Falls of Ness

The Falls of Ness lie where the River Ness tumbles over a rocky lip beside the B861 road in Perth and Kinross. The water descends in a single drop of about twenty metres into a deep pool below. The name ‘Ness’ comes from the Gaelic word ‘Inbhir Nis’, meaning mouth of the river. The falls sit just upstream of the loch that shares the same name. Visitors reach the viewpoint along a short path from the roadside car park. The falls are counted among Scotland’s notable waterfalls because of their clear single drop. Many Highland waterfalls use the Gaelic term ‘eas’, and this one follows that pattern. The surrounding landscape is typical of eastern Highland glens, with heather moorland rising behind the river. The falls are not the tallest in the country, yet they stand out for their straightforward drop and easy access. At the viewpoint a wooden fence runs along the edge for safety. Below, the plunge pool churns with white water after rain. The sound carries across the glen on quiet days. From the same spot the loch can be seen stretching away to the north-west. The falls are a quiet place, visited mostly by walkers taking the nearby footpath along the riverbank.