As part of Biggar Archaeology Group’s (BAG) initiatives in local heritage matters, five new display panels have been installed in Daer valley for the benefit of walkers to the area.
Two A1, fully illustrated colour panels have been installed on part of the Southern Uplands Way (SUW) to illustrate and explain the archaeology of Coom Rig area; much of which is visible including Smithwood bastle house remains, a large 3000-year-old Bronze Age burnt mound and two enigmatic circles of stones dating to 4600 years ago. The panels also explain about the recent work in the area by BAG which includes an astonishing array of sites dating from the Mesolithic, Neolithic and Bronze Ages
The two panels are located on stone cairns beside the public path and cannot be missed, hopefully they will be a welcome addition to the interest of the route which lies between Lowther Hill and Daer Reservoir.
A Trail previously made by BAG now has three new display panels installed. This route takes the walker on a lovely walk up through the recently installed giant wind turbines, to the bastle house remains of Wintercleuch. Three coloured information panels explain what is to be seen; one at the main road here parking is available, explains the walk to the site, an intermediary panel explains some pre-historic monuments including Bronze Age burial cairns, and the third final panel is at the site itself to explain all about the bastle site.
The Wintercleuch Trail is along a good road (although walking shoes/boots are recommended), at one point, magnificent views of the Lowther Hills and Upper Clyde Valley are seen.
Efforts are now underway to secure permissions and funding to refurbish the nearby Award winning Glenochar Bastle and Fermtoun Trail, which was opened in 1998. The nine display panels and other facilities are now past their best. The hope is to replace all the panels with new designs and repair bridges and styles etc for the interest and comfort of visitors. If it that can be achieved, then a comprehensive and easily accessible heritage destination will be available to local people and tourists alike.
Part of this initiative will be to install a further A1 panel at Daer Reservoir, on the SUW, to explain the modern economy of the valley which now includes one of Scotland’s largest wind farms, the reservoir which was opened by HM The Queen in 1956, and the extensive commercial woodlands in the area. The population of the area was once able to support a school and a recreation hall, but the valley residents has now dwindled to a fraction of what they once were. The other main economy of the glen, and which has not changed since the time of the bastle houses there, has been sheep and cattle rearing.
The Daer valley now has an amazing story, nearly all of which has only come to light through the continuing endeavours of BAG, who, over the last twenty odd years have produced an astounding range of archaeological sites dating back 10,000 years, see all the reports on this web site.
The Glenochar and Wintercleuch Trails lie very close to the Southern Uplands Way. They could form important points of interest from the SUW, this part of which has been described as having – ” too many sections of road or forest track with little of interest to see” (SNH, No 5, page 14).
