by Cyclo2000 » Fri Jun 18, 2004 11:50 am
I know of a couple of anti aircraft emplacements if that's of any interest.
As you leave Hamilton on the Strathaven road, you'll come to a wee hamlet called Limkilnburn. As the name suggests Lime smelting was carried out here many moons ago. There is still a Kiln extant in the area, but it's at some remove from the settlement. If anyone's interested to see a well preserved example or two let me know and I'll post directions. Limekilnburn is probably more noteable now for the remains of the curling pond that sits just beside the road. If you look carefully you can see the channels that were used to divert water from the burn which would then freeze and allow curling on the pond. Until I beleive the 50s there was a clubhouse standing here too but I've never been able to devine the exact location of this.
Now, at Limekilnburn there is a crossroads. Lets presume your coming from Hamilton. Go straight on towards Strathaven. Go left towards Quarter where there's quite a good wee pub, hooray1 or...you can go right which is signposted as a no thru road. it isn't. It's a public right of way.
Just before you get into Limekilnburn, you will see another road on your right, the Muttonhole Road. Explore between this and the wee right of way, quite close to the road and you will find a large and impressive emplacement.
It's there because this area is so high up that it was normally above any mist that would form in the valley. For this same reason there were planes stationed up there in the flat feilds nearby during both world wars and after the first war this location was the winter home of a Flying Circus.
Nuts, innit? Sleepy wee Limekilnburn.
Remember that right of way? It's abandoned village time! Get to the end of the tarmac cross the barrier and out into the feilds. The path skirts round to the right and emerges again at a style leading into a farmyard. About halfway along, hidden by a stand of trees and on your left, there is an abandoned mining village. No one seems to know if it ever had a name but one of you may wanna look into it.
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