Residents and visitors now have a safe and sustainable route which links the National Cycle Network Route 74 (NCN74) to the villages of Coalburn and Douglas, providing an essential connection to Lesmahagow and beyond.

Designed to support walking and cycling, the new six-mile path offers an alternative to car travel and is being celebrated as transformative for the area.

Councillor Robert Brown, Chair of Community & Enterprise Resources at South Lanarkshire Council, said: “The Renewable Energy Fund is about more than just providing financial support – it’s about creating long-term benefits for local communities. 

“This funding has therefore not only enabled this new active-travel pathway between Lesmahagow, Coalburn and Douglas to be created, but in doing so it also helps to empower both of these communities and supports sustainable, inclusive and well-connected places as well as quality outdoor spaces that can be enjoyed for generations to come.

“The path also forms the backbone of further sustainable development in relation to outdoor recreation and adventure tourism that is currently in scoping.”

The project is the result of close collaboration between multiple community-led organisations including Coalburn Community Action Group (CCAG), Coalburn Miners Welfare Charitable Society, Douglas and Glespin Community Council and the Douglasdale REAL Group. It was spearheaded by Community Action Lanarkshire (CAL), a project of the Rural Development Trust.

A key supporter throughout the project has been renewable energy developer OnPath Energy, which contributed £158,719 from its Middle Muir Wind Farm Fund via the Renewable Energy Fund (REF), managed by South Lanarkshire Council. The developer has a strong record of investing in local infrastructure that supports sustainability and wellbeing.

Aileen McCreadie, partnerships and community manager at OnPath Energy, said: “We’re proud to support this initiative which embodies sustainability and community empowerment by delivering local quality outdoor space. This path enhances connectivity and reinforces our commitment to creating a just transition to net zero that is fair and inclusive for everyone.”