Lonely Planet EnglandLonely Planet
Guidebook
Lonely Planet England
Lonely Planet · 2025
Current Lonely Planet England covering Teesdale and Ullswater, the settings of High Force and Aira Force.
United Kingdom · Highland
Falls of Kirkaig
The Falls of Kirkaig is a waterfall in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland, in Sutherland, within the Highland council area. The falls are located on the River Kirkaig, south by southeast of the village of Lochinver, on the main approach footpath to Suilven mountain.
Essentials guide
Facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia, compiled September 2026; season and access are our estimate, not a visit report. How we build these pages.
Falls of Kirkaig drops 20 metres (66 ft). It is a cascade-type fall, and the nearest base for a visit is Highland, United Kingdom. Access to the main viewpoint is rated easy.
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article (CC BY-SA 4.0).
As a cascade waterfall, water tumbles down a series of rock steps rather than falling free.
What you can do here
A walk-in-and-look waterfall
No commercial adventures run at Falls of Kirkaig itself — the experience is the approach and the view. Guided day trips from Highland are the easiest way to combine it with the area around it.
Also good forHikingPhotography
When to go
Snowmelt feeds the falls from late May; June to August is the short, bright season, and many access roads close in winter.
Getting there
- Base town Highland, United Kingdom
- Country United Kingdom
- Region Highland, British Isles, Europe
- Access Easy — a short walk or roadside viewpoint
How it compares
This waterfall
Falls of Kirkaig
United Kingdom
Height20 mWidth—
Most similar
Aldeyjarfoss
Iceland
Height20 mWidth—
Also a cascade waterfall, of similar height and in Iceland
Largest curtain
Victoria Falls
Zimbabwe · Zambia
Height108 mWidth1,708 m
Largest single sheet of falling water
Tallest on earth
Angel Falls
Venezuela
Height979 mWidth—
Widest on earth
Khone Phapheng Falls
Laos
Height21 mWidth10,783 m
Measured across the whole multi-channel system
20 m
20 m
108 m
330 m
979 m
Falls of KirkaigAldeyjarfossVictoria FallsEiffel TowerAngel Falls
Khone Phapheng Falls
10,783 m
Victoria Falls
1,708 m
Angel Falls is 49× taller than Falls of Kirkaig. Victoria Falls is 5.4× taller. We don't have a reliable crest width for Falls of Kirkaig yet, so it is left off the width chart. Tallest · widest lists.
Watch and read
Books worth packing
Lonely Planet ScotlandLonely Planet
Guidebook
Lonely Planet Scotland
Lonely Planet · 2025
Current Lonely Planet Scotland covering Glen Nevis, Kintail and the Moffat area.
The Rough Guide to ScotlandRough Guides
Guidebook
The Rough Guide to Scotland
Rough Guides · 2025
Current Rough Guide with Highland and Borders detail for Steall, Glomach and Grey Mare's Tail trips.
Lonely Planet WalesLonely Planet
Guidebook
Lonely Planet Wales
Lonely Planet · 2025
Current Lonely Planet Wales covering the Brecon Beacons (Bannau Brycheiniog) and its waterfall country.
On the map
58.10917, -5.20611
Quick answers
Where is Falls of Kirkaig?
Falls of Kirkaig is in United Kingdom (Highland). The nearest base is Highland, United Kingdom. Its coordinates are 58.1092, -5.2061.
How tall is Falls of Kirkaig?
Falls of Kirkaig drops 20 metres (66 feet). It is a cascade-type waterfall.
When is the best time to visit Falls of Kirkaig?
Peak flow is June to August. Snowmelt feeds the falls from late May; June to August is the short, bright season, and many access roads close in winter.
What can you do at Falls of Kirkaig?
Beyond the viewpoints: hiking and photography. Access to the main viewpoint is rated easy — a short walk or roadside viewpoint.
How do you get to Falls of Kirkaig?
The usual base is Highland, United Kingdom. A short walk or roadside viewpoint from there.
Nearby
Closest to Falls of Kirkaig
Falls of Shin
United Kingdom · 50 km away
Falls of Shin is a waterfall on the River Shin, in northern Scotland, near the villages of Bonar Bridge and…
Dog Falls, Glen Affric
United Kingdom · 90 km away
Dog Falls is a series of waterfalls on the River Affric, in Glen Affric in the Highlands of Scotland. The…
Falls of Glomach
United Kingdom · 113 m · 100 km away
One of Britain tallest waterfalls
Falls of Foyers
United Kingdom · 14 m · 100 km away
The Falls of Foyers are two waterfalls on the River Foyers, which feeds Loch Ness, in Highland, Scotland.…