Bonnington Linn

The Clyde Valley's best-kept secret isn't really secret at all - locals have been tramping down to Bonnington Linn for centuries. You're looking at a proper waterfall, the kind that thunders down rocky shelves and churns into a dark pool at the bottom. It's not the highest drop you'll ever see, but what catches you is the sheer force of it, especially after rain when the whole ravine feels like it's vibrating.

The walk down from Lanark takes maybe twenty minutes on a decent path that winds through woodland. There's a viewing platform at the top, but go properly down to the pool edge if you can manage the steep bit - the spray hits your face and you get a real sense of why the Victorians were so obsessed with rushing water. Kids will be mesmerized by it, though keep a tight grip on younger ones near the edge.

It's completely free and always accessible, which is the best kind of attraction. Allow an hour including the walk, longer if you're dawdling. Autumn and winter are dramatic times to visit when water levels are higher, but spring's nice too. Summer can feel a bit underwhelming if there's been dry weather.

Stay at Ecosse Glamping, just down the road near Lanark, and you've got a proper Scottish waterfall adventure sorted. It slots easily into a broader Clyde Valley walk - Lanark itself has the New Lanark mills if you want something with more substance. But Bonnington Linn is the soul of the place.