Starting Point for the Walk:
On the road below the church on Braxfield Row/New Lanark Road – OS Reference NS 880 426.
Getting there: 32 miles / 59 minutes
Take your favourite route to the M74 towards Carlisle. Exit the M74 at Junction 7 (Lanark/Larkhall) and turn left onto the A72 (brown signed New Lanark). At the roundabout just before Garrion Bridge go left and at the Garrion Bridges Roundabout take the 3rd exit onto the A72 (Lanark) and continue through Rosebank, Crossford, and Kirkfieldbank. Enter Lanark from the north side and, at the traffic lights, turn right to join the A73/A473 (brown signed New Lanark). Continue through the town and past the train station. At the roundabout take the 3rd exit (Hyndford Road) towards New Lanark. Take a very sharp left turn into Braxfield Road (then onto New Lanark Road) and follow the signs to New Lanark. On approaching the main car park for New Lanark turn right to zig-zag down to New Lanark. Park on the street. If there is no parking available return to the main car park (fee payable) and walk down to the village. There are toilets and a café at the Visitor Centre.
The Walk: Falls of Clyde Circular – 7 miles (11 km) – Occasional steep inclines/declines and steps
Staring from the old church, walk up the main road (New Lanark Road) and just before the road swings sharply to the right, turn left onto the signed Clyde Walkway. Follow this woodland path downwards to the River Clyde and continue past Braxfield Park. At the steep zig-zag path which climbs to the right, leave the views of the river and emerge into Castlebank Park. Turn left onto the metalled park road and at the entrance to the park turn left onto St Patrick’s Road. Follow this minor road to the end and turn left onto Chisholme Brae which passes the water works and meets the river again.
Continue onwards and after passing a few buildings turn left and cross the old bridge (Riverside Road). Then turn left again into Kirkfield Road. With the road rising gently, turn left through an old stone gateway onto a woodland track. Follow this gently rising track watching out for wildlife and spectacular views of the river and falls. The area is part of the Falls of Clyde Nature Reserve. Continue past the ruins of Corra Castle and some minor falls and at Bonnington Linn cross the bridge to the east side of the river and turn left. Continue on this gently descending path towards Corra Linn and the Falls of Clyde. Pause at the viewing area for the Falls and then continue on the path down past the Bonnington hydro-electric power station at Corehouse. Just past the power station bare left towards the river and continue onto a short stretch of boardwalk. The path then continues towards the village and then passes The Mechanic’s Workshop, Robert Owen’s School, the site of Mill 4, the Institute for the Formation of Character, and Mill 3 (the New Lanark Visitor Centre and Café). Return to the cars parked on the street or at the main car park.