Continuing my look at Blantyre Rights of way (legal routes where people can walk through land owned by others). Taken from a council book of the late 1970’s, kindly given to me to keep, from Robert Stewart.
“This right of way starts at the junction of Station Road and Knightswood Terrace, just below Blantyre Station. The path goes through a small play area to follow the line of the Railway (from Blantyre to Glasgow) through the Railway Bridge at the end of another right of way. It continues alongside the railway to the end at the bridge over the railway at Craigknowe at the junction of Blantyre Ferme Road. The pathway surface varies from Tarmacadam at the beginning to gravel and ash for most of its length. It is fenced alongside the railway line but the other side varies considerably with fencing and hedges in poor condition. The path passes the Priory Plantation and the site of the Priory Pit (Bothwell Castle No 3 and 4) of which the only part remaining is the bathhouse which was one of the first in the area enabling the men to shower and change their clothes after their shift down the pit. The Priory plantation has a wide variety of trees and plant life. Near the beginning the trees are mainly Oak, including Turkey Oaks, while near the Craigknowe, it changes to mainly Beech and Birch scrub. Among the more unusual plants found here are broad leaved Helliborine and Common Wintergreen. Fox and Grey squirrels live here as well as Greater Spotted Woodpecker are still regularly seen in this area. During May, there is a splendid carpet of Wild Hyacinth or Bluebells in the woods. The right of way was used by miners going to work in the pit. Prior to Nationalisation, Bothwell Castle Colliery was owned by William Baird & Co.”
