Pattack Falls – A Gorge and an Empty Township
About 2.7 miles on foot.
Pattack Falls is a waterfall in a rocky gorge beside the A86 west of Laggan, a few minutes from the car park.
Carry on through the forest and you come to Druim an Aird, a township left empty long ago, where the ruins of its houses still stand in the grass. It's a short forest walk with something to see at each end.
- Time
- About an hour and three quarters: 4.4 km there and back from the car park to the ruined township of Druim an Aird, with the falls 180 m from the car. An easy to moderate forest walk.
- The path
- Firm wide gravel to the viewing area; then a firm narrow path with rocky and rooted sections, a forest road climbing moderately and grassy paths round the township.
- Where to start
- Forestry and Land Scotland's Pattack Falls car park on the A86, about 10 1/2 miles west of Newtonmore (nearest postcode PH20 1BY); free; no overnight parking.
- Set off
- From November to January, set off by 1.30pm to be back in daylight.
- When to go
- All year in daylight. From November to January set off by 1.30pm. The falls are fullest after rain.
- Dogs
- Under close control; on a lead at the gorge.
- Children
- Great care at the gorge; the walk on to the township suits children who walk well.
- Toilets
- None at the car park; toilets at Laggan Wolftrax, part-time in the season, and public toilets in Laggan village.
- Before you set out
- Stay on the stone path and viewing area at the falls and do not cross the barrier: the vegetation is being restored. No fires or barbecues.
The walk
The Forestry and Land Scotland car park at Pattack Falls is on the A86 between Laggan and Spean Bridge, about ten and a half miles west of Newtonmore. It's free, and there's no parking overnight. The falls come first: a firm gravel path of about 180 metres leads to a viewing area over the gorge, where the River Pattack drops between rock walls into a dark pool. Keep to the stone path and the viewing area and stay behind the barrier, because the plants along the edge are being given the chance to grow back.
From there Forestry and Land Scotland signposts the way on to Druim an Aird, 2.2 km from the car park, so 4.4 km there and back. The National Park allows an hour and three quarters, on a firm, narrow path with rocks and roots, a forest road that climbs at an easy angle, and grassy paths round the township. What is left of Druim an Aird is the ruins of its houses in a clearing. It's a protected ancient monument, so leave the stones as they lie.
This is a there-and-back walk: the forestry signposts it one way only, because the other way round is rough underfoot. Hold on to children at the gorge, and check for ticks afterwards. The nearest toilets and café are at Laggan Wolftrax, a couple of miles east, and they open part-time in the season.
If it rains
Most of the way is under the trees and the falls are at their fullest after rain, so a wet day does it no harm. The rock at the gorge is slippery: stay on the path.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
Where to eat
Laggan Stores Coffee Bothy, a café in Bridge.
For further reading, before you go.
Photograph by 許育誠 via Google