Glen Etive
Waterfall Argyll and Bute, Scotland
About Glen Etive
A single-track road peels off the A82 just past the Kings House Hotel and drops you into Glen Etive, a long Highland valley carved by glaciers and drained by the River Etive as it works its way down to the sea loch of Loch Etive. Along that run the river has cut out a series of deep pools connected by waterfalls and natural rock slides — popular with wild swimmers and, when water levels are high, with white-water kayakers tackling some of Scotland's more demanding Grade 4 rapids. The northern entrance to the glen is framed by Buachaille Etive Mòr and Buachaille Etive Beag, the two peaks known as the Herdsmen of Etive. The whole area sits within the Ben Nevis and Glen Coe National Scenic Area, and red deer wander close to the road without much concern for passing cars. In Irish mythology, Deirdre and Naoise are said to have sought refuge here after fleeing Ulster — a detail the glen's remoteness still makes easy to believe. Spring is a reasonable time to visit if swimming appeals and you'd rather dodge the summer midges.
Location & details
- Category
- Waterfall
- Region
- Argyll and Bute, Scotland, United Kingdom
- Coordinates
- 56.56667, -5.05000
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