Family Waterfalls in Perthshire
Written by UK Hidden Gems Editorial
Updated 5 August 2026
The family waterfalls in Perthshire are Falls of Lochay, Falls of Barvick, Falls of Camserney, Falls of Leny, The Birks of Aberfeldy, Falls of Acharn, Falls Of Dochart and Kinloch Rannoch Waterfall.
Perthshire's glens and rivers hide some of the most family-friendly waterfalls in Scotland, from broad village rapids to gorge walks laced with bridges and boardwalks. This is a county of tumbling burns and wooded ravines, where the water can shift from a thin thread to a full torrent depending on the weather.
Some of these falls are wonderfully easy to reach, like the Falls of Dochart, which pour right through the village of Killin, or the Falls of Leny near Callander, seen from a level path along an old railway line. Others reward a proper walk, such as the gorge circuit at The Birks of Aberfeldy or the climb to the Falls of Acharn above Loch Tay.
There are quiet, little-visited spots too, like the Falls of Lochay, the Falls of Barvick and the Falls of Camserney, best kept for families happy to seek them out on rough ground. Add the roadside Kinloch Rannoch Waterfall, and you have a real range for every kind of family day.
Here are eight family waterfalls to seek out in Perthshire.
Falls of Lochay
Photo: Les Hull via Geograph.org.uk
Falls of Lochay are a series of cascades on the River Lochay in Glen Lochay, a couple of miles north-west of Killin in Perthshire. A small hydro power station stands here, part of a larger scheme, so the river's flow is regulated.
The falls are known to kayakers who run this stretch of the river. It is a quiet, little-visited spot in the glen away from the busier waterfalls nearby, which suits families who prefer their outings peaceful and uncrowded.
For a calm corner off the main trail, it is one to seek out.
Falls of Barvick
Photo: Alan Howes via Geograph.org.uk
Falls of Barvick Thick vegetation screens much of the water here, so time a visit for after heavy rain, when the burn is full, and for the months when the growth has died back. The Barvick Burn drops in a series of falls a couple of miles north of Crieff in Perthshire, off the minor road toward Loch Turret.
A short circuit follows both banks on rough, steep paths, crossing a footbridge at the top to link the two. Little-visited and quiet, it sits in the hills above the town, a fall you work for rather than one that announces itself.
Falls of Camserney
Photo: Calum McRoberts via Geograph.org.uk
Falls of Camserney are a run of small cascades on the Camserney Burn, near the hamlet of Camserney west of Aberfeldy in Perthshire. The burn drops through woodland over a series of low falls.
It is an obscure, undeveloped spot rather than a promoted attraction, marked on the maps but little written about, so families keen to find it should come prepared to navigate for themselves. Little is recorded of it beyond its name and rough position.
For those who enjoy tracking down a genuinely hidden corner of the countryside, it is a quiet one to seek out.
Falls of Leny
Photo: M J Richardson via Geograph.org.uk
Falls of Leny are a run of rapids and cascades on the River Leny in the Pass of Leny, just north-west of Callander, where the river drops through a narrow gap in the hills. Fast white water tumbles over large rocks, seen from the old railway line that now carries a walking and cycling path along the river.
The route is shared by the Rob Roy Way, an easy walk from near Callander that suits families of all ages. The falls sit within the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park.
For an easy, scenic outing with a good river view, seek it out.
The Birks of Aberfeldy
Photo: N Chadwick via Geograph.org.uk
The Birks of Aberfeldy is a wooded gorge walk on the edge of Aberfeldy in Perthshire, climbing beside the Moness Burn as it drops through the trees in a series of waterfalls, the Falls of Moness. A circular path of about two and a half miles, with steps, boardwalks and railings above the steep drops, leads up to a high footbridge over the top fall and back down the other side.
Birch trees, the birks of the name, clothe the upper gorge. The walk was celebrated by Robert Burns, who visited in 1787 and wrote a song about it, with a statue near the start.
A rewarding family circuit to seek out.
Falls of Acharn
Photo: Jim Barton via Geograph.org.uk
Falls of Acharn drop through a wooded gorge on the Acharn Burn, above the village of Acharn on the south shore of Loch Tay in Perthshire. A short circular walk from the village climbs to the falls, passing through the Hermit's Cave, a stone tunnel whose archway frames the main drop.
A viewing platform looks onto the water tumbling over sculpted rock. The walk gives views back down over Loch Tay toward the hills, a real treat for families who enjoy a bit of a climb rewarded by a fine outlook.
With its cave and gorge, it is an atmospheric one to seek out.
Falls Of Dochart
Photo: Richard Hoare via Geograph.org.uk
Falls Of Dochart are a broad run of rapids where the River Dochart tumbles through the village of Killin in Perthshire, splitting around a wooded island. An old narrow stone bridge crosses the falls, giving the best view of the white water pouring over the rocks below, which makes this an easy and dramatic stop for families right in the heart of the village.
The island in the middle, Inch Buie, holds the burial ground of Clan MacNab. The flow changes greatly with the weather, from a thin thread between rocks to a full torrent.
For roadside drama the whole family can enjoy, seek it out.
Kinloch Rannoch Waterfall
Photo: Callum Black via Geograph.org.uk
Kinloch Rannoch Waterfall, properly the Allt Mor falls, drops around ten metres where the Allt Mor burn comes down from the hillside at the northern edge of Kinloch Rannoch village in Highland Perthshire. It sits beside the road on the east side of Loch Rannoch and is reached by a short walk, making it an easy stop for families.
It is one of the falls promoted around Highland Perthshire and shows best after heavy rain or snowmelt. Time your visit for a wet spell or the spring thaw, and this roadside fall is a simple one to seek out.
FAQs
Which Perthshire waterfalls are easiest for young children?
The Falls of Dochart run right through the village of Killin and are seen from an old stone bridge, while the Falls of Leny near Callander are viewed from a level path along a former railway line. Kinloch Rannoch Waterfall is also reached by a short walk beside the road. Keep little ones back from the fast water.
How long is the walk at The Birks of Aberfeldy?
The circular gorge path is about two and a half miles, with steps, boardwalks and railings above the steep drops, leading to a high footbridge over the top fall. It is a rewarding walk for families with children who are steady on their feet.
When do these waterfalls look their best?
Most run fullest after heavy rain, and Kinloch Rannoch Waterfall also shows well after snowmelt in spring. At the Falls of Barvick, low water and thinner vegetation make the falls easier to see.
Conclusion
Perthshire truly delivers for families chasing waterfalls, from the roadside rush of the Falls of Dochart in Killin to the gorge circuit at The Birks of Aberfeldy with its steps, boardwalks and railings. Easy stops like the Falls of Leny and Kinloch Rannoch Waterfall suit even the youngest walkers, while quieter, rougher spots such as the Falls of Barvick and the Falls of Camserney are best saved for families happy to pick their way over uneven ground.
Wherever you go, remember that many of these falls run fullest after rain, so plan around the weather, wear footwear with good grip, and keep children well back from the fast-moving water and steep edges. Pack a picnic and make a day of it, because from village rapids to hidden hill burns, these are the family waterfalls to seek out in Perthshire.
