The Falls of Glomach is one of the highest and most beautiful waterfalls in Britain. But, you’ve some work to put in to reach it. Beginning from the small village of Morvich on the banks of Loch Duich in the Scottish Highlands, this wild and remote 20km walk to the Falls of Glomach is one of pure adventure, experiencing the best of Scotland outdoors.
In this guide, we’ll tell you a little about the Falls of Glomach, where they are and how to get there. We’ll describe the trail from Morvich, as well as suggest some great accommodation options in this part of Scotland. Lastly, we’ll go through a suggested gear list and cover a few bonus tips for the walk to the Falls of Glomach.
Read 12 Best Things to Do in the West Highlands of Scotland
Table of Contents
About the Falls of Glomach
The Falls of Glomach is an outstanding waterfall nestled in the wild and beguiling Scottish Highlands. The waterfall drops some 113m into the valley below, making it one of the tallest waterfalls in Scotland, if not the whole of Britain.
Reaching the Falls of Glomach, though, is not so straightforward. Admiring the sheer beauty of this waterfall requires a long 20km hike to reach. But boy it’s worth it. You’ll also find a surprising amount of elevation gain as you cut through the splendid countryside. Well, the 780m elevation certainly feels surprising since this isn’t a usual mountain trail of the Highlands.
The Falls of Glomach is managed by the National Trust For Scotland. If you’d like any additional information before you hike to the waterfall, you can contact them by email at kintail@nts.org.uk or telephone 01599 511231.
Where Are the Falls of Glomach?
The Falls of Glomach is located in the Ross-shire county of Scotland. The walk to reach the Falls of Glomach begins from the small village of Morvich, part of the Kintail area of the Highlands. Kintail has been awarded National Scenic Area status in Scotland. It’s one of 40 such areas which also include Assynt, Ben Nevis, Kyle of Tongue and Loch Lomond.
How to Get to the Falls of Glomach
To walk to the Falls of Glomach, you’ll need to head to Morvich in Scotland. Morvich is located along the A87 road and is accessible from either direction. The nearest big city to Morvich is Scotland’s Inverness. From Inverness, it’s a 2-hour drive that’s 70 miles (112km) away. If driving up from Fort William, you’ll be looking at a quicker 1.5-hour drive covering 61 miles (98km).
There is no public transport to Morvich. Instead, if you’re choosing to travel without your own vehicle, you can take a bus to Allt a’Chruinn. From here, you’ll have a roughly 2km walk to get to Morvich – the Falls of Glomach trailhead. You can check the bus timetable and route options here.
Of course, if you don’t have access to your own vehicle, then we recommend hiring something.
Car Hire
If you don’t have your own car, you should hire one using Discover Cars. Personally, we use Discover Cars and highly recommend them for finding your ideal car hire at an affordable price. Booking online is super easy and the free cancellation policy is great.
To find out more about renting a car with Discover Cars, read our Discover Cars review and Discover Cars Insurance review.
Where to Park For the Falls of Glomach?
Parking for the Falls of Glomach can be found opposite the Morvich Caravan & Motorhome Club Site. Across from the site is the Kintail Mountain Rescue building, and a few parking spaces are found alongside it. Alternatively, you could camp at the Morvich Caravan Club Site, which means you can park there for free. That’s exactly what Dan and I did.
Falls of Glomach Map & Preview
- Trail Type: Out & Back
- Distance: 19km
- Time: 5–7 hours
- Accumulated elevation gain: 780m
- Difficulty: Easy
- Trailhead: Parking opposite the entrance to Morvich Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite
- Map: Wikiloc
Falls of Glomach Walk
The walk to the Falls of Glomach is one of the quietest and most picturesque trails we covered during this trip to the Scottish Highlands. In fact, we actually passed just one other couple (and their dogs) on the return leg. Given the Falls of Glomach is truly spectacular, and it was the middle of summer, we were surprised not to see more hikers. But, perhaps it’s not more popular because hikers disregard a trail without a Munro to bag?! Or, maybe we just got lucky. Either way, expect a peaceful and quiet trail all year round!
Overall, the multi-tiered 113m waterfall is easily one of the best in the UK. And, despite not being a mountain trail, the hike still provides some of the best landscapes in the West Highlands. Certainly, for something other than a mountain trail in the West Highlands, the Falls of Glomach hike is a perfect choice!
Trailhead at the Morvich Caravan Club Site
From the Morvich Caravan Club Site, the trail heads east, along the road by the side of the River Croe. After passing the Kintail Outdoor Centre at around the 1km mark, the road ends. From here, a trail to the right is joined and you’ll immediately cross over a small footbridge. The trail follows a path to the left of farm buildings before taking a smaller track heading right and behind the farm. Look out for signposts signalling the way.
The walk to the Falls of Glomach follows along the Abhainn Chonaig stream before crossing another footbridge and entering the Dorusduain Wood.
Dorusduain Wood
The trail climbs as you ascend through Dorusduain Wood. You’ll enter some lush and picturesque hillsides in this remote part of the Highlands. The path leading to the Falls of Glomach is clear and easy to follow as it cuts along the edge of the hillside.
Eventually, you’ll reach a crest on the trail. This is Bealach na Sroine, which is the highest point of the walk to the Falls of Glomach. From here, the walk begins to descend a little toward the top of the Falls of Glomach. Keep your eyes peeled for little frogs in the grass, who seem to enjoy this rather moist landscape.
The Falls of Glomach
Soon enough, you’ll see the little wooden sign marking your arrival at the Falls of Glomach in Scotland. A walk further northwards brings you to the top of the falls. Here, you’ll see Allt a’Ghlomaich River flowing down to create an incredible waterfall. This initial drop is quite spectacular. But, to really appreciate the magnitude of this waterfall requires a little further exploration.
