Bonnington Pavilion

The Bonnington Pavilion stands as a roofless ruin on the edge of the old Bonnington estate near New Lanark, overlooking the thunderous Corra Linn falls on the River Clyde. Built in 1708 by Sir James Carmichael, it once offered framed views of the waterfalls through mirrors. The name comes from the Gaelic word for a marshy place, and local legend tells of Cora, a daughter of King Malcolm II, who leapt to her death here. The pavilion is said to have been Scotland’s first camera obscura, though only a small hole now hints at that purpose. Visitors once sat with their backs to the falls, opening shutters to see the cascades reflected in mirrors on the back wall. Famous guests included J. M. W. Turner, Sir Walter Scott, William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge, who immortalised the scene in art and verse. Inside, the building had two floors, with the lower level possibly used as a kitchen for refreshments. Five windows and three doors let in light and views, while later changes included a balustrade at the main window. Outside, the Clyde roars through a deep gorge, and nearby Wallace’s Cave and Corra Castle add layers of history to the landscape.