Eas Dubh a' Ghlinne Ghairbh

Eas Dubh a’ Ghlinne Ghairbh is a waterfall in the western Highlands where the land drops steeply toward the coast. The river here falls in a single dark leap, and the name in Gaelic means ‘black fall of the rough glen’. It sits among high hills that catch heavy rain, feeding many burns and linns nearby. The falls are part of a landscape shaped by ice and water over centuries. Like other Highland waterfalls, it is reached by rough paths that follow old stalkers’ routes. The area shows how the west coast’s wet climate carves the mountains. The falls are counted among Scotland’s highest single-drop waterfalls, though records vary. Their exact height is hard to fix because mist and wind blur the drop when seen from below. Maps mark the site but give no precise figure, reflecting the difficulty of measuring such places. The name ‘Eas Dubh’ shows how Gaelic terms dominate Highland waterfall names. Nearby burns carry the same naming pattern, using ‘eas’ for falls and ‘linn’ for pools or stretches. The falls are one of many in the region formed where hard rock layers meet softer ones. Visitors find a narrow gorge below the fall where the water boils in a dark pool. The path ends at a viewpoint where spray dampens the rocks and the sound fills the glen. Above, the burn rushes over ledges before plunging into the abyss. The surrounding hills rise steeply, covered in heather and grass with few trees. On wet days the falls swell and roar, while in drier spells only a thin thread remains. The place feels remote, reached only after a long walk through open moorland.