Eas an Fhamhair

Eas an Fhamhair is a waterfall in Argyll and Bute, on Scotland’s west coast. It lies in a steep Highland glen where the land drops sharply to the sea. The falls form where a river plunges over a rocky lip into a deep pool below. Rainfall here is high, so the water runs fast and full for much of the year. Many Highland rivers carve such cascades as they cut through hard rock layers. The name Eas an Fhamhair comes from Gaelic and means ‘waterfall of the giant’. It is one of the highest single-drop falls in Scotland, though measuring waterfalls can be tricky. Some lists count only the tallest drop, while others add smaller steps together. The Highland landscape produces countless falls like this because the hills are steep and the streams are strong. Visitors reach the falls by a rough path that follows the glen upstream. The final approach is over wet rocks and tree roots, so care is needed. At the brink the river thunders down a dark cleft into a deep pool below. The roar of water fills the narrow valley, and spray rises in the damp air. From the pool a path climbs the far side, giving views back across the cascade. The surrounding hills are covered in heather and pine, adding to the wild feel of the place.