BIG Five Waterfalls in Highland Perthshire

Falls of Bruar

Welcome to the Falls of Bruar, one of Scotland's finest wild landscapes. For more than 200 years the Falls of Bruar have been a place of pilgrimage. As you walk along the banks of the Bruar Water today, you are treading in the footsteps of these people – poet William Wordsworth, by the artist William Turner, by Queen Victoria and many others less well known – all of whom have sought or found inspiration in this place. When the first visitors came to view the falls in the eighteenth century the Bruar Water flowed not among the woods which you see today, but across a bare, open hillside. The first trees were planted by John Murray, Four th Duke of Atholl, not long after the celebrated Scots poet Robert Burns had visited the falls, and had been inspired to write a poem about them.

In the poem, written in 1787, Burns imagined that he was the Bruar Water, and pleaded with the Duke of Atholl to plant its banks with trees. The poet was already dead by the time the plantations were made, but the verses and the vision which they contain ensure that Burns' name, more than any other, is associated with this place. Burns' poem, and its descriptions, can help us to appreciate the history of the plantations at Bruar, and the special place that these waterfalls hold among Scotland's wild places.

No-one can visit the Bruar Water without being impressed by the striking combination of rock and water seen in the river, as it tumbles over a series of waterfalls into Glen Garry. The character of the falls changes constantly with the weather, the light or with the seasons. Sometimes wild and impressive, at other times more tranquil, the falls are never dull. As Robert Burns wrote:

Here foaming down the skelvy rocks
In twisting strength I rin;
There high my boiling torrent smokes
Wild roaring o'er a linn.

It is the 'skelvy' or layered nature of the rock which does much to determine the character of the falls. These ancient rocks – thought to have originally been marine sediments – were uplifted and tilted by the great forces which created his part of the Scottish Highlands some 500 million years ago. The gorge and the waterfalls have probably been formed in the last 10,000 years since the glaciers disappeared from Glen Garry at the end of the last Ice Age. Erosion has sought out the softer layers and weaknesses in the rock, leaving the harder layers to form the outcrops and waterfalls in the river bed. In places the rocks have been worn smooth by the action of the water. One of the best-known features of the falls is seen below the Lower Bridge, where the river has broken through the rock to form a natural arch. The falls are at their most spectacular after heavy rain, or during the melting of the snows in spring. Then the Bruar can become a raging torrent, plunging from pool to pool. Much of the time the Bruar is in more tranquil mood, though, as the circuit judge Lord Cockburn remarked after a visit to the falls in 1844:

The ravines through which the water tumbles are
so narrow in proportion to the size of the stream
that there can never be any apparent deficiency of water.

Now that water is extracted from the Bruar upstream of the falls, for the generation of hydro-electric power, we are no longer able to see the falls in their full glory. At times of lower flow the water is often stained brown by the peat through which it must flow to reach the river. The artist Joseph Farington, who visited the falls in 1801, remarked on the contrast which this produced with the surrounding rocks:

A bridge of light coloured stone crosses the top of
the fall, and the rocks under it are of a very light
colour. The deep toned colour of the water
opposed to tints approaching to white gave tone
and substance to the effect which white water

The earliest travellers to visit the Scottish Highlands would have viewed the Bruar with real horror. Only as travel was made safer by the building of roads and bridges did travellers begin to view the mountains in a new light. Places like the Falls of Bruar soon became regular stopping places on tours of the Highlands. Today's visitor to the falls is able to follow a path leading from the road, and may cross the Bruar by either of two bridges. Earlier visitors did not have such conveniences, and were obliged to scramble over rocks and streams. The path which you follow was laid out at the time of the first plantations in 1797, and the bridges built to conduct people safely across the Bruar. They serve no purpose other than that of enabling visitors to appreciate the spectacle of the falls. You may notice that the path runs close to the gorge only where the best views may be obtained. In other places the visitor is led away from less spectacular stretches of river bank. At one time a number of shelters were constructed at the key view-points along the path. These were variously described as view-houses, grottoes, shieldings or pastoral huts. Only part of one of these, built of stone, survives, close to the Lower Bridge. Here a skilfully contrived stone arch hides the Middle Falls from view until the last moment. Originally seats and a thatched wooden shelter provided a resting place overlooking the fall. A flight of stone steps led down to the pool below. The other main view-house stood on a ledge on the east side of the gorge, to give views of the Upper Falls. Few traces of this structure now survive, while elsewhere on the walk evidence of other view-houses is difficult to find. While some visitors no doubt appreciated the paths and shelters constructed by the Duke, others felt that they detracted from the wild character of the falls. The clutter of view-houses has now disappeared, and time and nature have mellowed the once formal paths. The work of the masons and labourers was well done, however, as we are still able, nearly two centuries later, to enjoy the spectacle of the falls in relative comfort and safety. It is easy for the works of man to detract from those of nature. At Bruar they try to ensure that you can enjoy the falls in their natural state, and without risk.

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Allt Mor Waterfall

The Allt Mor burn tumbles down Meall Dubh, through the woods then into the village of Kinloch Rannoch. The waterfall is an amazing site to behold whenever you visit, however you should definately visit after heavy rainfall or quick snow melt as it is phenomenal, no other word describes it - the force of the burn lashing over the rock formation with the spray covering the surrounding area.

