The path is via the National Cycle Network 74 (NCN74) and a family fun day celebrated the opening, with walks, talks and bikes.

Organised by the One Stop Shop, Coalburn, the event was attended by members of the local community, Coalburn Community Action Group, Coalburn Community Café, Climate Action Lanarkshire, Community Action Lanarkshire, Gear Up, Healthy Valleys and Police Scotland.

Suitable for walking, wheeling and cycling, the 3.5km stretch of path follows the line of the disused railway and runs through Coalburn Moss, a Special Site of Scientific Interest (SSSI), before joining the NCN74 at Auldton, next to the entrance of Coalburn North substation. The existing unsurfaced section at Auldton will be surfaced once heavy plant machinery no longer require access to the substation, to support annual maintenance activities linked to landowner path agreements.

Chair of the council’s Community and Enterprise Resources Committee, Councillor Robert Brown, said: “The path provides a vital connection between settlements, allowing Coalburn residents to connect with the NCN74 and onwards to the closest settlement of Lesmahagow and beyond.

“This enables people to choose walking, wheeling and cycling for everyday, functional journeys for work, social and retail opportunities, the local High School and other community services such as the library.

“In addition to this, it provides access to Coalburn Moss SSSI, one of the best examples of lowland raised bog in the UK for its actively-growing sphagnum-rich vegetation. Coalburn Primary School has already enjoyed an educational visit to the site, made possible by the path.”

The project was managed by Community Action Lanarkshire, a project of the Rural Development Trust and construction completed by MaM Contracting. Construction funding was provided by South Lanarkshire Scotland Renewable Energy Fund (REF) via OnPath Middlemuir Windfarm and Walking Scotland’s Ian Findlay Path Fund.

Maintenance of the path will be provided by Coalburn Community Action Group, who have long campaigned for the upgrade of the path and have received support from Hagshaw Hill Trust and REF for equipment and machinery.

A path between Coalburn and Douglas is also currently in construction and will be opened in two phases.

The work is part of a larger initiative to enhance the recreational and tourism offer, which includes the development of a Douglas Valley focussed Outdoor Recreation and Adventure Tourism scope, progressed by the Douglas Valley Advisory Group.