Best Waterfalls Near Dundee
Written by UK Hidden Gems Editorial
Updated 5 August 2026
The best waterfalls near Dundee are Reekie Linn Waterfall, Falls of Drumly Harry, Glen Vale Waterfalls, Black Linn Falls, Falls of the Braan, Falls of Damff, Falls of Unich and Cauldron Linn.
Dundee has no waterfalls in the city itself, but a short drive into the surrounding glens opens up a fine spread of them, sorted neatly by direction. To the north, in the hills of Angus, the River Isla plunges into its gorge at Reekie Linn, while the obscure Falls of Drumly Harry hide in Glen Ogil above Forfar.
Deeper north, up Glen Esk, the walk-in Falls of Unich and Falls of Damff wait out in wild Cairngorm country. Head west toward Dunkeld in Perthshire for the woodland drama of Black Linn Falls and the Falls of the Braan at The Hermitage.
Turn southwest instead and you find gentler ground: the Glen Vale Waterfalls in the Lomond Hills of Fife, and Cauldron Linn on the River Devon near Rumbling Bridge. Some are easy strolls to a viewpoint, others long tramps over boggy hill, so match your choice to the day and check the forecast before you drive out.
Here are eight waterfalls to seek out near Dundee.
Reekie Linn Waterfall
Photo: Maigheach-gheal via Geograph.org.uk
Reekie Linn Waterfall North of Dundee, up on the border of Angus and Perthshire near Alyth, the River Isla plunges into a deep, wooded gorge at Reekie Linn. Two falls drop one below the other into a dark pool, merging into a single powerful cascade in spate, when the spray thrown up gives the falls their name, from the Scots for smoky pool.
A short walk from the car park by the Bridge of Craigisla leads to viewpoints along the gorge. At the base is a cave known as the Black Dub, tied to an old outlaw legend.
It is one of the more dramatic falls within easy reach of the city.
Falls of Drumly Harry
Photo: Elliott Simpson via Geograph.org.uk
Falls of Drumly Harry Also to the north, in the hills above Forfar, the Falls of Drumly Harry lie on the Noran Water in Glen Ogil in Angus. The burn drops through quiet, out-of-the-way country near the hamlet of Auchnacree, and this is a genuinely obscure fall, marked on the maps but rarely visited and little written about.
There is not much recorded of it beyond its name and rough position, which is exactly why it appeals to those who like tracking down a hidden spot. Do not expect signs or facilities; come prepared to find it for yourself.
For walkers happy with that, it is a rewarding corner of Angus well off the usual routes.
Glen Vale Waterfalls
Photo: James Allan via Geograph.org.uk
Glen Vale Waterfalls Turn southwest instead, into the Lomond Hills of Fife, and you reach the Glen Vale Waterfalls. This is a quiet valley whose burn drops over rock in a small fall near the head of the glen.
Above the water stands John Knox's Pulpit, an eroded sandstone overhang that forms a natural amphitheatre, once used by Covenanters for outlawed open-air worship. You walk the glen on a path through open hill country, and it is a modest, out-of-the-way spot rather than a set of great falls.
Come for the history and the peace of the hills as much as the water itself.
Black Linn Falls
Photo: Mike Pennington via Geograph.org.uk
Black Linn Falls West of Dundee now, in the woods near Dunkeld in Perthshire, Black Linn Falls sees the River Braan crash over a rock lip into a deep, churning pool. The scene is framed by tall trees and crossed by an old arched bridge, and it is best viewed from Ossian's Hall, a little stone folly perched right above the water.
Built for the Dukes of Atholl in the eighteenth century, the hall was fitted inside with mirrors to reflect the tumbling falls. In autumn salmon leap the drop on their way upstream to spawn.
The surrounding woodland is a designed landscape of walks and glades, home to some of the tallest Douglas firs in Britain.
Falls of the Braan
Photo: Gwen and James Anderson via Geograph.org.uk
Falls of the Braan Right alongside, at the same stretch of The Hermitage near Dunkeld, the Falls of the Braan are where the River Braan drops into a run of deep pools. They too are viewed from Ossian's Hall, the folly built for the Dukes of Atholl in the 1750s, its windows and mirrors arranged to surprise visitors with the sudden roar and rush of the water.
Salmon leap the falls in autumn, as they do at the neighbouring Black Linn. The surrounding woods hold some of the tallest Douglas firs in Britain, and the whole site is looked after by the National Trust for Scotland.
Falls of Damff
Photo: Karl and Ali via Geograph.org.uk
Falls of Damff Back north, deep in the hills of Glen Esk in Angus, the Falls of Damff are a genuinely remote waterfall reached only by a long, rough walk from Loch Lee, upstream beyond the larger Falls of Unich. The water drops through wild upland country within the Cairngorms National Park, with a footbridge near the falls.
Getting there is a proper hillwalk over boggy ground, far from any road, so it suits fit and well-equipped walkers rather than casual visitors. Little is recorded of the fall beyond its remote setting, which is part of the draw for those who like their waterfalls hard-won.
Choose settled weather and carry a map for the walk in.
Falls of Unich
Photo: Scott Cormie via Geograph.org.uk
Falls of Unich On the way to Damff, and worth the walk in its own right, the Falls of Unich sit on the Water of Unich in Glen Lee, above Loch Lee in Glen Esk. They are reached only on foot, by a walk along the loch from Invermark and then up past a footbridge into a rocky gorge, where the water foams through a channel in the rock.
Unlike some hill falls, this one makes a fine sight even in dry weather, so it does not depend on recent rain. The path on beyond leads to the Falls of Damff and the wild hills above, letting you pair the two in a single day out from Dundee.
Cauldron Linn
Photo: William Starkey via Geograph.org.uk
Cauldron Linn Last, back southwest toward the Devon valley, Cauldron Linn is a waterfall on the River Devon, about a mile below Rumbling Bridge and reached across fields near Powmill. Here the river drops in two steps through a narrow rocky canyon, having worn smooth, round basins and potholes into the ledges over time.
The way down to the water is steep and slippery over rough ground, so take care on the descent. Like many of these falls it carries most water after heavy rain and thins in dry weather, so time your visit for after a wet spell.
It rounds off the set as a dramatic little gorge south of Dundee.
FAQs
Which waterfall is closest to Dundee?
Reekie Linn is the nearest of this group, about twenty-eight kilometres north on the border of Angus and Perthshire near Alyth. The River Isla plunges into a wooded gorge there, and a short walk from the Bridge of Craigisla reaches the viewpoints.
Are any of these falls an easy walk?
Yes. The Falls of the Braan and Black Linn Falls at The Hermitage near Dunkeld are reached on a short walk from the car park, viewed from the folly of Ossian's Hall. Both make an easy day trip west of Dundee.
Where can I see a remote hill waterfall near Dundee?
Head up Glen Esk in Angus, northwest of Dundee, where the Falls of Unich and Falls of Damff lie deep in the Cairngorms National Park. Both are reached only on foot by a long walk in from Loch Lee.
Conclusion
None of these eight falls sits within the city, but each is a good reason to head out into the glens that surround Dundee. For an easy day, Reekie Linn and the Hermitage falls near Dunkeld give plenty of drama for a short walk, and the Glen Vale Waterfalls in Fife add a dose of history at John Knox's Pulpit.
If you would rather earn your reward, the long walk up Glen Esk to the Falls of Unich and Falls of Damff will take you deep into wild Cairngorm country. Whichever you choose, wear boots that cope with wet rock, keep an eye on the forecast, and leave time for the drive back through the hills.
From roadside gorges to remote upland cascades, these are the waterfalls to seek out near Dundee.
