Steall Gorge Waterfall

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Located south of Ben Nevis and following the river of the same name (Water of Nevis), this hike to Steall Gorge waterfall is either an alternative to the Mount or a majestic and easy-to-access side walk.
Perfectly signposted, the first part is accessible to all and offers a 150 m view of the entire waterfall.
Crossing a suspension bridge, you can reach the foot of the waterfall, where a prominent rock offers a remarkable podium for hikers.

Details

n°36273858
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.31 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 120 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 124 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 230 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 142 m
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Photos

Waterfall
Steall Gorge Waterfall
Steall Gorge Waterfall
Steall Gorge Waterfall

Description of the walk

Start: Two options for getting to the start:
- By Shiel Buses bus no. 42, which takes passengers to Lower Falls six times a day from the town of Fort William. From the Leisure Center in Fort William. The bus runs to the bus stop 45323898 (Lower Falls Car Park).
- By car, drive to the Steall Waterfall Car Park and park there (main car park), or return to the Lower Falls Car Park and walk 30 min to the starting point indicated by a local signpost.

(S/E) From Steall Waterfall Car Park, follow the waymarkers along the Water Ben Nevis (WBN) river to the confluence between WBN and the Allt Coire à Mhail (ACM).

(1) Follow the WBN to the left to enjoy views of the Nevis River rapids visible below.

(2) Then, return to the previous junction.

(1) Turn left, cross the suspension bridge and carry on along the left bank of the ACM river to reach the foot of the waterfall via the waymarked path. Note that for crossing the suspension bridge: attach your rucksacks to one of the cables.

(3) To return, turn around and take the same way back in the opposite direction back to the car park. (S/E)

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 146 m - Car park
  2. 1 : km 1.6 - alt. 221 m - Confluence
  3. 2 : km 1.78 - alt. 215 m - Water Ben Nevis
  4. 3 : km 2.41 - alt. 230 m - Waterfall
  5. S/E : km 4.31 - alt. 146 m - Car park

Notes

Start: Two options for getting to the start:
- by Shiel Buses bus no. 42, which takes passengers to Lower Falls six times a day from the town of Fort William. From the Leisure Center in Fort William. The bus runs to the 45323898 (Lower Falls Car Park) stop and back.
- By car, drive to the Steall Waterfall Car Park and park there (priority parking), or return to the Lower Falls Car Park and walk 30 min to the starting point indicated by a municipal sign.

Dog policy : Dogs are allowed on this trail.

Worth a visit

The hike follows Nevis River, whose rapids are a delight to contemplate.
You'll cross many small streams and waterfalls that feed the river below.

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 4 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
User 20429817

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A relatively accessible walk with a magnificent destination, notably the waterfall

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Sandy63111
Sandy63111

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 03, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Magnificent hike! You have to drive to the end of Glen Nevis Road to find a large free car park just at the start of the trail. The trail is quite technical as the ground is uneven, slippery in places and very rocky. Perfectly marked, the path leads you to a plain where you can admire the waterfall. You can cross the river on a rope bridge (metal cable with no safety equipment) to get closer to the waterfall. Even in the rain, this hike is sublime. Make sure you wear good shoes!

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Zorglub59
Zorglub59

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Magnificent half-day hike. Views of the various waterfalls, the river and the mountains. The first part is shaded.

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yannherbert
yannherbert

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 28, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Great walk, but beware of wet and slippery roads and one or two tricky stream crossings.

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