Eas nan Long

Eas nan Long is a waterfall in the western Highlands where the land drops steeply toward the coast. The wet climate keeps the rivers full, so falls like this one run strongly for much of the year. Most of Scotland’s waterfalls stand in the Highlands because the mountains and glens force water down sheer rock faces. The name uses the Gaelic word ‘eas’, which simply means waterfall and is the common term in this part of the country. Other parts of Scotland use words like ‘linn’ or ‘spout’, but here the language is clearly Gaelic. The falls are counted among Scotland’s highest single-drop waterfalls, though measuring them can be tricky. Some falls claim the top spot by adding together several smaller drops, but Eas nan Long is measured by its tallest single plunge. The Highland landscape produces many such falls as rivers like the River Affric carve deep glens through hard rock. Visitors who follow the paths along these glens soon realise why the west coast has so many dramatic cascades. A visit brings you to a deep plunge pool below the fall, where the water roars and the spray rises in the wind. The surrounding hills are covered in heather and bog, typical of the wet western Highlands. A short walk from the nearest road leads to viewpoints where the full height of the drop can be seen. The sound of the water fills the glen, and the air carries the scent of damp earth and pine. On a calm day the mist from the fall hangs above the pool like a veil.