The wooded banks of the West Water near Edzell Castle have long been a popular local beauty spot. A footbridge just beyond the picnic benches and car park is known as Pirner’s Brig: named after the pirn in weaving terminology – this being the business of the bridge’s benefactor. The original bridge has now been refurbished after a period of closure, with an informal path leading upstream into quieter surroundings on the other side. After following the top of a shallow gorge, you’ll be able to descend – with care – to a set of unnamed but attractive rapids where the river is squeezed between enormous boulders.
Rapids above Pirner’s Brig
Rapids above Pirner’s Brig
Rapids above Pirner’s Brig
Rapids next to the car park
Pirner’s Brig
View from the bridge
Path along the West Water towards the upper rapids
Location
On the West Water, off minor road 1.5 mi east of Edzell. Main rapids are at:
From the car park it’s a 10-min walk (each way) to the rapids pictured above (⬤ Moderate). Take a path a very short distance upstream to the footbridge over the West Water, and follow the narrow path ahead to a field. A gate needs to be climbed, beyond which faint trods lead right (east), soon returning to the river bank. The rough path becomes overgrown in the immediate vicinity of the rapids / falls, and good views are only possible by leaving the path (steep drops, slippery rocks and fast flowing water – care needed). A more easily reachable viewpoint for a lower stretch of river is down a flight of steps from the car park.
Waterfalls near Edzell, Angus
LocationO.S. Grid Reference: NO 573689
GPS coordinates: 56.809839,-2.700938
No public transport within 1 mi
Car park at
Key infoAlways open
Free
From the car park it’s a 10-min walk (each way) to the rapids pictured above (⬤ Moderate). Take a path a very short distance upstream to the footbridge over the West Water, and follow the narrow path ahead to a field. A gate needs to be climbed, beyond which faint trods lead right (east), soon returning to the river bank. The rough path becomes overgrown in the immediate vicinity of the rapids / falls, and good views are only possible by leaving the path (steep drops, slippery rocks and fast flowing water – care needed). A more easily reachable viewpoint for a lower stretch of river is down a flight of steps from the car park.
