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They provide the community with safer links for social visits and access to local services. The project includes the upgrade of existing core paths, and the creation of a brand-new path section to the village of Douglas. The paths create links to Coalburn Leisure Centre, Lesmahagow High School and retail opportunities.
Funding for the path was provided by Transport Scotland through our Ian Findlay Path Fund (IFPF), as well as South Lanarkshire Council Renewable Energy Fund (REF) via Middlemuir Windfarm and Douglas West Windfarm, and Scottish Mines Restoration Trust Mainshill Environmental Improvement Fund. Funding for the day comes from Auchrobert Community Energy Society.
“We’re thrilled that these new paths are now open for the South Lanarkshire community to enjoy. The paths will give local people the opportunity to incorporate more walking and wheeling into their everyday lives. This has so many health, wellbeing and environmental benefits.” Kevin Lafferty, our Chief Executive
Kevin Lafferty, our Chief Executive
Attendees can join as much or as little of the day they would like. Those attending on the day are inivited to bring bikes, walking boots, waterproofs and a packed lunch as preferred. The day’s agenda is as follows:
9:30am Free minibus pick-up from Douglas St Bride’s car park, for those who need it.
10:00am Registration, stalls, and complimentary breakfast rolls and refreshments at Coalburn One Stop Shop.
10:30am Coalburn – NCN74 walk or cycle, ribbon cutting and speeches.
11:30am Coalburn – Poneil walk or cycle, ribbon cutting and speeches, including brief historical talk.
12:50pm Healthy Valleys Wellbeing Wagon refreshment stop at Poneil, with option for free minibus return to Coalburn One Stop Shop.
1:10pm Poneil – Douglas walk / cycle, ribbon cutting and speeches.
2:30pm Afternoon tea provided at St Bride’s Community Centre, Douglas, with slots available for guided tour of Douglas Heritage Museum, St Bride’s Church and Cemetery. Tours are bookable on the day.
4:00pm Free minibus return to Coalburn One Stop Shop for those who need it.
Additional information: a limited number of e-bikes, mountain bikes and kids’ bikes are available to borrow free of charge on the day. They must be booked in advance or are available on a first-come, first-served basis on the day.
A free bike check is also available from Monday 10 November for anyone who wants to join the ride but isn’t sure of the condition of their bike.
To book a bike or a bike check contact Gear Up: gearup@healthyvalleys.org.uk or call 07872 161 913.
Both paths make use of old mining infrastructure to provide almost 10 kilometres of whin-dust topped, safe off-road paths. The paths are suitable for everyday journeys by walking, wheeling and cycling. They lie near renewable energy sources in the Hagshaw Energy Cluster between Coalburn and Douglas.
Community Action Lanarkshire, a programme of the Rural Development Trust, project managed the design and construction of the paths. They worked in partnership with Coalburn Community Action Group, One Stop Shop – Coalburn, and Douglas and Glespin Community Council.
Maintenance of the paths will be shared between Coalburn Community Action Group and Douglasdale REAL Group. They recently received support from Hagshaw Hill Trust and REF via Galawhistle Windfarm for equipment and machinery to support annual maintenance activities linked to landowner path agreements.
The pathways form the basis of plans to develop Outdoor Recreation and Adventure Tourism proposals in the Douglas Valley currently in scoping with the community-led Douglas Valley Advisory Group. This is funded by UK Shared Prosperity Funds administered by South Lanarkshire Council.
Published: 11 November 2025
