Walk: Eas a’ Chual Aluinn – Britain’s tallest waterfall

📌 Unapool, Highland
★★★

With a drop of 200 metres, Eas a’ Chual Aluinn is the tallest waterfall in Britain. So why isn’t it better known? The answer has much to do with its location: perched above the head of a remote, roadless sea loch and surrounded by rough hill ranges, making access difficult. The falls can be viewed at a distance from boat trips from Kylesku, but to see the plunge at close quarters a path leads across moorland from the nearest road. Although only about three miles in each direction, the terrain is rough and two burns need to be crossed (and again on the way back). The final view of Eas a’ Chual Aluinn is backed by the fjord-like trough of Loch Glencoul and wouldn’t look out of place in Norway or Iceland – well worth the effort.

📷 Chronological photo guide

🌍 Location

📌 Start / finish on A894 at Loch na Gainmhich, 2 mi south of Unapool

🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NC 240292

🛰️ GPS coordinates: 58.216406,-4.998334

❌ No public transport within 1 mi

🚗 Layby

📝 Key info

▶ 10 km / 6 mi | ▲ 510 m | ⌛ 4.5-5.5 hr

Features: 💧 Loch na Gainmhich; 💧 Loch Bealach a’ Bhuirich; 🌊 Eas a’ Chual Aluinn ★★★★

⬤ Tough | Hill paths throughout, often rocky & fairly rough. The sections nearest & furthest from the car park are boggiest. ⚠️ Two burns (one near the car park & one near the waterfall) have to be crossed on stepping stones / boulders in both directions, which could be impossible after rainfall. Unprotected drops around the waterfall.

➡️ Out-and-back walk: start – cross outflow of Loch na Gainmhich – north side of Loch Bealach a’ Bhuirich – cross burn just below Lochan Poll Amhluaidh – Eas a’ Chual Aluinn viewpoint 200m southeast of the top of the waterfall – return by outward route

Download file for GPS

🥾 On our last visit

Wildlife: Some frogs, otherwise not much wildlife to be seen.

Weather: Blustery with intermittent sunshine, cloud capping higher summits at first but tending to improve.

June 2026

Eas a’ Chual Aluinn ★★★★