Fairy Loup

Fairy Loup is a waterfall on Byre Burn, a small tributary of the River Esk in Dumfries and Galloway. The name comes from a local story about a fairy who jumped across the burn. The site appears in poems by Hugh MacDiarmid, who grew up nearby. A circular walk of about 14.5 kilometres links Canonbie and Rowanburn with the waterfall. The area has suffered from fly-tipping in the past. The waterfall is part of a wider tradition of naming streams after fairies in this region. Hugh MacDiarmid’s work helped make Fairy Loup known beyond its valley. The loop trail offers a way to reach the falls without needing special equipment. The burn itself is modest, but the folklore gives the place extra colour. Visitors can follow the same route described in local histories. At the waterfall the burn drops over a low rocky ledge into a deep pool. The surrounding woodland is quiet, with few other people on the path. The loop trail passes through open farmland as well as forest. From the top of the falls the burn can be seen winding away towards the Esk. The whole walk shows how small streams shape the landscape here.