Take your family to see the Falls of Clyde, just upstream from New Lanark World Heritage Site. This is a lovely riverside walk featuring four waterfalls within the Falls of Clyde Nature Reserve which is managed by the Scottish Wildlife Trust. The highest of the Falls is Corra Linn at a dramatic 90 feet. Along the way you'll pass lots of cascading waters (even more impressive when the river is in spate in April) and the Reserve is also full of wildlife.
Don't forget your camera and binoculars!
To get there, follow signs from Lanark, to New Lanark World Heritage Site. It's signposted from all major routes and is less than one hour's drive from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Stirling. The World Heritage Site and Reserve are one mile from Lanark.
Park at New Lanark, which is well worth a visit and there are also excellent facilities here including a visitor centre, cafe, shop and even a Scottish Youth Hostel and a Hotel if you want to stay the night.
This delightful route takes you through the quieter areas of the reserve, which is all the better for spotting wildlife including over 100 species of birdlife (Peregrine Falcon and woodpecker are often spotted), Roe Deer, Badgers and for the very observant, Otter.
From New Lanark, enter the reserve through the archway and continue close to the river along the main path for 100 yards. You'll pass many badger setts, so watch out for sett entrances, snuffle holes and badger footprints along the woodland path. At a fork in the path, take the left option which continues past a small pond, perfect for dragonflies, pond skaters and frogs, and leads onto the wildflower meadow. Here you might see the resident owl, especially in the evenings.
Eventually you'll come to the eighteenth century Corra Linn Viewing Pavilion and the impressive Corra Linn waterfall. This 27-metre cascade has been immortalised by William Wordsworth as 'the Clyde's most majestic daughter'.
From the Pavilion, continue along the path heading for Lady Mary's Well and Bonnington Linn Waterfall, further up. Cross to the west bank of the River Clyde via a small footbridge to a viewpoint overlooking Bonnington Linn. From there continue along the west bank finally heading for the 15th century ruin of Corra Castle (for those with children, the castle ruin has some weak walls). Here you can enjoy the view of the impressive Corra Linn from the opposite bank.
To return, re-trace your outward route back to Corra Linn Pavilion, then continue onto the Clyde Walkway, listening for the melodic songs of warblers and tits in the ancient broadleaved woodland along the way. The path passes a hydro-electric power station and heads back to the Scottish Wildlife Trust Visitor Centre and New Lanark. As you head back, look out for seasonal wildflowers along the river edge, as well as swooping dippers and kingfishers.
