Gairloch Waterfall

The walk to Gairloch Waterfall demands a bit of effort, but the payoff is genuine. You're heading inland from the coastal town of Gairloch, following a path that winds through moorland before dropping into a wooded glen where the water tumbles down dark rock into a pool below. It's a proper waterfall - not some trickling burn pretending to be dramatic - with real force after rain.

Allow a couple of hours return from the trailhead. The path is rough in places and can be boggy, so boots matter more than trainers. Families with younger kids might find it a slog, but teenagers who don't mind getting their feet wet will enjoy the scrambling sections and the chance to paddle in the pool at the base. Spring and autumn tend to give you the best flow without the summer crowds.

What makes this work is the isolation. You won't find tour groups or gift shops here, just the sound of water and the Highland landscape doing what it does. It's the sort of walk that justifies a holiday in the area rather than being a tick-off activity.

Stay at Sands Caravan & Camping just outside Gairloch - a solid spot with proper facilities - and combine this with exploring the coastline. The waterfall isn't a massive draw on its own, but it's exactly the kind of thing that fills out a week properly in the Highlands. Go mid-week if you can. Weekends bring more traffic from further afield.