Eas a’ Chual Aluinn boat trips

📌 Kylesku, Highland
★★★★

The vehicle ferry across the narrow strait at Kylesku in northern Scotland was replaced in 1984 by the Kylesku Bridge. But the village pier is still used both for fishing boats and for tourist trips to see the UK’s highest waterfall, Eas a’ Chùal Aluinn. Now before waterfall enthusiasts get too excited about the latter, views from the boat are from a distance of over a mile thanks to the waterfall’s awkward location on the side of a narrow glen, and it can (apparently) be a bit underwhelming after dry weather. But the alternative is a 6+ mile walk across boggy ground to the top of the 200-metre drop, where views are even more limited. And this nautical excursion has much more to it than waterfalls alone. Loch Glencoul is home both to eagles and to large colonies of common and grey seals, which haul out on numerous islets along the length of the loch at low water; the boat’s small size allows you to get right up to the animals if you’re lucky with tide times. The Highland scenery is spectacular, with Quinag muscling into views to the north, while the Glencoul Thrust (a geologist’s dream) is easily visible to the south. Passenger trips depart from Kylesku pier in the shadow of the famous bridge, with the Kylesku Hotel next door serving top-notch, locally-caught seafood.