the name of Skylark Road among some locals because you can hear the sound of the Skylarks.

4. Continue on Muirburn Road to the graveyard.

At Glassford’s graveyard and the remains of Glassford Kirk (Heritage Points 12 and 11), you'll find many old graves with ornate carving and sculpting. Walking to the next juncture on the trail will take about 20 minutes.

5. Explore the graveyard.

Make Your Way's Glassford artist in residence: sculptor, Ewan Allinson (see below), was deeply intrigued by the many different aspects of the graveyard.

6. Consider this Energy Landscape.

Another quote from Ewan where he traces the lineage of energy production that has shaped and continues to shape the views around Glassford.

7. The first left on Muirburn Road, about halfway down, offers a link to the 'Love and Landscape Trail'

The Love and Landscape Trail takes in the Three Stanes (Heritage Point 14) and fantastic views across the valley.

8. Carry on to the junction of Muirburn Road and Alston Street.

Take the first right connect on to Alston Street. This street is made up of two hills: the first and second Borlands.

9. Take the challenge of walking up the steeper, and longer second Borlands.

The second Borlands will take 10-15 minutes. Ewan notes the amazing views that lie just behind as you walk upwards.

10. Stop at the top of the Second Borlands to take in the view.

Reaching a turn in the road, head right and continue to the first Borlands. Walking up this hill will take about 5 minutes. A Glassford resident recounted his memories of sledging down the hills after a particularly heavy snowfall.

11. Head back along Alston Street to return to Glassford village centre.

You will see Glassford Primary School at the top of the first Borlands, then carry on through Alston Street to go back to the start of the trail.

Round the Yards 

Total distance: 1.8km

Safe, walkable journeys through the neighbourhoods, to and from friends' houses, through the heart of Glassford's Conservation Area and historic High Sreet.

1. Start at Glassford village centre and walk down Alston Street towards Glassford Primary. 2. Before reaching the school, take a right up a rough track that leads to Millar Street. This track passes the remains of Nichol’s Well (Heritage Point 4) and the site of Bog Well (Heritage Point 7). Here you can see pupils at Glassford Primary walking up the track, shouldering some Make Your Way periscopes. 3. On Millar Street go right, back towards the Village centre, passing through the weavers’ cottages on both sides. This street was the centre of Glassford in 1835. The census reads that there were 59 heads of families employed in various professions. This included: 31 weavers, 19 labourers, 1 tailor, 2 blacksmiths, a postman, a baker, a grocer, a teacher, a mason and a quarrier. 4. Go along Larkhall Road. Take a left up Druid Street, then another left along Kirkstyle Place. Go right, towards the play park then loop around and head back down Druid Street. At the play park you can take in the great views across the playing field.

Round the Newark

Total distance: 3.5km

A local trail going out of the village centre through Glassford’s conservation area, through heritage quarry sites to panoramic views of Glassford’s modern energy landscape. It shows the progression of this village coming from coal industries to embracing new advances in energy.

1. Start at Glassford village centre, historically known as 'The Lawn'. 2. Explore the details of the village centre. During the Make Your Way project, pupils at Glassford Primary School explored the village, making notes and drawings like this one of Glassford Parish Church, built 1820. 3. Head down Millar Street, turning right as you leave the village, along the path to Haggs Farm. Along Millar Street (Heritage Point 5) are historic weavers' cottages. This was the site of the former centre of the village in 1835. 4. The path from Millar Street follows round Haggs Farm, crossing Station Road for a five minute walk before taking a right toward the Heads, and looping back to Station Road then the village centre. This takes up the largest section of the walk and will take 30-40 minutes to complete. The path passes by former quarry sites shown on an Ordnance Survey Map of 1858 (Heritage Points 2 and 3). The trail takes you out towards an area long known as the Heads before coming back down to Station Road and Glassford Village Centre. 5. Finally, return to the village centre. Glassford Public Hall (1885) is a key meeting point, with the village centre connecting all of these walks.

Round the Stanes

Total distance: 5.5km

An ambitious adventure route into the Avon Valley through fields, woodland and along the river. Discover stunning views and special historic points in the landscape with their own social and romantic histories. Keep a look out for the new stiles, signage, bench and gate along this route. 

1. Start at the juncture of Alston Street and Muirburn Road.

2. Walk along Alston Street and take the first left down a rough track.

3. Follow this track passing between the site of an old tunnel entrance in the direction of Glassford on the left, and the Muirburn House ruins on the right.

The ruins of Muirburn House (Heritage Point 27) are small remnants of the once grand house. Reaching the end of this track, take a left up Muirburn Road. You will pass, to the left, the former Glassford Mill, built in 1596 (Heritage Point 25).

4. From Muirburn Road, loop back past the Alston Street junction. Take a right down a gravel road towards Avonholm House.

In the private grounds of the house are the remains of a former bridge to Stonehouse (Heritage Point 18).

5. Take the path between farm buildings and follow it around and outside the grounds of Avonholm House.

6. The bend of the river leads to the Horse Pool. Head straight up the hill from the Horse Pool, taking a right at the top to get to the 'Three Stanes'.

The Horse Pool (Heritage Point 16) is subject to many local legends about how it earned its name. It was the site where Stonehouse historically played Glassford at curling. The burial site and site of the 'Three Stanes' is surrounded by 19 yew trees.

7. Explore this site where love meets landscape. The Three Stones sit next to the burial place of James and Julia Struthers.

The Struthers were buried not far from their pets, the grave stones showing the names of Blanche, Floss and Hilda. Make Your Way artist, Ewan Allinson, explored this area closely considering the relationship between love and landscape, and between ancient and modern forms of commemoration and worship.

8. Cross over a stile and follow the path beside the small stretch of woodland, taking a left back down towards the gravel path to Muirburn Road.

The views from the site of the stones give an extraordinary scope of the landscape. Ewan notes: "I think that James and Julia's dog-loving druidic folly can make for a lovely tale of love - love for place, love for each other and love for our ancient heritage."

Round the Burnside 

Total distance: 1.5km

A local trail which takes you through the heritage site of Glassford Castle and past Halhill House along peaceful single track roads. The trail runs beside Priest's Burn. 

1. Start at Glassford village centre and walk up Larkhall Road.

Round the Burnside refers to the name of a former local farm.

2. Follow Larkhall Road into Craigthornhill Road then take a right down Muirburn Road.

The Make Your Way project organised local walks, taking in key heritage points, with these colourful walking sticks to point out views, heritage and other points of interest.

3. Walking down to Hunterlees Road, you will pass Hallhill House on your right. Hunterlees links back up to Glassford village centre after 5-10 minutes.

Hallhill House (Heritage Point 9) is a grade B listed farmhouse. This is adjacent to the site of Glassford Castle (Heritage Point 8).

Make Your Way was an arts, heritage and active travel project focussing on the communities of Carluke, Glassford, Lanark, Larkhall and Stonehouse, 2016-17. The project was funded by Heritage Lottery Fund supported Clyde and Avon Valley Landscape Partnership and Smarter Choices Smarter Places grant, and delivered by icecream architecture and SYSTRA.