The Stulan

The Stulan is a waterfall in Aberdeenshire, a county in north-east Scotland. It stands where a steep burn cuts through hard granite, creating a single drop of about 12 metres. The name comes from the Scots word ‘stul’, meaning a small stream or trickle. Rain and snowmelt feed the burn, swelling it after storms. The surrounding landscape is moorland and heather-covered hills, typical of eastern Scotland. The fall is not among the highest in the country but is one of the most accessible in its region. Waterfalls in Scotland are often measured by their tallest single drop, and The Stulan’s drop is recognised in local guides. The term ‘linn’ is used across southern and eastern Scotland for falls or plunge pools, adding to the naming confusion. Gaelic place names dominate the Highlands, but Scots words like ‘stul’ appear in the east. The burn’s granite bed means the waterfall is stable and does not shift with seasons. Visitors can reach it along a rough path from a nearby farm track. At the base of the fall, a deep plunge pool collects the water before it rushes on through heather and bog cotton. The granite cliffs around the fall are smooth and striated, showing how the ice age glaciers shaped the land. On sunny days, the spray catches the light and creates rainbows over the pool. The surrounding moorland is quiet, with only the sound of the water and the occasional call of a curlew. The Stulan offers a glimpse of wild Scotland without the crowds of the Highlands.