Falls of Clyde (waterfalls) facts for kids

The Falls of Clyde is the collective name of four linn (Scots: waterfalls) on the River Clyde near New Lanark, South Lanarkshire, Scotland. The Falls of Clyde comprise the upper falls of Bonnington Linn, Corra Linn, Dundaff Linn, and the lower falls of Stonebyres Linn. Corra Linn is the highest, with a fall of 26 metres (84 ft). Bonnington Linn (fall of 9 metres or 30 feet), Corra Linn and Dundaff Linn (fall of 3 metres or 10 feet) are above New Lanark and located within the Falls of Clyde Reserve managed by the Scottish Wildlife Trust, a national nature conservation charity. Stonebyres Linn is located several miles downstream from the reserve and New Lanark.

History

The area has long been a popular destination for visitors. The Wordsworths, Coleridge and Sir Walter Scott all visited the Falls. In 1802, William Wordsworth immortalised Corra Linn, the largest of the waterfalls, in verse. Corra Linn has also been painted by a number of artists, including J. M. W. Turner. The name comes from the Gaelic 'currach', a marshy place. A legend gives 'Cora' as a daughter of King Malcolm II, who leapt to her death here whilst trying to escape imagined danger.

Near Corra Linn is the Pavilion, built by Sir John Carmichael of Bonnington, probably in 1708. The Pavilion had mirrors on its back wall, and when the doors were opened visitors had the illusion of standing beneath the falls. The 15th-century Corra Castle is next to Corra Linn. It is now home to a good number of Daubenton's bat and of some Natterer's and whiskered bats. Corra is Gaelic for "weir", and as Corra Castle's early history is vague, some historians believe it was an early possession of the Weirs, the principal landowning family in the county after the dukes of Hamilton from the 13th to 19th centuries. Corehouse, built in 1844, the home of the Cranstoun family, is nearby. At Stonebyres Linn the ruins of 15th-century Stonebyres Castle may be seen.

Falls of Clyde Site of Special Scientific Interest

Falls of Clyde
formerly the Corehouse Nature Reserve
The natural amphitheatre at the base of Corra Linn.
Falls of Clyde Location in South Lanarkshire
Location	South Lanarkshire, Scotland, United Kingdom
Nearest city	Lanark
Established	1960s: The Corehouse Nature Reserve is established by Colonel Cranstoun of Corehouse 1971: Falls of Clyde is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest 2007: The Falls of Clyde is amalgamated into the Clyde Valley Woodlands National Nature Reserve
Governing body	Scottish Wildlife Trust

The Falls of Clyde Site of Special Scientific Interest (formerly the Corehouse Nature Reserve), a part of the Clyde Valley Woodlands National Nature Reserve, is an area of mixed woodland, including semi-natural native oakwoods and some areas of conifer plantation. It provides suitable habitat for badgers, roe deer, and over 100 species of bird. The site is well known for its resident breeding pair of peregrine falcons, which are protected during the breeding season by Operation Peregrine, providing security for the birds and a chance for the public to view the birds through scopes and CCTV. On 22 October 2011 at 1500 GMT a very rare pine marten was spotted within the reserve and was photographed. Within the reserve the Clyde River is suitable habitat for otters and kingfishers as well as the protected brook lamprey.

The Falls of Clyde Visitor Centre, operated by the Scottish Wildlife Trust, features exhibits about the waterfalls, the woodland and the area animals, including a special bat display.

Hydro-electric power

The Lanark Hydro Electric Scheme is situated between Corra Linn and Dundaff Linn, with a water inlet at Bonnington Linn, and is considered the oldest of the United Kingdom.

The scheme was conceived in 1925 under the chairmanship of Sir Edward MacColl and was completed in 1927 as the first hydro-electric power station in Scotland. The power station at Stonebyres was designed by Sir Robert Lorimer (who also acted as design advisor to the committee looking at the overall concept).

The plant generates approximately eleven megawatts of power. Another hydro-electric power station is situated near Stonebyres Linn, about three miles south of Corra Linn. This generates approximately six megawatts of power. Both stations are owned and operated by Scottish Power.

Clyde Walkway

The Clyde walkway long-distance path passes all four falls and ends at Bonnington Linn.

Photograph gallery

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  Corra Linn

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  Corra Linn in the autumn
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  The Clyde at New Lanark
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  Dundaff Linn at New Lanark in winter
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  Bonnington Linn
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  Bonnington Linn from west bank
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  Stonebyres hydroelectric Power Station
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  Bonnington hydroelectric power station
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  The pipes supplying water from the Clyde to Bonnington hydroelectric power station

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  The ruins of the Hall of Mirrors or Bonnington Pavilion overlooking Corra Linn
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  The old iron bridge at the Bonnington Falls

Maps

Annotated map of Lanark, New Lanark and Falls of Clyde