I decided to test out a SlowWays route today so chose the one from Strathaven to Larkhall. I parked at Larkhall, caught the bus over to Strathaven then walked back. The route itself was very straightforward with no gates or fences to climb (unlike some of the ones I've reviewed recently). At least two remarkably tame Rabbits were behind Larkhall War Memorial while I waited for the bus. Strathaven was lovely and sunny but fairly quiet bird-wise with no sign of the Swallows I thought might stay to nest when I saw them a few weeks ago. The route followed the Glassford Road out of Strathaven and the Larkhall Road out of Glassford. Interesting birds along the way included Willow Warbler, Whitethroat, Reed Bunting, Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Tree Sparrow at one site and a possible Yellow Wagtail at another (I remember years ago there was a small breeding colony in the area which seemed to die out). Non-birds along the way included lots of Meadow Brown butterflies, lots of scary-looking Scorpion Flies, biting Clegs (I sustained three bites, I'm sorry to report) and flowering Ragged Robin. Most intriguing sighting however was of a Red Squirrel which ran across the road under the Larkhall Viaduct in Morgan Glen (as it descends to Millheugh on the outskirts of Larkhall). It was a very long way from the nearest known colonies, although a bit of online research did suggest that they had been recorded in the nearby Nethan Gorge.

 

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