Top Waterfalls Day Trips from Dundee
Written by UK Hidden Gems Editorial
Updated 5 August 2026
The top Waterfalls Day Trips from Dundee include 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 makes a handy base for a waterfall hunt, with the Angus glens, Perthshire woods and the hills of Fife all within reach for the day. Head north and you soon reach Reekie Linn, where the River Isla thunders into a gorge above Alyth, and the little-known Falls of Drumly Harry tucked away in Glen Ogil above Forfar.
Push further north into wild Glen Esk for the remote Falls of Unich and Falls of Damff, a pair that rewards a proper hillwalk. Northwest lies Dunkeld, where the River Braan tumbles through the Hermitage woods at Black Linn Falls and the Falls of the Braan, both watched over by an elegant old folly.
Cross the Tay to the south and the Lomond Hills of Fife hold the quiet cascade of Glen Vale, while a run southwest brings you to Cauldron Linn on the River Devon. Some are easy strolls and others long walks over boggy ground, so pick to suit your day and your boots.
Here are eight waterfalls for a day trip from Dundee.
Reekie Linn Waterfall
Photo: Maigheach-gheal via Geograph.org.uk
Reekie Linn Waterfall North of Dundee, on the border of Angus and Perthshire above Alyth, Reekie Linn is a waterfall where the River Isla drops into a deep, wooded gorge near the Bridge of Craigisla. Two falls plunge 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 a car park by the bridge leads to viewpoints along the gorge. At the base lies a cave known as the Black Dub, tied to an old outlaw legend, which adds a touch of story to a striking spot.
Falls of Drumly Harry
Photo: Elliott Simpson via Geograph.org.uk
Falls of Drumly Harry A drive north of Dundee into the hills above Forfar brings you to the Falls of Drumly Harry, a little-known waterfall on the Noran Water in Glen Ogil. 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 barely written about.
Little is recorded of it beyond its name and rough position, so it appeals mostly to those who enjoy tracking down the overlooked corners of the Angus glens. Go with a map and low expectations of signposts, and you may have it entirely to yourself.
Glen Vale Waterfalls
Photo: James Allan via Geograph.org.uk
Glen Vale Waterfalls South of Dundee, across the Tay in the Lomond Hills of Fife, Glen Vale is a quiet valley whose burn drops over rock in a small waterfall 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 their outlawed open-air worship.
You reach the glen on a path through open hill country. This is a modest, out-of-the-way spot rather than a set of great falls, but the history and the walk make it well worth the trip.
Black Linn Falls
Photo: Mike Pennington via Geograph.org.uk
Black Linn Falls Northwest of Dundee, in the woods near Dunkeld in Perthshire, Black Linn Falls sits on the River Braan at the Hermitage. The river gathers and then crashes over a rock lip into a deep, churning pool, framed by tall trees and crossed by an old arched bridge.
The falls are best seen from Ossian's Hall, a stone folly perched above them, built for the Dukes of Atholl in the eighteenth century and fitted inside with mirrors to reflect the tumbling water. In autumn salmon leap the falls on their way upstream to spawn.
The surrounding woodland is a designed landscape of walks and glades, holding some of the tallest Douglas fir trees in Britain.
Falls of the Braan
Photo: Gwen and James Anderson via Geograph.org.uk
Falls of the Braan Just along the river from Black Linn, the Falls of the Braan are a set of falls where the River Braan drops into deep pools at The Hermitage, near Dunkeld in Perthshire. They are viewed from Ossian's Hall, a folly built for the Dukes of Atholl in the 1750s, its windows and mirrors set to surprise visitors with the sudden roar and rush of the water.
Salmon leap the falls in autumn on their way upstream. 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 Deep in the hills of Glen Esk in Angus, a proper day-trip drive and then a long walk north of Dundee, the Falls of Damff are a remote waterfall reached only on foot 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 means a hillwalk over boggy ground, far from any road, so it suits confident walkers who are properly equipped. Little is recorded of the fall beyond its wild and remote setting.
Falls of Unich
Photo: Scott Cormie via Geograph.org.uk
Falls of Unich Also in Glen Esk, the Falls of Unich lie on the Water of Unich in Glen Lee, above Loch Lee. You reach them only on foot, walking along the loch from Invermark and then up past a footbridge into a rocky gorge, where the water foams through a channel worn in the rock.
They make a fine sight even in dry weather, when many upland falls fade to a trickle. The path onward leads to the Falls of Damff and the wild hills beyond, so the two make a natural pairing for a big day out from Dundee.
Cauldron Linn
Photo: William Starkey via Geograph.org.uk
Cauldron Linn Southwest of Dundee, Cauldron Linn is a waterfall on the River Devon, about a mile below Rumbling Bridge and reached across fields near Powmill. 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 noticeably in dry weather, so time your visit for after a wet spell to see it at its best.
FAQs
Which waterfall is closest to Dundee?
Reekie Linn is the nearest of the eight, around twenty-eight kilometres north of Dundee near the Bridge of Craigisla, where the River Isla drops into a wooded gorge with viewpoints reached on a short walk.
Do any of these falls need a long walk?
Yes. The Falls of Unich and Falls of Damff in Glen Esk are reached only on foot over boggy upland ground within the Cairngorms National Park, so allow a full day out from Dundee and go well prepared.
When is the best time to see Cauldron Linn?
Cauldron Linn on the River Devon, southwest of Dundee near Powmill, runs fullest after heavy rain and thins in dry weather, so visit after a wet spell to catch it at its most powerful.
Conclusion
The country around Dundee serves up waterfalls of every kind, from the roaring drop of Reekie Linn to the hidden trickle of Drumly Harry in its lonely glen. Head into Perthshire for the woodland theatre of the Hermitage, where Black Linn Falls and the Falls of the Braan pour past an old mirrored folly, or strike north into Glen Esk for the wild Falls of Unich and Falls of Damff.
Closer to home, the Lomond Hills and the River Devon offer the gentler Glen Vale and Cauldron Linn. Some ask only for a short stroll from the car, while others reward a long walk over open hill, but each has its own character and setting.
Whatever pace you fancy, these are the waterfalls for a day trip from Dundee.
