Corrieshalloch Gorge, Scotland

On July 30 of this year, we visited Corrieshalloch Gorge in Ross-shire, Scotland. It is around ten miles south of Ullapool. I had seen photos of this waterfall online but I didn't know much about it or what to expect. Even before we reached the falls, we heard it roaring.

Corrieshalloch means "ugly hollow" in Gaelic, but I didn't find anything ugly about it. This is one of the most beautiful Nature Reserves I've visited. This slot gorge or box canyon was carved out by glacial melt waters between 2.6 million and 11,500 years ago. The River Droma flows through the gorge. In less than a mile, the river drops over 328 feet through the gorge in a series of waterfalls. The most dramatic of these waterfalls is the Falls of Measach, which drops over 147 feet. In Gaelic, the name of the waterfall is Easan na Miasaich which means "fall of the place of the platters." The platters term refers to the smooth rounded boulders of the riverbed above the falls.

Standing on the suspension bridge, looking down.

If you're afraid of heights, a visit to this gorge might be a bit uncomfortable or even frightening. It is a long way down from the 82 foot long suspension bridge which spans the gorge, especially since it sways gently in the wind or if someone else is walking or running across it. This bridge was built in 1874 by Sir John Fowler, one of the designers of the Forth Rail Bridge. This bridge is actually over the falls.

The suspension bridge

 Most of the freshwater in Scotland is tinged slightly brown. This is because the water runs through the peat of the moors and bogs before going into the streams. This is also what makes most of the lochs in Scotland dark and very reflective of the sky.

A close up of the Falls of Measach taken from the viewing platform downriver.

  It was only a short walk down from the car park to the suspension bridge over the ravine. Once we crossed the bridge, we took another short walk through the woods to the metal viewing platform. It hangs out high over the gorge for an awesome view of the falls beneath the bridge.

The waterfall with the suspension bridge above it, taken from the viewing platform.

The trail through the forest.

 Woods surround most of the gorge though some trees had been cut in the past few years. These trees include birch, rowan, oak, hazel, elm and pine. Some rare and unusual plants grow in the deepest levels of the gorge, such as mountain sorrel, germander speedwell and saxifrage. Ravens next on the ledges of the gorge and trout swim in the deep pools.

The vertical cliff with lots of ferns and plants.

Wildflowers

Looking across the gorge to the viewing platform we'd stood on earlier.

The wonderful woodland trail

 After going back across the suspension bridge, we walked a trail that follows the edge of the gorge. It is far enough away to be safe, but it's easy to see the gorge from the trail. There is an especially nice viewpoint down into the gorge at one spot. The trail circles around and up a hill through beautiful heather and other wildflowers. At the top of this hill is a spectacular view out over Strath Broom, Loch Broom, and the mountains in the distance (toward Ullapool). The whole walk is probably around a mile, so not too difficult.

Here I am checking out the posted info. :)

Heather

Wildflowers by the trail leading up the hill.

Heather beside a log

 This National Nature Reserve is owned and cared for by the National Trust for Scotland.

View over Strath Broom and Loch Broom

Thanks for taking the tour with me through Corrieshalloch Gorge! Are you afraid of heights? Do you love waterfalls and walks through nature?

Vonda
www.vondasinclair.com

Beautiful and fiercely protective of those she loves, Lady Seona Murray captured Keegan MacKay’s attention when she first set foot in Dunnakeil Castle. Though she is a chief’s daughter and forbidden, Keegan has fallen in love with her from afar and burns to possess her. But so does the clan traitor, Haldane, an obsessive outlaw bent on murder and kidnapping.

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