Falls of Clyde

New Lanark, Scotland, UK (Great Britain)

About Falls of Clyde

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Waterfall Safety and Common Sense

The Falls of Clyde (we’re not talking about the ship here) were a series of three waterfalls consisting of the Dundaff Linn, Cora Linn (pictured immediately above and below), and the Bonnington Linn.

All of these waterfalls were on the River Clyde suggesting they should be permanent and powerful.

Falls_of_Clyde_060_08202014 - Cora Linn - the most impressive of the Falls of Clyde
Cora Linn – the most impressive of the Falls of Clyde

But it turned out that these waterfalls were merely my waterfalling excuse to check out what the UNESCO designation of the town of New Lanark was all about.

From the moment I stepped foot into the strangely industrial yet historical-looking town from where the waterfall hike started, I got the sense that this place played a pretty critical role in not only Scotland’s heritage but the world’s heritage as well.

New Lanark – A Utopian Experiment

It turned out that the town of New Lanark (founded in 1785) was the result of a Utopian vision by Robert Owen.

He modeled this industrial mill town to be free of crime, poverty, and misery while still producing textiles.

At least that would explain why I saw numerous signs dedicated to Robert Owen himself.

Falls_of_Clyde_159_08202014 - Entering the town of New Lanark, which was a UNESCO World Heritage site
Entering the town of New Lanark, which was a UNESCO World Heritage site

Under these humanitarian principles of fair work and living conditions (which were radical at the time), Owen managed to successfully carry out his form of benevolent industrialism in this town.

It apparently was said to be a key influence on how society should be run to the present day.

In fact, I’ve read that many of his principles gave rise to things like garden cities as well as socio- and economic systems that are now widely accepted.

So I guess given the significance of Owen’s ideas and how they were literally applied here, such accomplishments were ultimately what warranted the awarding of UNESCO World Heritage status to New Lanark.

Falls_of_Clyde_158_08202014 - Looking in the other direction towards more of the buildings of New Lanark
Looking in the other direction towards more of the buildings of New Lanark

As for the waterfalls themselves, I learned that this was also the site of Britain’s first commercial hydroelectric power station in 1926 called the Bonnington Power Station.

Given the hum of generators that I could hear as I was hiking past some of this infrastructure, it appeared that this power station was still in use to this day.

Now while I have mixed feelings about sacrificing Nature in the name of “clean” hydropower, the historical role that both the River Clyde and New Lanark have played in the history of the world cannot be understated.

And so it was with this perspective that I was better able to understand how such an industrial town was able to be recognized as a World Heritage site.

Falls_of_Clyde_131_08202014 - Looking back at the industrial buildings of New Lanark, which I initially thought was one of the most unlikely places to have a UNESCO World Heritage designation
Looking back at the industrial buildings of New Lanark, which I initially thought was one of the most unlikely places to have a UNESCO World Heritage designation

It otherwise defied my preconceptions of what it meant to be UNESCO World Heritage in the first place.

Experiencing the Falls of Clyde Waterfalls – Dundaff Linn and Cora Linn

The hike to all of the Falls of Clyde began from the public access car park (see directions below) just up the hill from the actual town of New Lanark itself.

Traffic access to New Lanark was limited unless you were working, living, or overnighting here, which was why we had to park above the town.

From there, I had to walk downhill on an established footpath that brought me right into the heart of New Lanark.

Falls_of_Clyde_139_08202014 - Dundaff Linn was the first waterfall on the Clyde River, which was right in the town of New Lanark
Dundaff Linn was the first waterfall on the Clyde River, which was right in the town of New Lanark

I followed the light purple badger signs that would ultimately lead me to the Falls of Clyde Visitor Centre, which was very close to Dundaff Linn – the first of the Falls of Clyde.

Now it turned out that the actual trail itself was not from the visitor center, but a short distance up some steps towards a gate flanking some water channels.

The relatively flat trail pretty much followed the River Clyde upstream alongside a reservoir, then past some infrastructure supporting the Bonnington Power Station.

Then, the trail went uphill alongside some diversion pipes towards the viewpoints for Cora Linn – the second and most impressive of the Falls of Clyde.

