Falls of Glomach

The Falls of Glomach stand in the remote Highland wilderness near Kyle of Lochalsh, where the Abhainn Gaorsaic plunges 113 metres in a single drop. The name comes from the Scottish Gaelic word meaning ‘hazy’ or ‘gloomy’, fitting the misty atmosphere around the chasm. Though not the tallest in the UK, its dramatic height and wild setting make it one of the most impressive waterfalls in Britain. The falls lie on the northern edge of Kintail, a landscape donated to the National Trust for Scotland in 1944. West Affric was added to the estate in 1993, preserving miles of untouched glens and hills. Reaching the falls requires a long walk through empty country, with the usual route from Morvich climbing over the Bealach na Sroine pass. The round trip covers about 17.5 kilometres and takes five to six hours, rising nearly 800 metres along the way. Mobile signals fade quickly once the path leaves the glen, adding to the sense of isolation. In 1973 an eleven-year-old girl slipped 60 metres into the gorge below and was rescued after nine hours by forty members of the Kintail Mountain Rescue Team. Fifty years later she returned to donate £5,000 in gratitude for their effort. At the top the river drops into a deep gorge lined with steep rock walls. Below the falls the water is called the Allt a’ Ghlomaich, joining the River Elchaig further down. Visitors find no easy viewpoint for a full view of the cascade because of the height and rugged terrain. The whole area remains wild and quiet, with only the sound of water and wind breaking the silence. Those who make the journey remember the raw power of the falls and the vast empty spaces around them.