Ess of Glenlatterach

The Ess of Glenlatterach stands in Moray, where Scotland’s west-coast highlands send steep rivers tumbling down the mountains. It is a waterfall named with the Gaelic word ‘eas’, which is common in Highland place names. The landscape here is rugged and wet, with many falls formed by fast-flowing streams cutting through hard rock. The Ess of Glenlatterach is one of Scotland’s tallest single-drop waterfalls, though its exact height is debated. Lists of high falls often disagree because some measure the largest single plunge while others add smaller drops together. Highland falls are more common than elsewhere in Britain due to the steep terrain and heavy rainfall. Visitors find the Ess of Glenlatterach in a remote glen where the river narrows before the drop. The water roars over a sheer face into a deep plunge pool below. Around the fall, the hills are covered in heather and grass, and the air carries the sound of rushing water. Maps from the Ordnance Survey show the path to the site, though no marked trail leads right to the brink. The site is quiet, with few other visitors, making it a place to hear the wind and water without distraction.