Black Spout Wood & Waterfall

On arriving at Black Spout Wood you will climb gently through woodlands to the viewing platform for the impressive 60m high waterfall, which is especially impressive after heavy rainfall. The waterfall is in a small gorge in the Edradour burn. You can follow the path network to Edradour Distillery, Atholl Palace Hotel or residential areas within Pitlochry town.

Within the Black Spout Wood you will find a large Iron Age homestead perched on a cliff above the Edradour Burn near to the waterfall, this was excavated by Perth & Kinross Heritage Trust between 2005-2009.

Black Spout Wood is home to many species of fauna including Roe Deer, Red Squirrels, Foxes, Voles, Mice and Moles.
Flora includes Wood Anemone, Wood Sage, Primrose, Dog Voilet, Wood Sorrel, Blaeberry, Hard Fern, Wavy Hair Grass, Greater Woodrush, Snowdrops, Enchanter's Nightshade, Yellow Pimpernel, Creeping Buttercup, Ground Ivy, Sticky Willow, Barren Strawberry, Wood Avens and Bluebell.
Bird life includes Woodpeckers, Tits, Treecreepers, Warblers, Jays, Jackdaws, Buzzards, Kestrels, Dipper, Heron and Grey Wagtail.

The above is a small selection of the flora and fauna in the wood, what will you find on your travels through the Black Spout Wood?

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Falls of Acharn

The Falls of Acharn, a wonderful sight to behold, is approximately only 1 mile from the Village of Acharn.

The walk takes you up a farm track, which is steep in places, but it is definitely well worth the walk. When you arrive at the dark Hermit's Cave, enter and walk through the cave to reach this impressive wooded amphitheatre with viewpoint for the lower Falls, follow the signs to reach the upper gorge, with its own viewing platform, and finally the Upper Bridge. From the viewing platform you can see views north to Drummond Hill above Kenmore and the majestic Ben Lawers range. The total height of The Falls of Acharn is 25.5m/80ft.

The best time to visit the Falls of Acharn is after heavy rainfall when the burn is in full spate, the sound is impressive to say the least. Algae and Mosses grow on the stone slopes of the waterfall.

In summer the surrounding woodlands are alive with flocks of siskins and other bird and wildlife. Rabbits play in surrounding fields, Red Squirrel dance in the tree tops, you might even see a Pine Marten.

Birks of Aberfeldy

Follow in the footsteps of our national bard, Robert Burns

Over the centuries, thousands of visitors have been inspired by the natural beauty of the gorge. The Birks of Aberfeldy is a popular circular walk through wonderful mixed woodland on the outskirts of Aberfeldy. The Falls of Moness tumble through the gorge and provide a dramatic centrepiece, especially impressive after heavy rainfall. Robert Burns visited in 1787 and was so inspired that he wrote the poem 'The Birks of Aberfeldie'.

A quote from one of the verses sums up the splendid scene:
"The braes ascend like lofty wa's,
The foaming stream deep-roarin' fa's
O'erhung wi' fragrant spreading shaws
The birks of Aberfeldy"

A narrow, well defined path is overhung by mature trees and rises to a height of 150 metres at a bridge directly above the Falls of Moness. From here there are splendid views of the roaring white water beneath and, in winter, fine views over the top of the woodland to the valley of Strathtay. This 4km circular walk is accessible from the centre of Aberfeldy or from the Birks Car Park off the A826. There are seats and viewpoints along the way. For those not so mobile, there is a picnic area at the car park which gives a good flavour of the walk. There is also a short tree trail identifying a large number of species. The gorge is a place of immense natural power and beauty in any season but perhaps most photogenic in the cooler days of late autumn.

The Birks (Scots for birch trees) still cloak the steep slopes of the Moness gorge, along with oak, ash, elm and willow. Remnants of the ancient Caledonian Forest can be found in steep, inaccessible parts and it is likely that, in places, there has been continuous woodland cover for around 5000 years. More recent tree planting took place in the area in the late 1780's.

Many woodland plants flower in the spring and early summer before the leaves of the trees fully unfold. A stroll through the Birks in May or June will reveal wildflowers such as red campion, yellow pimpernel, bugle and sweet woodruff. The aromatic smell of wild wood garlic or ramsons is another lovely spring feature - look out for clusters of starry, white flowers on the woodland floor.

Much of the gorge is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for its rich plant and animal life. The cool, damp climate is perfect for mosses and it is possible to see at least ten different kinds, in a small area, on the bank near Burns' Seat. In Japan, mosses are highly valued and moss gardens are popular for their tranquillity.

Birds seen and heard most frequently are those of the woodland and waterside. The variety of habitats provides shelter, nest sites and a variety of ready meals. Warblers, Flycatchers and Woodpeckers are among many species that make their home in the trees. Pied and Grey Wagtails flit busily across the water, wagging their tails up and down. Dippers are recognisable by their strange dipping motion and striking white bib. They also have an amazing ability to walk along stream beds, underwater and against the current, as they search for grubs and insects amongst the stones.