The B7040 is a short but crucial road in south Lanarkshire. In 1922 the road was unclassified and little more than a track but still managed to gain Class II status by 1932. The road is a shortcut to the South and England but the poor maintenance has made it become a rougher road. It has four cattle grids and sheep roam the road.
The road starts on the B797 in the north of Leadhills and heads east out of town along Elvanfoot Road. We cross a burn and the first cattle grid and then climb up into the hills. The summit of the road is reached fairly quickly, however, and we then descend into the valley of the Elvan Water, which we follow for the rest of the route.
The road winds, as dictated by the valley. As we continue downstream the valley gets wider and the terrain more hospitable. We then cross two cattle grids and pass a substation before crossing a final cattle grid to enter Elvanfoot, where the Elvan Water flows into the River Clyde. We don't get that far, however, as we quickly reach a T-junction and end on the A702.
