Spout of Auchentallach

The Spout of Auchentallach is a waterfall in Dumfries and Galloway, southern Scotland. It lies where a steep burn tumbles over a rocky lip into a deep plunge pool. The burn is fed by upland streams that gather on the slopes of the Galloway Hills. These hills rise to just over 800 metres, giving the water plenty of height to fall. The name ‘spout’ describes a straight, narrow fall rather than a wide cascade. Local maps show the burn as Auchentallach, which means ‘field of the burn’ in Gaelic. Waterfalls are common in Scotland because the land is rugged and rainfall is high. The west coast highlands, with their steep valleys, produce many falls. Scotland has more than 150 named waterfalls, though most are in the Highlands. The term ‘linn’ appears in southern and eastern Scotland for falls or pools, while ‘spout’ is used in many parts of the country. In Gaelic-speaking areas, ‘eas’ is the usual word for a waterfall. Visitors reach the Spout of Auchentallach by following a path from a small car park on a minor road. The route climbs gently through heather moorland before dropping into a wooded glen. The final metres are rough and slippery, so care is needed near the fall. From the viewing ledge, the water drops about twenty metres into a dark pool below. The sound of the fall echoes off the surrounding crags, and the spray keeps the rocks wet even in drier spells. The site is quiet, with few other walkers, making it a good place to hear the natural sounds of the hills.