Best Waterfalls Near Portree
Written by UK Hidden Gems Editorial
Updated 5 August 2026
The best waterfalls near Portree are Bride’s Veil Falls, Bearreraig Waterfall, Carbost Burn Waterfall, Lealt Falls, Eas a’ Bhradain, Fairy Pools, Talisker Waterfall and Eas Tardil Waterfall.
Portree makes the perfect base for chasing waterfalls across the Isle of Skye, with cascades scattered along every stretch of its wild coast and glens. Head north up the Trotternish peninsula toward the Storr and you pass Bride's Veil Falls, the plunging Bearreraig Waterfall below the pinnacles, and Lealt Falls dropping through its deep gorge toward the Sound of Raasay.
Turn south and the road skirts Loch Ainort, where Eas a' Bhradain steps down to a shallow pool near Luib. Further south again, in Glen Brittle beneath the Black Cuillin, the clear Fairy Pools have become one of the island's best-loved spots.
West of them, near the village of Carbost above Loch Harport, a small fall drops on the Carbost Burn, while the western coast holds Talisker Waterfall, pouring down a cliff above its black-and-white beach. Off to the northwest, Eas Tardil slips to the sea at remote Loch Snizort.
Some are minutes from the car; others need a walk or a scramble. Here are eight waterfalls to seek out near Portree.
Bride’s Veil Falls
Photo: Elliott Simpson via Geograph.org.uk
Bride’s Veil Falls slip down a rock face below the rocky pinnacles of the Storr, only a short drive north of Portree, a thin white veil of water that gives the fall its name. You can see it from a layby beside the coast road, and a short, steep scramble on wet, muddy ground leads up to its foot.
From there the views open out over Loch Leathan and the sea, with the jagged crest of the Storr rising behind. It is a small, informal spot rather than a signposted landmark, but it makes a lovely pause on the drive up Trotternish.
Heavy rain swells it; dry spells thin it to a trickle.
Bearreraig Waterfall
Photo: S Parish via Geograph.org.uk
Bearreraig Waterfall drops toward the sea below the Storr a little further north, where the Bearreraig River tumbles down to Bearreraig Bay. Reaching it is a serious effort: a concrete staircase of 647 steps zigzags down the hillside above a sharp drop to the shore.
At the bottom lies a boulder and shingle bay beneath crumbling cliffs, with a small hydro power station tucked in, since the river's flow is controlled by the Storr Lochs scheme that has run since the 1950s, so the falls come and go with the water released. The bay is a noted spot for hunting Jurassic fossils, with the little island of Holm offshore.
Carbost Burn Waterfall
Photo: Richard Dorrell via Geograph.org.uk
Carbost Burn Waterfall drops over rock a short way from the village of Carbost, southwest of Portree, in green country running down toward the sea loch of Loch Harport. This is the same stream that feeds the renowned Talisker distillery nearby, so it is easy to pair with a visit there.
Little is written about it, and it remains an out-of-the-way spot rather than a marked sight, glimpsed from a quiet back road with a pool below the drop where you might take a dip. The flow swells dramatically after heavy rain and thins in dry spells, so choose a wet day for the fullest fall.
Lealt Falls
Photo: Trevor Rickard via Geograph.org.uk
Lealt Falls plunges through a deep, narrow gorge on the Trotternish coast, where the River Lealt makes its way down to the sea at the Sound of Raasay. From a car park on the main road, a short and nearly level gravel path leads to a wooden viewing platform over the gorge, with a second platform further on that opens up a view along the coast.
Below, the river falls in stages down the wooded ravine. Look out toward the shore and you can spot the remains of an old works where diatomite, a soft mineral used in industry, was once processed and shipped away by a small railway built in 1889.
Eas a’ Bhradain
Photo: Peter Bond via Geograph.org.uk
Eas a’ Bhradain sits beside Loch Ainort south of Portree, where a hill burn comes down in a run of stepped cascades into a broad, shallow pool a little west of Luib. It is one of the easier falls to enjoy, plainly in view from the road, with a layby and a short, sometimes muddy path leading to its foot.
Known locally as the Blackhills waterfall, it makes an ideal quick stop for anyone touring this side of the island, with no long walk or scramble required. Like the island's other falls it looks best after rain, when the burn runs full over the rocky steps.
Fairy Pools
Photo: Chris Downer via Geograph.org.uk
Fairy Pools are a string of clear, blue-green pools and small falls on a burn tumbling down from the Black Cuillin in Glen Brittle, south of Portree. The water is startlingly clear as it drops from pool to pool over rock beneath the mountains, and the setting has made this one of the most visited spots on the whole island.
A walk of a little over a mile from the car park leads up to the pools. Hardy visitors swim here, though the water stays cold right through the year, so pack a towel and brace yourself if you fancy a dip.
Talisker Waterfall
Photo: Gordon Hatton via Geograph.org.uk
Talisker Waterfall pours down a tall cliff on the north side of Talisker Bay, over on Skye's west coast, coming into view across the sand as you walk down to the beach. Fed by a burn draining a hill loch above, it spills over the high rock face when in flow, running hard after rain and shrinking to a thread in dry weather.
You reach it on the same walk of about a mile from the road end that leads to the bay itself. The beach, with its sea stack and its striking black-and-white sand, together with the fall above, make this one of the loveliest corners of the island.
Eas Tardil Waterfall
Photo: John Allan via Geograph.org.uk
Eas Tardil Waterfall is a remote coastal fall where a hill burn drops straight to the sea into Loch Snizort, off to the northwest of Portree and east of Lusta. Across the water rises the Trotternish peninsula, giving a fine outlook for anyone who makes it here.
This is a wild shoreline spot with no marked path and no facilities, and very little is recorded about it beyond its name and rough position. That obscurity is part of the appeal: it suits explorers happy to navigate on their own rather than follow signs.
Go prepared, check the weather, and enjoy having a piece of Skye's coast to yourself.
FAQs
Which waterfall near Portree is best for a quick visit?
Eas a' Bhradain beside Loch Ainort is one of the easiest, visible straight from the road with only a short path to its foot, a simple stop while touring south of Portree.
How hard is it to reach Bearreraig Waterfall?
It is a demanding descent. A concrete staircase of 647 steps drops down the hillside to Bearreraig Bay below the Storr, north of Portree, so it rewards fit walkers with a head for heights.
Are the Fairy Pools worth the crowds?
For many visitors, yes. The clear blue-green pools in Glen Brittle, south of Portree, are among the loveliest on Skye, best enjoyed early or late in the day when the walk from the car park is quieter.
Conclusion
Few places pack in as much drama as Skye, and Portree puts all of it within reach. Whether you fancy the gentle stop at Eas a' Bhradain beside Loch Ainort, the clear waters of the Fairy Pools beneath the Cuillin, or the long climb down to Bearreraig Bay, there is a fall to match your mood and your energy.
Head north up Trotternish for Bride's Veil Falls and Lealt Falls, or west toward Talisker and Carbost for cascades set against beaches and distilleries. Pick a day after rain for the fullest flow, wear boots that cope with wet and muddy ground, and always mind your footing on the steep and slippery descents.
From roadside cascades to hidden shoreline drops, these are the waterfalls to seek out near Portree.
