Corrie Spout

Corrie Spout is a waterfall in North Lanarkshire, set in a steep-sided valley where the River Clyde cuts through the moorland. The fall is fed by a burn that plunges over a series of rocky ledges, creating a narrow ribbon of white water visible from the path below. Its name uses the Scots word ‘spout’, which describes a vertical drop typical of falls in the southern uplands rather than the Gaelic ‘eas’ used further north. The surrounding landscape is rough pasture and heather, with no forest to soften the contours. Rainfall here is lower than in the Highlands, yet the burn still carries enough water to keep the fall lively after heavy rain. The site sits on privately owned moorland, but the path is open to walkers. The fall is recognised as one of the tallest single-drop waterfalls in southern Scotland, though its exact height is debated because the drop is split into two stages by a ledge. The upper drop is the larger of the two, sending water crashing down a smooth slab of rock before it gathers in a shallow pool. The lower drop is shorter but adds to the overall drama of the cascade. Unlike the great Highland falls, Corrie Spout is easily reached without specialist equipment, making it a practical choice for a day’s walk. Its modest scale is balanced by the wild setting, where the sound of rushing water rises above the wind in the heather. Visitors follow a rough track that climbs beside the burn, passing patches of bog cotton and patches of bare peat. The final approach brings the walker to a viewpoint above the upper drop, where the water appears to hang in mid-air before it falls. Below, the plunge pool is edged with moss-covered stones and the occasional rowan sapling. The path continues down to the foot of the fall, where the burn joins the River Clyde a short distance away. From here the valley widens, and the sound of the water gradually fades into the background.