📌 New Lanark, South Lanarkshire
★★★★
This must be one of the best wet weather walks in Scotland, mostly sheltered by trees but delivering scenic drama worthy of the Highlands. Here the Clyde thunders over two colossal waterfalls in Bonnington Linn and Corra Linn – the latter cataracts described as “the Clyde’s most majestic daughter” by William Wordsworth. Beyond the mills of New Lanark World Heritage Site (itself a major tourist attraction, complete with cafe) the river shows its gentler side, its anger spent, passing under the 17th century Clydesholm Bridge and its newer replacement. Combining the two sections and returning on the quiet west bank enables a superb circuit, even including a ruined castle. Hydroelectric activity can tamper with the flow volume, so its best to visit after prolonged bouts of rain to guarantee a good show.
📷 Chronological photo guide
Clydesholm Bridge 
New Lanark 
Rapids on the River Clyde at New Lanark 
Boardwalks can flood during spate conditions – with a higher level diversion 
Hydroelectric power station pipes 
Corra Linn in spate, from the east bank 
View down the River Clyde 
Old bridge 
Upper part of Bonnington Linn 
Bonnington Linn from the west bank
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish on Kirkfield Road, Kirkfieldbank, 0.5 mi west of Lanark town centre. Alternative start point at New Lanark
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NS 868438
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.674741,-3.801041
🚌 Bus to Kirkfieldbank, or to New Lanark (at different point on route) | 🚆 Lanark (join route at New Lanark, 1 mi steeply downhill)
🚗 Street parking, or car park at New Lanark (at different point on route)
📝 Key info
▶ 10 km / 6 mi | ▲ 350 m | ⌛ 3 hr
Features: 🏭 New Lanark ★★★★; 🌊 Dundaff Linn; 🌊 Corra Linn ★★★★; 🦅 peregrine hide; 🌊 Bonnington Linn ★★★; 🏰 Corra Castle; 🌳 Falls of Clyde Nature Reserve
⬤ Moderate | Mostly clear woodland paths and tracks, occasionally wet; short sections on minor road and pavements; boardwalk section after New Lanark floods during spate conditions but there’s a higher alternative route. West bank path is rougher and muddy in places.
Download file for GPS➡️ Clockwise circuit: start – cross Clydesholm Bridge – Clyde Walkway to weir above Bonnington Linn via New Lanark and Corra Linn – cross bridge and return on west bank to start via Corra Castle and Falls of Clyde Nature Reserve
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Woodland birds and grey squirrels; peregrine falcons can be seen from the hide in summer.
Weather: Sunny spells, but heavy showers in the vicinity. About 5°C, cold wind.
November 2015
Also on this walk
Bonnington Linn ★★★
🌍 Location
📌 On the River Clyde 1 mi south of New Lanark
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NS 884406
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.646318,-3.775016
❌ No public transport within 1 mi. Buses serve New Lanark (2 mi via River Clyde)
🚗 Car park at New Lanark (2 mi via River Clyde)
📝 Key info
⌚ Always open
🎫 Free
💬 If not doing the whole walk, start from New Lanark. From here it’s a 2 mi / 45-min walk (each way) to the falls using part of the route described above, also passing Corra Linn (⬤ Easy).
Corra Linn ★★★★
🌍 Location
📌 On the River Clyde 1 mi south of New Lanark
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NS 883414
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.653213,-3.777156
🚌 Bus to New Lanark (1 mi via River Clyde)
🚗 Car park at New Lanark (1 mi via River Clyde)
📝 Key info
⌚ Always open
🎫 Free
💬 If not doing the whole walk, start from New Lanark. From here it’s a 1 mi / 30-min walk (each way) to the falls using part of the route described above (⬤ Easy).
