Best Waterfalls Near Perth
Written by UK Hidden Gems Editorial
Updated 5 August 2026
The best waterfalls near Perth are Glen Vale Waterfalls, Black Linn Falls, Falls of the Braan, Falls of Ness, Falls of Barvick, Cauldron Linn, Falls of Turret and Dollar Glen Waterfall.
Perth sits at the heart of Scotland's waterfall country, with tumbling burns and wooded gorges spread across the counties around it. Head north toward Dunkeld and the wooded Hermitage hides two of the region's finest: Black Linn Falls and the Falls of the Braan, both on the River Braan.
Travel west toward Crieff and the hills give up a cluster of quieter cascades, the Falls of Barvick, the Falls of Turret and the little-known Falls of Ness in the Strathearn farmland nearby. To the south, across the Lomond Hills of Fife, the burn in Glen Vale slips over rock beneath John Knox's Pulpit.
Further south still, the River Devon carves Cauldron Linn near Powmill, while Dollar Glen drops through a steep ravine below Castle Campbell in Clackmannanshire. Some lie close to a car park; others ask for a walk into open hill country.
Together they show the range of the landscape, from designed Georgian woodland to rough moorland burns. Here are eight waterfalls to seek out near Perth.
Glen Vale Waterfalls
Photo: James Allan via Geograph.org.uk
Glen Vale Waterfalls lie a short run south of Perth in the Lomond Hills of Fife, a quiet valley where a burn slips over rock in a small fall near the head of the glen. It is a modest, out-of-the-way spot rather than a thundering cascade, but the setting earns the trip.
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 it on a path through open hill country, so bring boots and expect solitude rather than crowds on this walk.
Black Linn Falls
Photo: Mike Pennington via Geograph.org.uk
Black Linn Falls lie north of Perth toward Dunkeld, reached on a short walk through the trees of the Hermitage, where the River Braan crashes over a rock lip into a deep, churning pool. Tall trees frame the water and an old arched bridge spans it.
The best view is from Ossian's Hall, a little stone folly perched right above the falls, built for the Dukes of Atholl in the eighteenth century and lined inside with mirrors that catch the tumbling water. Salmon leap here in autumn on their way upstream, and the surrounding woodland holds 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 sit just along the same stretch of the Hermitage woods near Dunkeld, marking the point where the River Braan pours into a run of deep pools. Once again the viewing place is 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.
Autumn brings leaping salmon, and the tall woods around the falls shelter some of the largest Douglas firs in Britain. The site is looked after by the National Trust for Scotland, so paths and access are well kept.
Falls of Ness
Photo: Andrew Smith via Geograph.org.uk
Falls of Ness hide southwest of Perth in the gentle Strathearn countryside near Crieff, among low farmland and wooded burns southeast of the village of Muthill. This is an obscure, out-of-the-way spot on a minor burn rather than a signposted attraction, sitting well off the main tourist routes on the northern edge of the Ochil Hills.
Do not expect crowds or facilities. What draws people is the quiet, and the chance to combine it with the historic gardens of Drummond Castle close by.
Come after rain to see the burn at its liveliest, and treat finding it as part of the fun.
Falls of Barvick
Photo: Alan Howes via Geograph.org.uk
Falls of Barvick call for a trip into the hills above Crieff, a couple of miles north of the town on the minor road toward Loch Turret. The Barvick Burn drops in a series of falls, and a short circuit follows both banks on rough, steep paths, joined by a footbridge at the top.
Thick vegetation screens much of the water, so time your visit for after heavy rain and when the summer growth has died back to see it at its best. It is a quiet, little-visited corner, well worth the climb for walkers exploring the high ground above Strathearn.
Cauldron Linn
Photo: William Starkey via Geograph.org.uk
Cauldron Linn sits south of Perth 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 deep potholes into the ledges over time.
The way down to the water is steep and slippery over rough ground, so sturdy footwear and care are essential. Like many of the region's falls, it carries most water after heavy rain and thins to a gentler flow in dry weather, so a wet spell rewards you with the fuller spectacle.
Falls of Turret
Photo: Sarah Charlesworth via Geograph.org.uk
Falls of Turret tumble through a secluded wooded gorge on the Turret Burn, a couple of miles north-west of Crieff in Glen Turret. This was a popular Victorian outing, once fitted with a bridge, a bench and a rock-cut grotto, though it is now largely overlooked and quietly returning to the trees.
The final descent to the burn is steep and faint, so it suits sure-footed walkers rather than casual visitors. Further up the glen above the falls lie the reservoir and the Glenturret distillery, making it easy to build a fuller day out in this pocket of Perthshire.
Dollar Glen Waterfall
Photo: Ian Taylor via Geograph.org.uk
Dollar Glen Waterfall drops through a steep, wooded gorge below Castle Campbell on the edge of Dollar in Clackmannanshire, south of Perth. Two burns carry the wonderfully grim old names of the Burn of Sorrow and the Burn of Care, falling over a series of waterfalls as they wind down through the ravine to meet below the castle.
Footpaths and wooden bridges thread through damp, mossy woodland, climbing steeply in places, so it is an involving walk rather than a stroll. The National Trust for Scotland looks after the glen and it is free to wander, making it a fine finish to a Perthshire waterfall tour.
FAQs
Which waterfall near Perth is the easiest to reach?
Black Linn Falls and the Falls of the Braan are the most accessible, both a short walk from the car park at the Hermitage near Dunkeld, north of Perth. The paths are well maintained by the National Trust for Scotland.
When is the best time to see the falls at their fullest?
Most of these burns, including Cauldron Linn on the River Devon and the Falls of Barvick above Crieff, carry the most water after heavy rain, so autumn and winter or a wet spell give the best show near Perth.
Can you see salmon leaping at any of these waterfalls?
Yes. At the Hermitage near Dunkeld, salmon leap Black Linn Falls and the Falls of the Braan in autumn as they head upstream to spawn, a fine spectacle within easy reach of Perth.
Conclusion
From the manicured woods of the Hermitage to the rough moorland burns above Crieff, the country around Perth offers waterfalls to suit every mood and level of effort. Some, like Black Linn Falls and the Falls of the Braan, sit a short walk from the car park and come dressed in Georgian follies and towering firs.
Others, such as the Falls of Ness or the Falls of Barvick, ask you to seek them out across fields and steep hillsides where few people go. Head north to Dunkeld, west to the glens above Crieff, or south into Fife and Clackmannanshire, and you will find running water in some beautiful settings.
Pick a wet spell for the fullest flow, pack proper boots, and go exploring; whichever direction you choose, these are the waterfalls to seek out near Perth.
