Grey Mare's Tail

Grey Mare’s Tail is a dramatic waterfall in Dumfries and Galloway, southern Scotland. It plunges 60 metres over a granite cliff into a deep pool below. The falls sit at the edge of the Galloway Forest Park, where hills rise above moorland and conifer woods. A single-track road leads to a small car park near the foot of the falls. Visitors follow a well-marked path along the tail of the loch that feeds the waterfall. The site is quiet, with only the sound of water and wind in the trees. The falls are the second highest in Scotland, measured by their single drop. Their name comes from an old local tale about a grey mare leaping from the cliff. The Gaelic word ‘eas’ for waterfall appears in many Highland names, but here the term ‘tail’ refers to the narrow loch above the fall. The surrounding landscape is shaped by ice-age glaciers that carved the valley. Rainfall from the hills keeps the water high all year round. A short walk from the car park brings visitors to the base of the falls. A viewing platform gives a clear view of the full drop and the plunge pool. The path continues upstream, passing through birch and oak woodland. On a clear day, the view stretches across the moor to the Merrick, the highest hill in the range. The site is recognised for its geology and wildlife, including rare plants on the damp cliffs.