Steall Falls
Steall Falls, in Glen Nevis just beyond Fort William, is one of Scotland's tallest waterfalls, dropping around 120 metres down a rock face at the head of a dramatic, steep-sided glen beneath Ben Nevis's southern flank. What makes it more than just another big waterfall is the approach: the path runs through the narrow, gorge-like Nevis Gorge, a short but genuinely spectacular stretch of woodland and tumbling river, before the glen suddenly opens out into a wide, flat meadow with the falls visible ahead and a wobbly wire bridge crossing the river.
The walk in is popular with hillwalkers using it as an approach to the Mamores and Ben Nevis's back routes, but plenty of people come purely for the falls and the meadow, which makes a genuinely rewarding half-day out without needing to be a serious hillwalker. The wire bridge - a single cable underfoot with two hand cables - is optional and can be intimidating, so most visitors are happy simply viewing the falls from the meadow.
Steall Falls FAQs
It's a moderate walk of about 3 miles round trip on an uneven, rocky path with a gorge section requiring sturdy footwear, but it doesn't require technical hillwalking skill.
It's a standard Highland wire bridge used regularly by walkers, but it sways and takes some balance; crossing is entirely optional and most visitors just view the falls from the near bank.
Yes, there's a car park at the end of the Glen Nevis road (upper car park) which can fill up on busy summer days.
It's generally cited among Scotland's tallest waterfalls, often ranked second or third depending on how measurements are defined, though rankings vary by source.
Yes, the glen is used as an approach for some Ben Nevis and Mamores routes, but the falls walk itself is a separate, much shorter outing.
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