Stage Two

From Clydeford Bridge follow the path along the south bank to Carmyle viaduct, cross the burn before you, and continue along the river bank to the junction with the Rotten Calder. As mentioned above, this part of the Walkway can be difficult but rewarding and an alternative route, from the viaduct via Westburn, is shown on the the map available at the Ordnance Survey website. Follow the Rotten Calder upstream, cross the footbridge, and follow the path uphill, under the railway, to the B758 Blantyreferme Road.

Cross the road and follow the path through the woods which will take you to the Green Bridge beside Uddingston Viaduct. Cross the bridge and follow the path along the north bank past Bothwell Castle to the David Livingstone Memorial Bridge at Blantyre. Cross the bridge and turn right, up the steps, to visit the David livingstone Memorial Centre or left to continue the route through woodland till you reach the stone pillars which are all that remain of the Bothwell Viaduct. If there is still construction work before you at Craighead you should retrace your steps to the clearing, where the diversion begins.

Pass under the railway into John Street, continuing along until you meet Glasgow Road. Turn left and continue along Glasgow Road, under the A725 East Kilbride Expressway, and at the roundabout take the second exit onto the A724 Whistleberry Road. Turn left after the railway bridge, pass under the A725 again, and a footpath on your right takes you alongside the A725 to Bothwell Bridge. Cross the bridge and a path beside the monument commerating the Battle of Bothwell Bridge takes you down to the riverbank, under the A725 yet again, and skirting the edge of the Raith Haugh Nature Reserve, leads to the Raith Interchange (Junction 5) on the M74 Motorway. Follow the footpath under the Motorway, cross the southbound on ramp onto the Motorway at the traffic lights, enter the hotel car park and continue round behind the hotel where paths on either side of the Loch lead to the Watersports Centre in Strathclyde Park and the end of this stage of the Walkway.

There are bus stops for both Motherwell and Hamilton town centres at the entrance to the Park, and Motherwell railway station is about a mile away in the town centre. Hamilton can also be reached by crossing the river footbridge behind the Watersports Centre, through the underpass, past the Mausoleum and retail park.