Steall Meadow & Falls — Stomping Feat.

Mar 1

Mar 1 Steall Meadow & Falls

Following the road through Glen Nevis is a beautiful drive. On a clear day you can catch a glimpse of the peak of Ben Nevis - the tallest mountain in the UK, amongst the other high mountains to the north of the Glen. With the Mamore Mountain Range to the south the valley is spectacular.

Nevis Gorge,  Glen Nevis — Nevis Gorge, Glen Nevis

At the end of the 10km road through the Glen, the last 7km of which is single track, is a small carpark. As we left the carpark we saw a pair of (our new favourite birds) Great Tits. Stopping for a few moments to take photos of them, we must’ve left a good impression, because these birds followed us down the walking track for at least the first kilometre into the woodland.

We lost our new feathered-friends as the woodland got thicker, and the path became rougher and rocky. Walking that path, through pockets of ancient forest sprinkled with the deep green of the Caledonian Pines, is a truly Scottish experience.

Crossing through a small stream that tumbles down the gorge to meet the larger river – the Water of Nevis – was for me the most challenging part of this beautiful, and otherwise strenuous but straightforward walk.

Up a short, rocky incline next to massive boulders spanning the width of the shallowing gorge, the path turns a corner and the scenery changes.

Opening up to the right, the river is now much closer to path level, and the meadow opens broadly with a sight of the Steall Falls cascading down the rocky face. It is very peaceful and extremely quiet – an excellent payoff at the end of a great hike.

Steall Falls are the second highest in Scotland, with water falling for 120m down to reach the slow-running river. Walking through the meadow, with the river to our right, we came across a wire bridge. Crossing the bridge takes you to the base of the falls, but we were short on time and so did not make the crossing proper.

The Steall Meadow is reportedly full of wildflowers in the spring, so I expect we will return to do this beautiful walk a second time, in a new light.

I have since found out that it was also the backdrop when old mate Harry Potter is battling a dragon in the Goblet of Fire film. So I guess I will be returning on my fangirl broomstick.

The walk back seemed quick and easy (especially compared to the Lost Valley walk we had done the day before) but that perhaps adds even more to the appeal of this brilliant short walk. And probably the reason so many people come back again and again.

That, and our Tits were waiting to say goodbye at the end of the walk (some 2 hours later!), so it would only be right that we went back to say hello.