ALL PHOTOS CLICK FULL SCREEN.
I normally post up to date trips that I've done recently but a few months ago I found a couple of folders in a file from around 10 to 15 years ago that I thought would do nicely for a Christmas/New Year post. This is New Lanark at Christmas, a former self contained cotton mill town stuck down in a gorge to make use of the powerful River Clyde for industrial purposes. Water driven power. Tourists, pre Victorian, Victorian, and post Victorian used to flock here, including the great and the good. Drawn to see the pioneering developments and reforms of Robert Owen. late 1700s early 1800s, who looked after the welfare of his workers better than most in order to get the best out of them, and thus increase production.
I've been here around a dozen times over the decades but this solo visit was the most memorable as it coincided with icy conditions. Hard frost and a sprinkling of snow in the week before Christmas. Decorations up giving a cosy glow despite the sub zero temperatures. Twinkling in fact.
It was a winter wonderland.
One of the mills. New Lanark is now a tourist attraction. There is a car park just above the gorge and you walk down or you can drive down just to drop elderly/ disabled folk off then drive back up again to park. I've not been there for years so maybe there's a shuttle bus down now.
The other big draw being the Falls of Clyde, a spectacular set of waterfalls with the River Clyde plunging over a considerable drop and then down various rapids. Normally these days the water is sucked away to generate hydro electric power and you only really see its full glory after sustained heavy rain when they don't require extra water or during open days. The falls are reached from a riverside path direct from New Lanark. One winter I timed it perfectly, both to catch it in full spate conditions and then later here.... on this solo trip with a 10 day freeze up of between minus 5c to minus 20c cold spell.
In these conditions it was back to being spectacular again. A world of ice. Like something out the arctic regions. Mini ice bergs floating downstream.
Very impressive.
An ice cave....
Thick ice crystals coating all the trees around.
And I'll end with the beauty of Holyrood Park in Springtime. May in fact. Another solo Edinburgh bus trip many years ago when I was blown away by this unexpected golden flourish while ascending this ancient volcano and mini mountain.
A carpet of yellow flowering gorse most of the way to the summit on this one memorable occasion.
And an equally delightful descent via the zig zags path. Happy New Year and best wishes for all of us in 2026.
3 comments:
Those first photos filled me with horror as that's the weather we're currently experiencing and we have another week to go - not sure I'll survive it that long! I hate the cold with a vengeance! It was lovely to keep scrolling right and suddenly end up with lovely, warm, gorse photos!
What's the pretty little ruin nestled among the gorse in your warmer photos?
Yes, I'm not keen on the cold myself these days Carol. If I had the money I'd escape to warmer places. Even the frugal amounts of heat I allow myself, last hour at night, and early mornings after frost, sends the energy bills soaring. That's the ruins of St Anthony's chapel with St Margaret's Loch behind. Roll on Spring again.
I’ve been to New Lanark several times, but never at Christmas. It looks lovely. I don’t think there’s a shuttle bus now and I read that they have started charging in the car park which was not the case last time we went a couple of years ago.
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