Walk: Plodda Falls - through fir to the fall

Highland | Tomich | Short walk | ★★★★

[Plodda Falls]

Glen Affric and its neighbouring valleys don't do anything on a small scale, but this 50-metre waterfall is the region's tallest, beating nearby Guisachan waterfall in both power and scale. It's almost as if the waterfall and the surrounding Douglas Fir trees are competing in a height contest with each other - both are magnificent. This loop leaves the waterfall as a final climax, approached from the base with the top of the drop high above. In fact you'll be looking up for most of this walk - this forest contains some of Scotland's tallest trees. Whether that or the potholed approach road will make your neck ache more is open to debate.

[A newish viewing platform juts out directly over the abyss]

📌 Walk: Plodda Falls - through fir to the fall ★★★★
Start / finish at Plodda Falls car park (charge), minor road 3 mi southwest of Tomich, G.R.: NH 280238 ///frosted.riverbed.successor. Access to car park involves nearly 5 miles of unsurfaced, potholed road - not advised for vehicles with very low ground clearance.

▶ 3 km / 2 mi | ▲ 90 m | ⌚ Short | ⬤ Moderate
Features: Douglas Firs; Plodda Falls
Terrain: Earthy narrow footpaths and forest tracks. Steep ascent from base to top of falls.

Route & map

Car park - Abhainn Deabhag near Plodda Lodge - Plodda Falls - start. Route waymarked in green (see here).


Route credit: Forestry and Land Scotland

On our visit

Wildlife: Pine marten spotted from the approach road to the falls, scampering along the track in front.
Weather: Sunshine and scattered clouds, temperature creeping into low teens.

Also on this walk

📌 Plodda Falls ★★★★★
Off minor road 3 mi southwest of Tomich, G.R.: NH 277238 ///notion.pencil.carefully
Always open | Free

Anything else? If not walking the full route, quickest access to the falls is a 5-min walk (each way) from the same car park, using the end of the route above but in reverse.

[The huge Douglas Fir trees here were planted by Lord Gladstone in the 1880s]

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