Exploring Scotland

What are you likely to find dotted along any river? Well, apart from gorgeous scenery, fertile land, and spectacular biodiversity, there will almost always be bridges. For centuries, humans have been erecting wooden, metal, stone and concrete structures over our nation's rivers to enable pedestrians, vehicles, bikes, and, in the past, horses and carts to traverse the landscape more easily. Given its long history and modern-day appeal, Chatelherault contains its fair share over Avon Water. Duke's Bridge View of Duke's Bridge from the river below. [1] Duke's Bridge was commissioned by the Alexander William Archibald Hamilton, 11th Duke of Hamilton, dating it to between 1852 and 1863. One reference ( British Listed Buildings ) states it was erected in 1863, which fits with these dates. It stands approximately 24.38 meters (80 feet) above the river, spanning Avon Water. It has been a Category B listed building since 1971. The view from the bridge of the river an...

Cadzow Oaks and Earthworks are two separate aspects of Chatelherault - the oaks can be found dotted across the park, but many specimens can be viewed alongside the Earthworks. Both are ancient, the oaks almost 800 years old and the earthworks dating back to at least the 12th-century, and even a Roman artifact has been found on the site. Cadzow Oaks Oak trees can be found at various points throughout Chatelherault Country Trees, specifically common oaks ( Quercus robur ). Dendrochronology has dated the trees to the 15th-century, making them between 700 and 800 years old and therefore some of the oldest living trees in Scotland. One of the oaks found next to Cadzow Earthworks. The best place to see these majestic centuries-old oaks is at the site of the Cadzow Earthworks - this is relatively close to the Chatelherault visitor center and Cadzow Castle, meaning even if you aren't able to explore the entire country park you can still see a number of interesting sites. A 19th...

Sir Walter Scott (1771 - 1832), a prominent Scottish writer, immortalised  Cadzow Castle in poetry during a visit to the estate. It is included below, in full. Note that Scott has written the castle's name as "Cadyow" - the "y" is in place of the Older Scots letter yogh ( ȝ). With the correct pronunciation being "Cad-zow", this is likely why the spelling has differed over the years between "Cad ȝ ow ", "Cadyow" and "Cadzow". Cadzow Castle today, here the ruins of the western structures are shown. [1] Cadyow Castle by Sir Walter Scott Addressed to the Right Hon. Lady Anne Hamilton. When princely Hamilton's abode Ennobled Cadyow's Gothic towers, The song went round, the goblet flow'd,, And revel sped the laughing hours. Then, thrilling to the harp's gay sound, So sweetly rung each vaulted wall, And echoed light the dancer's bound, As mirth and music cheer'd the hall. But Cadyow's t...

Overlooking the impressive Avon Gorge in Chatelherault Country Park, Cadzow Castle is a now ruined structure originally constructed between 1500 and 1550 on the site of a former castle dating back to the 12th-century. The current castle was built by the same architect as Craignethan Castle, Sir James Hamilton of Finnart, a Scottish nobleman who had been appointed as Steward of the Royal Household and Master of Work to King James V. Cadzow Castle overlooking Avon Gorge, as seen from Duke's Bridge. [1] Today, little of the castle remains visible to the public. In its ruined state, the castle presents many dangers to visitors and so a tall grey metal fence has been erected around the structure, with a locked gate preventing access. The ruins themselves, which are owned and conserved by Historic Environment Scotland, are mostly supported by scaffolding which further obscures the ability to view the castle. A sign placed by Historic Scotland (the predecessor to Historic Envi...

This week, we'll be featuring aspects of Chatelherault Country Park, a part of the Clyde Valley Woodlands National Nature Reserve located within Ferniegair, Hamilton in South Lanarkshire. The reserve is made up of six separate sites across South Lanarkshire: Cartland Craigs, Lanark Chatelherault, Hamilton Cleghorn Glen, Lanark Falls of Clyde, New Lanark Mauldslie Woods, Carluke Nethan Gorge, Crossford There are some great views of Avon Water throughout Chatelherault. Chatelherault features gorges and valleys carved out by the Avon Water on its way towards joining the River Clyde. There's also a number of features built by humans worth seeing, including a ruined castle and an 18th-century hunting lodge. Most importantly, it's an excellent place to see many of Scotland's native tree species, and if you're lucky maybe even some of our native animals such as badgers, foxes, woodland birds and roe deer. Part of the walkway which forms the Green Bridge t...