Top Waterfalls Day Trips from Aberdeen
Written by UK Hidden Gems Editorial
Updated 5 August 2026
The top Waterfalls Day Trips from Aberdeen include Crawton Waterfall, Dess Waterfall, Burn O'Vat, Linn of Tanar, Falls of Unich, Falls of Damff, Linn of Muick and Falls of Drumly Harry.
Aberdeen makes a fine base for chasing waterfalls, with the sea on one side and a sweep of hills and glens on the other. Head a short way down the coast toward Stonehaven and you reach Crawton, where a burn pours over the cliffs by a deserted fishing village.
Turn inland instead and the road runs west along Deeside, past the wooded Dess Waterfall, the strange rock cauldron of the Burn O'Vat, the Caledonian pines around the Linn of Tanar, and the roadside Linn of Muick above Ballater. Further south, the Angus glens hide some of the wildest falls of all.
In Glen Esk, the Falls of Unich and the more remote Falls of Damff reward a long walk into the hills, while over near Forfar the obscure Falls of Drumly Harry drop quietly in Glen Ogil. Some are easy strolls, others a full day's hillwalking, but each rewards the drive.
Here are eight waterfalls for a day trip from Aberdeen.
Crawton Waterfall
Photo: Hugh Venables via Geograph.org.uk
Crawton Waterfall Just south of Stonehaven, this burn pours straight over the sea cliffs of the Aberdeenshire coast, dropping toward the shore below. It stands beside the deserted fishing village of Crawton, abandoned back in the 1920s, whose ruined cottages still line the clifftop.
During the breeding season, seabirds crowd the nearby Fowlsheugh cliffs in their thousands, so bring binoculars. The fall shows at its best from the water, and boat trips running out of Stonehaven give the finest view.
It makes a rugged, atmospheric introduction to the coast, well within easy reach of the city for a morning's outing.
Dess Waterfall
Photo: Stanley Howe via Geograph.org.uk
Dess Waterfall Head out onto Deeside, a couple of miles west of Kincardine O'Neil, and you will find this small fall on the Dess Burn tucked into an enclosed, rocky, wooded hollow. It is valued for its surroundings far more than its size, a green and secluded corner rather than a thundering cataract.
A tiny layby marks the spot, and a short, unsigned path with a flight of steps drops down to the foot of the fall. Quiet and easily missed, it stays open at any time, making a gentle stop on a wider tour of the valley from Aberdeen.
Burn O'Vat
Photo: Alan Findlay via Geograph.org.uk
Burn O'Vat Hidden in the woods at Muir of Dinnet, the Vat is a huge rounded rock cauldron scooped out by swirling meltwaters at the close of the last ice age. This giant pothole measures some eighteen metres across, with near-vertical walls and a burn running through it.
To get inside, you scramble over boulders and squeeze through a narrow slot, then suddenly stand in a vast chamber open to the sky, a small waterfall spilling in at the head. It sits within a reserve of birch woods, lochs and heath, a short walk from the visitor centre.
Legend says an outlaw once hid here.
Linn of Tanar
Photo: Mike Duguid via Geograph.org.uk
Linn of Tanar Well up Glen Tanar, the Water of Tanar narrows over rock to form this linn, a run of pools set among old Scots pines mixed with birch and alder. It lies within a national nature reserve that holds one of Scotland's largest surviving stands of Caledonian pine, so the walk in is a treat in itself.
Good estate tracks and riverside paths lead to it from the visitor area near the Bridge of Ess, all on gentle ground. Keep an eye out for red squirrels and crested tits in the surrounding woods.
It stays quiet and little visited, a peaceful outing from Aberdeen.
Falls of Unich
Photo: Scott Cormie via Geograph.org.uk
Falls of Unich Down in the Angus glens, the Water of Unich foams through a rocky gorge above Loch Lee in Glen Esk. Reaching it takes some effort, since you can come only on foot, walking the length of the loch from Invermark and then climbing up past a footbridge into the gorge itself.
The water forces through a channel in the rock, a fine sight even during dry weather when other falls have shrunk to nothing. The path carries on beyond toward the Falls of Damff and the wild hills above.
It is a proper hill outing, a full day out from Aberdeen into Glen Esk.
Falls of Damff
Photo: Karl and Ali via Geograph.org.uk
Falls of Damff For the truly determined, the Falls of Damff lie deeper still into the hills of Glen Esk, upstream beyond the larger Falls of Unich. This is a long, rough walk from Loch Lee over boggy ground, far from any road, so come prepared and pick a settled day.
The water drops through wild upland country within the Cairngorms National Park, with a footbridge near the falls themselves. Little is recorded of the place beyond its remote setting, which is rather the point.
Reaching it rewards you with real solitude, a demanding but memorable full day out from Aberdeen for keen walkers.
Linn of Muick
Photo: Alan Findlay via Geograph.org.uk
Linn of Muick About five miles south of Ballater, the minor road up Glen Muick passes close to this fall on the River Muick. The river drains the high White Mounth plateau above, so the water runs hardest after rain or snowmelt and can be quieter in dry spells.
The linn sits just below the road, though trees often screen it, and it is usually more heard than seen as you pass. Reaching the bank means a short descent through pathless woodland and grass.
There is no path, bridge or viewing platform here, just an undeveloped spot deep in the hills of upper Deeside, well worth seeking out.
Falls of Drumly Harry
Photo: Elliott Simpson via Geograph.org.uk
Falls of Drumly Harry Finishing in the hills north of Forfar, the Falls of Drumly Harry drop on the Noran Water in Glen Ogil, near the hamlet of Auchnacree. This is genuinely obscure country, quiet and out of the way, and the fall is marked on the maps yet rarely visited.
Little has been written about it, and little is recorded beyond its name and rough position, which lends it a real air of discovery. For anyone who enjoys tracking down the overlooked corners of Angus, it makes an intriguing target and a peaceful full day out from Aberdeen, well off the usual tourist trail.
FAQs
Which waterfall near Aberdeen is easiest to reach?
The Burn O'Vat, in the Muir of Dinnet reserve on Deeside, is among the easiest. A short walk from the visitor centre leads you to the rock cauldron, and Dess Waterfall nearby also needs only a brief path down from the road.
How far are the Angus glen waterfalls from the city?
The Falls of Unich and Falls of Damff in Glen Esk lie around sixty kilometres from Aberdeen, plus a long walk in from Loch Lee, so treat them as a full day out rather than a quick stop.
Can you see Crawton Waterfall without a boat?
You can view Crawton from the clifftop by the deserted village south of Stonehaven, but it shows at its best from the sea. Boat trips running out of Stonehaven give the finest view of the fall.
Conclusion
From the sea cliffs at Crawton to the hidden gorges of the Angus glens, Aberdeen sits within reach of a sizeable spread of waterfalls. Some, like Dess Waterfall and the Burn O'Vat, ask only a short stroll from the car, ideal for an easy afternoon.
Others, such as the Falls of Unich and the Falls of Damff, demand a proper day on the hills and a careful eye on the weather. Whether you fancy a gentle riverside walk on Deeside or a lonely tramp into upper Glen Esk, there is something here for every mood and every level of fitness.
Pack sturdy boots, check the forecast, and take your time exploring. From coast to high moor, these are the waterfalls for a day trip from Aberdeen.
