Eas Mor Waterfall Walk, Glen Brittle

Eas Mor Waterfall, Glen Brittle

Eas Mor is a dramatic waterfall on Allt Coire na Bannachdich, in scenic Glen Brittle, Isle of Skye. The waterfall is reached via a short, though steep, footpath from the Glen Brittle Memorial Hut on the road from Carbost to the mouth of the River Brittle.

The short waterfall walk can be combined with a longer circular walk to Coire Lagan, a beautifully situated inland loch in the foothills of the Black Cuillins.

Eas Mor (the name literally translates from the Gaelic as 'Large Waterfall'), is a single plume that drops roughly 70m straight down a sheer cliff to the rocks below.

The setting, with the Cuillins rising dark beyond the walls, is breathtaking, and Eas Mor must be one of the most impressive natural sights on Skye.

Eas Mor from the west

Getting There

Unlike many of Skye's natural wonders, Eas Mor is relatively straightforward to get to. From Carbost, take the single-lane road heading south through Glen Brittle. You will pass the parking area for the Fairy Pools at the northern end of the glen.

Carry on past the Glen Brittle Youth Hostel on the right-hand side of the road, about halfway down the glen, and you will come to the Glen Brittle Memorial Hut on the right. Opposite the Hut, there is a relatively large unpaved parking area with space for a dozen or so cars.

Simply follow the obvious, signed trail that heads up the steep slope just south of the Hut. The trail runs along the northern bank of Allt Coire na Bannachdich before crossing the stream at a ford to the south bank.

Another view of the falls from the west

The ground rises again, as the stream descends into a steep-sided gorge, and Eas Mor waterfall comes into view. From the parking area to the waterfall is about 1km (roughly 0.6 miles). and should take no more than 15 minutes for a reasonably fit person.

The reward for your exertion is a stunning view of the waterfall as it drops almost vertically over a dramatic cliff.

If you want to extend your walk to Coire Lagan (as our family did), simply carry on past Eas Mor, following the obvious trail as it climbs to Loch an Fhir-bhallaich and beyond, crossing Allt Coire Lagan at a pretty cascade before reaching the lochan in its bowl of brooding hills.

Alternatively, start your walk at the campground near the beach in Glen Brittle and take the obvious trail that leads up the slope past Loch an Fhir-bhallaich to Coire Lagan, then return via Eas Mor. This circular walk is much longer, at 5.5 miles (9km) and will take from 3-5 hours. Our 6-year-old daughter managed it, so you can, too!