Top Waterfalls Day Trips from Oban
Written by UK Hidden Gems Editorial
Updated 5 August 2026
The top Waterfalls Day Trips from Oban include Avich Falls, Coe River Waterfall, Eas Urchaidh, Easan Dubha, Eas Fors Waterfall, Falls Of Falloch, Eas nam Beatach and Steall Waterfall.
Oban sits at the heart of the western Highlands, with glens, lochs and islands fanning out in every direction, and waterfalls tucked into most of them. Head south into Argyll and the cascades of Avich Falls tumble through native oakwood near Loch Awe.
Drive east up Glen Orchy and you meet two beauties on the same river, Eas Urchaidh and the dark rapids of Easan Dubha, while a little further on, near Tyndrum, the hill burn of Eas nam Beatach falls below Beinn Dorain. Push north and the roadside cascade in Glen Coe frames the Three Sisters, or carry on to towering Steall in Glen Nevis, among the highest falls in Scotland.
Southeast, near Crianlarich, the Falls of Falloch drop into Rob Roy's Bathtub. And a ferry west to Mull brings you to Eas Fors, which pours over a sea cliff into the loch below.
Here are eight waterfalls for a day trip from Oban.
Avich Falls
Photo: Karl and Ali via Geograph.org.uk
Avich Falls On the short River Avich in Argyll, these cascades tumble down from Loch Avich toward the larger Loch Awe. The main fall breaks into three steps of white water across bare rock, with a pool below that tempts wild swimmers on warm days.
The falls sit in old oak woodland near Dalavich, reached by a waymarked trail that winds through the trees and along the river, crossing burns on footbridges. These are remnant native oakwoods, cleared of conifers and left to regrow, with primroses on the banks in spring and glimpses of Loch Awe through the trees.
It lies around twenty minutes' drive south of Oban.
Coe River Waterfall
Photo: Peter Bond via Geograph.org.uk
Coe River Waterfall Beside the road through Glen Coe, below the great ridge of the Three Sisters, this waterfall spills off the steep mountainside in a white cascade before joining the River Coe on the floor of the glen. It is one of the most photographed sights on the drive through Glen Coe, easily seen from a pull-in on the A82.
Steep, bare mountain walls rise on every side, giving the spot a wild, dramatic feel that is pure Highlands. About forty minutes' drive north of Oban into the glens, it makes a natural stop on any tour of this celebrated valley, needing no walk at all to enjoy.
Eas Urchaidh
Photo: Philip Halling via Geograph.org.uk
Eas Urchaidh Eas Urchaidh, the Falls of Orchy, sits on the River Orchy in Glen Orchy, along the single-track road that runs up the glen from Dalmally. Here the river pours over ledges of rock in a wooded gorge, a well-known spot on a river prized by whitewater kayakers for its fast, powerful currents.
A handy car park and picnic area sit right beside the falls, with old Caledonian pines clinging to the slopes above. Many rate it among the finest falls on the whole Orchy.
Roughly forty minutes' drive east of Oban into the Argyll glens, it is an easy and scenic place to break a Highland journey.
Easan Dubha
Photo: Peter Moore via Geograph.org.uk
Easan Dubha Easan Dubha, the black falls, is a run of falls and rapids on the River Orchy in Glen Orchy, deeper into the western Highlands. The river drops over ledges of dark rock along a wooded stretch beside the single-track road through the glen.
It is a well-known point on the whitewater run down the Orchy and a firm favourite with photographers, who come for the churning water and moody rock. The current pours fast through the gorge and runs strongest after rain, so a wet spell makes it all the more dramatic.
About forty-five minutes' drive east of Oban, it pairs neatly with the nearby Falls of Orchy on a loop through the glen.
Eas Fors Waterfall
Photo: Chris Downer via Geograph.org.uk
Eas Fors Waterfall Over on the west coast of Mull, Eas Fors comes down in stages beside the road between Ulva Ferry and Dervaig. The upper falls drop above the road, the middle section just below it, and the final leap of around a hundred feet pours over a sea cliff straight into Loch Tuath.
A small parking area sits by the bridge, and the sight of fresh water meeting the sea loch is a rare treat. Take care, though, as the cliff edge at the lower fall is steep and unfenced.
Reaching Mull means a ferry from Oban, so this one suits a full island day rather than a quick dash.
Falls Of Falloch
Photo: Dave Thompson via Geograph.org.uk
Falls Of Falloch The Falls of Falloch make a single clean leap of around ten metres on the River Falloch in Glen Falloch, a few miles south of Crianlarich beside the A82. The water drops into a large, deep plunge pool long nicknamed Rob Roy's Bathtub, after the region's celebrated outlaw.
A short, well-made path from the car park leads to a viewing platform poised above the falls, so there is no scramble involved. The spot lies within the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, an easy stop straight off the main road.
Around fifty minutes' drive southeast of Oban, it slots neatly into a day exploring the southern Highlands.
Eas nam Beatach
Photo: alan souter via Geograph.org.uk
Eas nam Beatach Eas nam Beatach flows on the Allt Coralan, in the hills near Tyndrum and Bridge of Orchy in the southern Highlands, below the big peak of Beinn Dorain. The burn comes down over a run of falls and cascades on the open hillside, in walkers' and estate country crossed nearby by both the West Highland Way and the West Highland railway line.
It is reached on foot, with Tyndrum and Bridge of Orchy the closest villages, set in a landscape of high hills and rolling moorland. About fifty minutes' drive east of Oban, it suits walkers who like a hill fall well away from the roadside crowds.
Steall Waterfall
Photo: Tom Courtney via Geograph.org.uk
Steall Waterfall Steall Waterfall, in Gaelic An Steall Ban, the white spout, is a tall single-drop fall in Glen Nevis near Fort William, at around a hundred and twenty metres among the highest in Scotland. The water falls down a cliff into a green meadow ringed by mountains.
It is reached on a walk of about a mile from the upper Glen Nevis car park, through a dramatic rocky gorge with the river tumbling below. To cross to the foot of the falls there is a three-wire bridge, one cable to walk along and two for the hands, a wobbly affair that many prefer to admire from the bank.
Roughly an hour north of Oban.
FAQs
How far are these waterfalls from Oban?
They range from about 19 kilometres for Avich Falls, just south of Oban, out to nearly 50 kilometres for Steall in Glen Nevis. Most sit within an hour's drive, though Eas Fors on Mull also needs a ferry crossing.
Which waterfall is the tallest?
Steall Waterfall in Glen Nevis, north of Oban near Fort William, drops around a hundred and twenty metres, placing it among the highest falls in Scotland.
Are any easy to reach without a walk?
Yes. The Coe River waterfall in Glen Coe is seen straight from a pull-in on the A82, and the Falls of Falloch near Crianlarich has a short, well-made path from the car park to a viewing platform.
Conclusion
From gentle oakwood cascades to towering Highland spouts, this collection shows off the sheer variety around Oban. Several, like the Coe River waterfall and the Falls of Falloch, can be admired from a roadside pull-in with barely a step, while Steall in Glen Nevis and Eas nam Beatach reward a proper walk into the hills.
A trip to Eas Fors means a ferry across to Mull, so plan that as an island day in its own right. After rain the Orchy falls run at their wildest, and the light through Glen Coe can be magical at any time of year.
Pack waterproofs, check ferry times if Mull is on your list, and take care near the unfenced cliff at Eas Fors. From Argyll to Glen Nevis, these are the waterfalls for a day trip from Oban.
