Scotland - New Lanark & Falls of Clyde

One of our trips (well...actually 2) was to New Lanark. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The village first rose to fame when Robert Owen was mill manager from 1800-1825. Owen transformed life in New Lanark with ideas and opportunities which were at least a hundred years ahead of their time. Child labour and corporal punishment were abolished, and villagers were provided with decent homes, schools and evening classes, free health care, and affordable food. It was a perfect setting for a wool mill because it sat on the River Clyde and used the water power that was available to power the mill's equipment. Even today there s a hydroelectric plant there that generates enough power daily to supply 22,000 homes.

The second time we stopped at New Lanark was to hike up to the Falls of Clyde a few km from the town itself. It was a beautiful day for hiking and a relatively easy trail with only a few hills. The falls were beautiful and we could've continued on the trail (we believe) to cross over a dam and visit the ruins of a 14th century castle on the far side of the falls. All in all a great day hiking.