Family Waterfalls in Wester Ross & Sutherland
Written by UK Hidden Gems Editorial
Updated 5 August 2026
The family waterfalls in Wester Ross & Sutherland are Achness Falls, Enarg Falls, Easan Bana, Eas a Chraosain, Clashnessie Falls, Oykel Falls, Victoria Falls and Ardessie Falls.
The far north-west of Scotland is a land of empty hills, sea lochs and fast, peaty rivers, and its waterfalls range from easy roadside stops to genuinely wild falls miles from the nearest path. Wester Ross and Sutherland hold both.
Some, like Victoria Falls in Slattadale Forest beside Loch Maree, sit a short waymarked walk from a car park on the NC500 and welcome any family. Others, such as Eas a' Chraosain out on roadless moorland or the double drop of Enarg Falls known mainly to kayakers, are obscure and hard-won, better suited to older children and adults happy to navigate wild country.
In between lie the salmon-leaping Falls of Oykel, the wooded gorge of Achness Falls near Rosehall and the steep, boggy chain of Ardessie near Dundonnell. Some ask only for a stroll, others for a proper hill walk, and we have been honest about which is which.
Here are eight family waterfalls to seek out in Wester Ross & Sutherland.
Achness Falls
Photo: Richard Webb via Geograph.org.uk
Achness Falls steps down through a wooded rock gorge on the River Cassley near Rosehall, the river breaking into broken white sheets over ledges with quiet pools between them. In late spring you can watch salmon throwing themselves up the drops on their way upstream, a real thrill for children.
A waymarked woodland walk of a couple of miles leads to the falls, ending in a steep flight of stone steps down toward the water, so it suits families happy to walk. Wooden benches and viewing platforms are set along the bank, and oak and birch shade the gorge.
Seek it out in spring to catch the salmon leaping.
Enarg Falls
Photo: John Ferguson via Geograph.org.uk
Enarg Falls is a double fall on the River Einig in the far north of the Highlands, a mile or so above where the Einig joins the River Oykel near Oykel Bridge. The river drops through a rocky gorge, its fast water known chiefly to the whitewater kayakers who run this stretch.
This is a genuinely obscure spot rather than a signposted attraction, set in remote hill country, so it is one for older children and adults happy to seek out somewhere off the beaten track. Come for the wildness and the sound of fast water pouring through the gorge.
Easan Bana
Photo: N Chadwick via Geograph.org.uk
Easan Bana is a run of cascades in Flowerdale Glen near Gairloch, where the water comes down a wooded hillside in a series of low falls. It is fullest after heavy rain and modest in dry spells, a gentle, green spot rather than one tall drop.
An easy walk of a couple of miles from Flowerdale leads to it, passing other small falls along the glen, so it suits families happy to walk a mellow woodland trail. The glen itself, quiet and green under the trees, is much of the pleasure.
Seek it out after rain when every cascade is running.
Eas a Chraosain
Photo: Ian Capper via Geograph.org.uk
Eas a Chraosain is a waterfall on a hill stream north of Loch Achall, in the remote country inland from Ullapool. It lies out in open, roadless moorland away from any marked path, and little is recorded about it beyond its name and rough position.
This is a genuinely obscure fall in empty hill country, so it is strictly one for confident adults and older children happy to navigate off-path across wild ground, not a family stroll. Seek it out only if you are equipped and experienced in trackless hills.
Clashnessie Falls
Photo: Gordon Hatton via Geograph.org.uk
Clashnessie Falls drops in a single broad fall over a rock face behind the small crofting village of Clashnessie in Assynt, on the north-west coast of Sutherland. It runs broad and full after rain and thinner in dry spells.
A walk of about a mile and a half from a layby near Clashnessie beach leads to it, crossing the burn on stepping stones, so it suits families happy to walk over rough, open moorland typical of this coast. Seek it out after wet weather when the fall is at its broadest.
Oykel Falls
Photo: sylvia duckworth via Geograph.org.uk
Oykel Falls are a set of natural falls and rapids on the River Oykel in Strath Oykel, west Sutherland, just upstream of Oykel Bridge on the A837. The river runs unregulated, and the falls act as a partial barrier on one of the Highlands' noted salmon rivers, with steps down to a viewpoint on the far bank.
Salmon run the falls on their way upstream, a fine sight for children, while whitewater paddlers know this stretch as a testing rapid in high water. The Oykel Bridge Hotel sits nearby.
Seek it out in the salmon season to watch the fish battling the drops.
Victoria Falls
Photo: Peter Bond via Geograph.org.uk
Victoria Falls drops through woodland on the south side of Loch Maree, in Slattadale Forest in Wester Ross. It sits on the Abhainn Garbhaig, a short river running down from Loch Garbhaig, and a roadside car park and a short waymarked path lead to a viewing platform at the falls.
That makes it one of the easiest falls here to reach, welcoming any family. The name comes from Queen Victoria, who stayed nearby at the Loch Maree Hotel in 1877, and it lies right on the NC500 route.
Seek it out as a simple stop on a Highland road trip.
Ardessie Falls
Photo: N Chadwick via Geograph.org.uk
Ardessie Falls is not one big fall but a whole chain of them, a burn dropping steeply down the hillside to Little Loch Broom near Dundonnell, carving pools, narrow chutes and smooth bowls into the rock as it goes. The lowest fall sits close to the road and is easy to see, but reaching the finer upper falls means a short, steep climb up a rough and often boggy path beside the burn, so those suit families happy to walk.
As you gain height the view opens over the loch and hills, with the peaks of the An Teallach massif rising inland to the south. Seek it out and follow the falls as high as you dare.
FAQs
Which waterfall in Wester Ross is easiest to reach with children?
Victoria Falls in Slattadale Forest is the simplest, with a roadside car park and a short waymarked path to a viewing platform, right on the NC500. The lowest fall at Ardessie also sits close to the road.
Can you see salmon leaping at these falls?
Yes. Salmon run the Falls of Oykel on their way upstream, and at Achness Falls you can watch them throwing themselves up the drops in late spring. Both sit on noted Highland salmon rivers.
Are any of these falls too remote for a family day out?
Some are. Eas a' Chraosain lies on roadless moorland with no marked path, and Enarg Falls is an obscure spot known mainly to kayakers. These are best left to confident, experienced walkers rather than young children.
Conclusion
From the roadside ease of Victoria Falls beside Loch Maree to the trackless moorland of Eas a Chraosain, these eight falls capture the wild range of the far north-west. A few, like Victoria Falls or the lowest drop at Ardessie, can be reached in minutes and shared with any family.
Others, such as Enarg Falls or Clashnessie, ask for a walk of a mile or more across rough ground, while the truly remote falls are best left to confident, experienced walkers. Spring brings leaping salmon at Achness and Oykel, and heavy rain swells them all.
Match the fall to your family, pack for Highland weather, and go honest about the walking each one needs. Judge the effort, respect the conditions, and these are the family waterfalls to seek out in Wester Ross & Sutherland.
