Scotland's Highlands are filled with more vivid scenery than any single person could imagine. For those who have been there to witness it in person, it's very much akin to a dream come true. Sweeping green landscapes meet deep lochs, cliffside gorges line the shoreline, and snow-capped mountains tower high above thousands of acres of untamed wilderness. To attempt to explain its beauty would be nearly impossible but to describe one of its most beautiful landmarks, well... that's a bit more reasonable.
One of these landmarks is the Wailing Widow. Known as the most beautiful waterfall in the entire country, these falls have a tragic story to go with their breathtaking appearance. The best part, though, is the fact that hiking to both the upper and lower falls takes under an hour both ways.
Here's how to do it.
The Stories Of The Wailing Widow Waterfall
Another thing that Scotland is known for is its love for tales and legends. While many of these have yet to be confirmed as fact, it hasn't stopped an entire culture from passing down stories through generations, explaining unique locations away with dramatic - and sometimes tragic - tales. The story of the Wailing Widow waterfall is very much done in the same manner, bringing with it a tale of love and, simultaneously, loss.
The story goes that on a foggy, dreary day - as often happens in Scotland - when a hunter was out in search of deer. With the weather being so bad and visibility being slim to none, the hunter took an unfortunate step and fell over the side of the waterfall. With a sheer drop to the bottom, sadly, there was no way for him to survive. It's said that when his mother, a widow, found him, she, too, threw herself over the side out of grief. Thus, the waterfall has earned the name 'Wailing Widow' due to the grief felt in her loneliness.
While this story has yet to be proven fact or otherwise, there is another that's told by the locals who live near Assynt, where the falls are located. It goes by many names, including the Fairy Glen and one that's a bit more harrowing: Hanged Man Falls. The story associated with this name is no less tragic. This story tells of a man named Donald of the Moss who came from Lewis and was a cattle rustler, but also a criminal. While he was set to be hanged, he was released on an agreement to 'keep the peace' but didn't, killing a young man for his plaid during his getaway. As he was fleeing, he was caught, and authorities forced him to dig his own grave. It's said that he was hung from a rock spire in the glen, thus, the second nickname for the Wailing Widow waterfall.
Hiking To Wailing Widow
The falls are located a bit north of Ullapool and unlike the tallest waterfall in Scotland, reaching them is not nearly as challenging of a hike. In fact, the hike itself is considered fairly easy and can be done in roughly 15 minutes or so. The waterfall is easily reached from A894 just past the Kylesku Bridge, and visitors will see a small parking area that indicates the trailhead is nearby. Google is a useful tool for finding the falls, according to My Veggie Travels, but visitors can also just look for Loch na Gainmhich. While the waterfall won't be visible from the road, the trail to get there will be pretty obvious. If all else fails, hikers can use their ears - the waterfall creates quite an uproar when the trail gets nearer.
Two Ways To See The Falls
The first way to see the falls is by pulling into the first, smaller parking lot. This resides at the bottom of the hill and makes the trail to the falls quite obvious; it leads hikers to a base-view of the Wailing Widow. Over the top of the hill, hikers will find the second overlook which gives more of a bird's eye view of the falls - but it can get a bit muddy. Hikers should note that at the base of the falls, it is possible to get up-close and even in the water, but it comes in the form of a slippery game of hopscotch. Boots with good traction and even trekking poles might prove useful for those attempting to get even closer. To reach the very bottom of the falls, hikers must follow the left pathway until it reaches the gorge that has been carved out by the waterfall.