Eas na Glutachan

Eas na Glutachan stands among the steep hills of the western Highlands where the land rises sharply from the sea. The river here drops over a series of rock ledges into a deep plunge pool below. Highland rivers often carry large volumes of water after rain, so the fall is at its most impressive then. The name comes from the Gaelic word ‘eas’, which simply means waterfall, and ‘na Glutachan’, the local place-name. The Highlands contain more than 150 named waterfalls, and Eas na Glutachan is one of the tallest single-drop falls in the region. Its Gaelic name avoids the confusion found with terms like ‘linn’ or ‘spout’, which can mean either a fall or a stretch of still water. Visitors hear the roar of water long before they reach the viewpoint. A narrow path leads through birch and oak woodland to a clearing above the fall. From here the full height of the drop can be seen, with water tumbling over grey schist ledges into the dark pool below. On sunny days spray catches the light, and in winter ice forms delicate patterns along the rocks. The air carries the scent of wet earth and pine, while the sound of the fall fills the glen.