Falls_of_Clyde_031_08202014 - The flat trail following along a reservoir on the River Clyde en route to Cora Linn and Bonnington Linn
The flat trail following along a reservoir on the River Clyde en route to Cora Linn and Bonnington Linn

It took me about 30 minutes of walking from the visitor center to Cora Linn.

The first views of the falls tended to be hampered by overgrowth and obstructions.

However, I found out that as I continued along the main trail, I was able to get a few more looks at the impressive multi-tiered waterfall from a higher vantage point.

This view didn’t have as many foliage obstructions getting in the way, but it appeared that I had to be content with the distant views of the falls.

Falls_of_Clyde_066_08202014 - Context of the view of Cora Linn from the lookout with the best vantage of it
Context of the view of Cora Linn from the lookout with the best vantage of it

That’s because I didn’t see how it would be possible to get closer to Cora Linn itself.

So Cora Linn was pretty much relegated to a look-but-don’t-touch waterfall.

Experiencing the Falls of Clyde Waterfalls – Bonnington Linn

Beyond Cora Linn, the trail then entered into a small gorge as it continued meandering alongside the River Clyde.

After another 30 minutes beyond Cora Linn, I’d ultimately make it to the unsightly dam called the Bonnington Weir.

Falls_of_Clyde_084_08202014 - On the trail beyond Cora Linn towards the Bonnington Linn
On the trail beyond Cora Linn towards the Bonnington Linn

This structure was what ultimately controlled the flow of the River Clyde, and from what I could see, it pretty much robbed the thunder from the Bonnington Linn.

Bonnington Linn was the last of the waterfalls I’d encounter on the River Clyde.

The best viewpoints of this waterfall actually required me to cross over the weir, then hike briefly downstream towards a pair of overlooks.

That was where I could see that the current flow of the falls was but a mere fraction of the spectacle I’m sure that would’ve been on display had the River Clyde be allowed to flow in full spate and the entire width of the bedrock would be under water.

Falls_of_Clyde_105_08202014 - Looking upstream at the mostly bare riverbed downstream of the dam at Bonnington Linn
Looking upstream at the mostly bare riverbed downstream of the dam at Bonnington Linn

This was my turnaround point as there was no way I could continue on the trail then cut right back to New Lanark across the River Clyde.

I believe the next crossing of the River Clyde wouldn’t be for another 3.5 miles anyways (though I’m sure there were more things to see in that direction).

Thus, I can’t comment more on what else was further on this side of the river since I didn’t go past this point.

When I eventually got back to New Lanark, I had a little more time to explore the town a bit.

Falls_of_Clyde_115_08202014 - Looking upstream at the main drops of what is left of the Bonnington Linn, which was the uppermost of the Falls of Clyde near New Lanark
Looking upstream at the main drops of what is left of the Bonnington Linn, which was the uppermost of the Falls of Clyde near New Lanark

That was where I got more direct views of Dundaff Linn as I was standing near an active waterwheel (Mill Number Four).

When I finished the uphill walk back to the car park, I ended up spending about 2.5 hours away from the car.

Again, if Tahia and Julie had joined me on this excursion, I easily could have envisioned us spending at least 3 hours here.

Authorities

The Falls of Clyde reside in New Lanark in Lanarkshire, Scotland. It is administered by the New Lanark UNESCO World Heritage Site. For information or inquiries about the area as well as current conditions, visit their website.

Maps and Routing Content are for annual subscribers. See Membership Options.
Content is for subscribers. See Membership Options.
Tagged with: new lanark, lanarkshire, unesco, scotland, uk, united kingdom, waterfall, clyde, bonnington linn, dundaff linn, cora linn, robert owen, utopian, bonnington, power station



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Johnny Cheng

About Johnny Cheng

Johnny Cheng is the founder of the World of Waterfalls and author of the award-winning A Guide to New Zealand Waterfalls. Over the last 2 decades, he has visited thousands of waterfalls in over 40 countries around the world and nearly 40 states in the USA.
Read More About Johnny | A Guide to New Zealand Waterfalls.