Want to know where to see some of the best waterfalls in Scotland? Alan West from Ceol Mor Highlands Lodges is back to share some of his favourite waterfalls around the Scottish Highlands and particularly Sutherland including the ‘Wailing Widow’ (Allt Chranaidh), Rogie Falls, Plodda Falls and the Falls of Shin.
There are just so many wonderful waterfalls around our area. With more than 125,000km of rivers and streams (known as burns in Scotland), and 30,000 freshwater lochs it should really not come as a surprise especially when combined with the mountains and hills which are perfect ingredients for waterfalls.
So, where are these beauties? And, which are the best waterfalls? Here we show many that we have visited with a little info on them and any challenges in getting to them. As for favourites, we’ll leave that decision to you. Some of these are great cascades, some a series of small drops, there are coastal falls, gentle showers and even a winter view! During the summer months, you may even see salmon leap up some of these falls.
Where to start…
Here we have the ‘Wailing Widow’ (Allt Chranaidh) waterfall. This is a ‘classic’ NC500 spot to visit. It is known as the Wailing Widow as from above it looks like an eye crying.
This is a tall cascade so be very careful at top as it is slippery and a long way down!
These falls are just off the A894 where you can park nearby. Be aware that the path to the bottom of the falls is very uneven and a bit boggy – although it is only a few hundred metres.
Another great cascade are the Clashnessie Falls. These falls are on the Drumbeg loop and not far from the road – park by the beach at Clashnessie and head south a bit before turning up a path to your left – look behind you before you turn up the path for a beautiful vista.
The path is very boggy and wet near the falls though so do take care and wear decent footwear. There is a lovely area about halfway up where you can sit and enjoy the falls without getting wet.
Next, we’ll go right off the beaten track up a little used road that runs from Altnaharra to Hope. These are the Alltnacaillich Falls. An added bonus is that there is an ancient broch (Dun Dornaigil) by the Strathmore river very close to the falls.
Whilst easy to find, there wasn’t a marked path and it took a bit of scrambling through thick heather on the north side of the burn to get to the falls
Now, we go to Cassley Falls, aka Achness Falls. This is a wonderful spot well off the main NC500 and is beautiful whatever the season. The river Cassley is a spate river and can be a raging torrent one day and very calm and sedate another.
Watch for salmon in the summer and see the falls partially frozen in the winter. There’s a super pretty walk down by the river to Rosehall that you can turn into a circular route. Why not visit the Rosehall trails while you’re here?
Not far from Cassley Falls are the famous Falls of Shin. While this is generally more touristy than other spots, this does come with some advantages. There is a good path down to a viewing platform over the main waterfalls. This is a fabulous spot to watch the salmon jumping in the summer.
Don’t blink while you’re staring at the falls! You don’t want to miss anything. Interesting fact alert – if the fish you see are shiny silver, they’re likely just out of the ocean – they get more brown as they spend longer in the fresh water.
There’s good parking here – note that it is a pay carpark. There is a lovely place to grab something to eat – Salt & Salmon. There’s a good play area for kids and some lovely forest trails with some interesting things for the kids to explore. We love taking our grandchildren here – it’s fabulous.
Now, we’re going to head back west, a bit south of Ullapool and also back on the NC500. On the A832 there are the Ardessie Falls. A long series of high and shorter drops cascading down the hillside. Park up just past the falls and then walk back and a path goes up to the left of the falls. Be aware that some of the drops are in very steep and high bits of gorge.
Near these falls is Corrieshalloch Gorge – right by the junction of the A832 and A835. There are some little trails, a Victorian swing bridge and a great viewing platform. If you don’t have a head for heights – watch out as the bridge can be a little scary. There are toilets here, plenty of parking and a little outside café.
Below is the view from the viewing platform back to the Falls of Measach and swing bridge. This is Britain’s deepest canyon – you can also do organised canyoning here. Scary!
Now, we’ll head east. On the coast about halfway between Golspie and Brora, is the Sputie Burn which has a pretty little set of falls at the top of the beach. Late April is a good time to visit as the gorse will be out and there’ll be loads of birds on the walk and maybe even seals.
Staying in the Golspie area is the Big Burn. There is a lovely walk up a small gorge with several wooden bridges and walkways as you cross from one side to the other. By one of these bridges is a gentle cascade down a mossy cliff. It’s like a gentle shower and lovely.
Carry on up the path and where it is about to head upwards on the left side of the burn, take a right hand turn along a wooden walkway and you will arrive at the main drop.
If you fancy a hike, the Big Burn walk can be done as part of a loop that includers Ben Bhraggie – start steep by going up to the monument first and then head down and pick up the start of the Big Burn walk. Don’t forget to stop at Capaldi’s for ice cream on the way down the high street. Don’t forget that you can find good walk instructions on the Walk Highlands website.
Now head south a bit, but stay on the east coast and go onto the Black Isle near Fortrose for the Fairy Glen walk. There is a small car park off the A832 – it can be busy so suggest you go early.
There’s a lovely trail with a couple of falls and a pond. Perhaps combine this with a visit to nearby Chanonry Point where, if you get your tide times right, you may see dolphins from the shore.
Further south now, we go to Rogie Falls. In the summer, this is another place where you might see salmon leaping. It’s unbelievable how they make it up these falls as it quite a decent height as there can be torrents of water. There is a car park well sign posted off the A835 and then a fairly short walk to the waterfalls.
There’s quite a few vantage points on the trail to the river, and there’s a really cool suspension bridge high over the river with amazing views back to the falls.
A bit further south and closer to Inverness and by Cannich are Plodda Falls. There is a bit of a dirt road leading to a car park, but there is plenty of space there. The falls are at junction of 3 rivers – 2 flowing into 1. There is a fabulous viewing platform over the main drop.
Be careful especially when the rivers are in spate as it can be slippery in places.
To finish, we are going back west to the UK’s highest waterfall. Eas a Chual Aluinn waterfall, at nearly 200m is pretty spectacular. These falls are in the Assynt hills and it is a day hike to get to them. However, there is another way! The boat trip from Kylesku is brilliant and goes right across Loch Gleann Dubh where you will finally get a good view of the waterfall. You’ll also see plenty of wildlife and hear about the geology of the area during the boat trip.
It’s worth noting that the Walk Highlands website gives great direction on how to find most of these.
Find out more about Ceol Mor Highland Lodges.
When it comes to seeing waterfalls, you’re really spoilt for choice in the Scottish Highlands. Thanks to Alan for his selection of the best waterfalls and the beautiful photos. We can highly recommend the boat trip from Kylesku. Which is your favourite waterfall in Scotland? Do you agree with Alan’s selection? Alan has also written a blog post for us on things to do in Sutherland.
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