Cycling in Motherwell

Apart from busy urban stretch at beginning to Newhouse, this way takes you up into the great wilderness lands of moorland paths and isolated lochs. Detailed description below This lowland wilderness section  starts at Motherwell Cathedral. You are recommended to make a brief detour to the Ladywell stone in Ladywell road, and the origins of Motherwell's name.  Then proceeds through urban areas on a busy road with pavement. After 3 km  arrive at famous Carfin grotto. Then continue along road with pavement through Newarthill another 4 km to Newhouse.( This is an alternative start point if you wish to avoid the urban stretch from Motherwell) Continue along pavement and road for a kilometre and a half and turn left up quiet fenced road for the kilometre passing underneath motorway then continue a kilometre turning left at Blackridge Farm and up to the wood at Easter Dunsyston. Turn right along track to quarry then right again onto track along the north side of Roughrigg reservoir, heading towards the radio masts on Black Hill, until you join a quiet road, Duntilland Road, at Mountcow. Proceed north west along road for 1 1/2 kilometres and then take the track signposted Lilly Loch 1 mile. At Lilly Loch take the track skirting the eastern end of the loch, which takes you to the destination at Hillend reservoir. Hotel etc at Newhouse but then no facilities until Hillend Reservoir and nearby village of Caldercruix. This is the 1st section of the great pilgrim trail, the Ladywell Way, from Motherwell in Lanarkshire to the Forth Road Bridge  and then on to  St Andrews. For other great pilgrimage routes. Please visit the website:http://www.thewayofstandrews.com/)