Falls of Clyde

The Falls of Clyde are four waterfalls on the River Clyde near Lanark in South Lanarkshire. The most impressive is Corra Linn, which drops 26 metres. Above Lanark lie Bonnington Linn, Corra Linn and Dundaff Linn, while Stonebyres Linn stands further downstream. Artists have long admired their beauty, and Wordsworth wrote a poem about Corra Linn in 1802. Turner painted the falls, and a legend tells of Cora, daughter of King Malcolm II, who died here. Nearby stands the 18th-century Pavilion, once fitted with mirrors to trick visitors into feeling they stood beneath the cascade. The site is recognised for its wildlife and history. Corra Castle, dating from the 15th century, now shelters rare bats, while Corehouse, built in 1844, overlooks the reserve. The woodland supports badgers, roe deer and over a hundred bird species, including peregrine falcons protected by Operation Peregrine. Otters and kingfishers live along the river, and brook lamprey find refuge here. The visitor centre run by the Scottish Wildlife Trust displays exhibits about the falls, the woods and local animals, with a special focus on bats. Between Corra Linn and Dundaff Linn the Lanark Hydro Electric Scheme harnesses the water’s energy. Completed in 1927, it was Scotland’s first public-supply hydro-electric station, designed under Sir Edward MacColl. A second station near Stonebyres Linn generates additional power. The combined plants produce around seventeen megawatts, owned and operated by Scottish Power. Visitors can walk the paths beside the falls, watch the turbines, and enjoy views across the Clyde Valley’s mixed woodlands.