From the top of the Falls of Glomach, you can follow the narrow trail that begins to descend into the gorge. The path is sketchy, so please take care. Don’t walk beyond the natural stone balcony that provides the best views of the waterfall. From here, the Falls of Glomach is seen in all its glory, cascading in force to Glen Elchaig below.
After enjoying the Falls of Glomach, easily one of the best waterfalls in Scotland, simply retrace your steps back to the Morvich Caravan Club Site, remembering to take great care as you climb back out of the gorge.
Morvich Accommodation
As the walk to the Falls of Glomach is so long, it’s a great idea to book accommodation in and around Morvich, Scotland. Unfortunately, the only accommodation option in Morvich itself is the previously mentioned Morvich Caravan and Motorhome Club Site. Dan and I had a great stay at this spacious, quiet and welcoming campsite.
But, if you don’t love camping, then below we’ll take a look at the best budget, mid-range and luxury hotel options close by.
- Budget – Ratagan Youth Hostel: this clean and tidy hostel enjoys some peaceful, not to mention, beautiful views across the loch and towards Skye. Ratagan Youth Hostel is a great place from which to enjoy some fantastic hikes around the Kintail area.
- Mid-range – Kintail Lodge Hotel: located on the Kyle of Lochalsh, the Kintail Lodge Hotel is a dog-friendly lodge offering guests a comfortable stay in a fantastic location.
- Luxury – Tighur: this exceptional holiday house features a garden and lake view. Tighur sleeps six, so you can split the bill with your hiking buddies and rest after the Falls of Glomach walk in complete comfort.
Glen Affric Youth Hostel
For a truly unique stay in Kintail and close to the Falls of Glomach, you might consider the Glen Affric Youth Hostel. This remote bothy is a 4-hour walk to reach and gives guests an opportunity to really disconnect for a night. Remember to bring all your supplies with you though. You can find the location here.
Note: You cannot walk to the Falls of Glomach from this bothy.
Wild Camping
As with most of Scotland, wild camping is permitted in unenclosed areas. However, campers need to follow a standard set of guidelines. These include respecting the countryside and staying safe. Read here for more information on wild camping in Scotland.
Camping Gear
Walks in Morvich, Scotland
Other excellent hiking trails in Morvich include the hike to the Five Sisters of Kintail, Beinn Fhada and Sgùrr Gaorsaic. You can also find the Affric–Kintail Way, which is a 44-mile long-distance route between Drumnadrochit and Morvich.
Other Waterfalls in Scotland
Of course, Scotland isn’t short of epic waterfalls. Below, we’ll take a look at some of the best that you could factor into your trip to the Highlands.
- Steall Falls: one of our favourite Scotland waterfalls can be reached as an out and back or as part of the incredible Ring of Steall hike.
- Falls Of Falloch: a beautiful cascade in Stirling which can be viewed along the West Highland Way multi-day hike.
- Falls of Clyde: comprised of four waterfalls, the Falls of Clyde is a very popular attraction in New Lanark close to Edinburgh.
- Falls of Foyers: the Falls of Foyers is a very pretty 50m cascade that drops into Loch Ness.
- Plodda Falls: as one of the most visited waterfalls in Scotland, you can find a great viewing platform at the top of Plodda Falls from where you can really appreciate this fantastic 46m high waterfall.
- Falls of Shin: located on the River Shin in northern Scotland, the Falls of Shin has a fantastic salmon viewing platform, much like the one at Rogie Falls.
- Falls of Measach: tucked in the exquisite Corrieshalloch Gorge, you can view the Falls of Measach from a rather cool suspension bridge.
- Falls of Dochart: located close to the village of Killin, you could combine these pretty cascades with a hike to Tarmachan Ridge. Which, of course, is exactly what we did.
Five Hiking Essentials
These are our five hiking gear essentials for the Falls of Glomach walk in Morvich! You should also pack lunch, water, snacks and sunscreen.
Osprey Skarab 30
The Osprey Skarab 30 is our go-to hiking backpack for day hikes. This well-designed unisex backpack is comfortable and spacious, so you’ll have plenty of space to pack everything without feeling the strain on your upper back.
Osprey Ultralight Raincover
A waterproof backpack cover is an absolute must when you’re adventuring outdoors. The Osprey Ultralight Raincover Medium is a high-quality waterproof cover that’ll keep your backpack bone dry.
GRAYL Reusable Water Bottle
The GRAYL GeoPress is the best water filter bottle that allows you to purify 710mL (12 ounces) of water. This bottle will make water safe to drink wherever you’re hiking.
BUFF Original Ecostretch
The BUFF Original Ecostretch is a great option when it comes to multifunctional headwear. We use the Ecostretch as a neck gaiter to keep the sun off our necks and it helps us keep warm in cooler climates.
Sony Cybershot RX100 VII
Capture epic photos and videos with the Sony Cybershot RX100 VII. This is hands-down the best compact camera. We love using this simple point-and-shoot camera when we’re hiking as it’s lightweight and durable.
To find out more about all of the gear that we use and recommend, read our guides about our favourite hiking gear, travel gear and camera gear. Otherwise, read our comprehensive travel packing checklist.
Bonus Tips
- Eilean Donan Castle: one of the most famous castles and most photographed in Scotland is very close to Morvich. Be sure to call in.
- Midge alert: Scottish summer also means midge season. Although we encountered far fewer of these pesky Scottish midges than we had around Loch Lomond, it’s still good to be prepared. You could consider a Smidge net (best purchase ever!) and check the Midge Watch (yes, that’s a thing) for daily updates on the numbers out and about.
- Full-day fun: for some guided tours of the incredible area surrounding Morvich, and heading across the Kyle of Lochalsh to the Isle of Skye, check out some of these trips on Get Your Guide.
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