Falls of Foyers

The falls

There are two drops: an upper fall of about 14 metres and a lower fall of about 30 metres. The lower fall is the dramatic one, plunging into a deep, tree-lined gorge before the river runs on to Loch Ness. Paths lead down from the village to viewpoints over the water. From the viewpoints you look straight into the gorge, and you will usually hear the water before you see it.

Burns and the aluminium works

Robert Burns visited on his Highland tour and wrote 'Lines on the Fall of Fyers, near Loch Ness' in 1787. A century later, in 1895, the British Aluminium Company built a smelter here that drew water from above the falls and cut their flow. The works closed in 1967, but a later hydro scheme still takes some of the water, so the falls are at their most impressive after rain.

Making a day of it

Foyers is around halfway along Loch Ness, so the falls pair well with a loop of the loch. Further along you can stop at the Falls of Divach above Drumnadrochit or visit Nessieland. Wear good footwear: the paths into the gorge are steep in places.

Highlights

• Two-tier waterfall falling 44 metres in total
• Lower fall drops about 30 metres into a wooded gorge
• Subject of a 1787 poem by Robert Burns
• On the quieter south-east side of Loch Ness

Good to know

• Flow is reduced by hydro abstraction, so visit after rain for the best show.
• Paths into the gorge are steep; sturdy shoes recommended.

Frequently asked questions