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 Shin
Falls of Shin is a waterfall on the River Shin, in northern Scotland, near the villages of Bonar Bridge and Lairg. Falls of Shin had a popular visitor centre, managed as part of Balnagown Estates, a company owned by former Harrods boss Mohamed Al-Fayed.
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 Shin drops over a series of steps on the River Shin. 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 Shin 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 forHikingPhotographyWildlife & safari
When to go
Spring snowmelt and rain make April to June the fullest months; October adds colour, and a hard winter can freeze the face.
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 Shin
United Kingdom
Height—Width—
Most similar
Ófærufoss
Iceland
Height—Width—
Also a cascade waterfall 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
108 m
330 m
979 m
Victoria FallsEiffel TowerAngel Falls
Khone Phapheng Falls
10,783 m
Victoria Falls
1,708 m
We don't have a reliable crest width for Falls of Shin 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
57.9605, -4.40725
Quick answers
Where is Falls of Shin?
Falls of Shin is in United Kingdom (Highland). The nearest base is Highland, United Kingdom. Its coordinates are 57.9605, -4.4073.
When is the best time to visit Falls of Shin?
Peak flow is April to June and October. Spring snowmelt and rain make April to June the fullest months; October adds colour, and a hard winter can freeze the face.
What can you do at Falls of Shin?
Beyond the viewpoints: hiking, photography and wildlife & safari. Access to the main viewpoint is rated easy — a short walk or roadside viewpoint.
How do you get to Falls of Shin?
The usual base is Highland, United Kingdom. A short walk or roadside viewpoint from there.
Nearby
Closest to Falls of Shin
Falls of Kirkaig
United Kingdom · 20 m · 50 km away
The Falls of Kirkaig is a waterfall in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland, in Sutherland, within the…
Dog Falls, Glen Affric
United Kingdom · 80 km away
Dog Falls is a series of waterfalls on the River Affric, in Glen Affric in the Highlands of Scotland. The…
Falls of Foyers
United Kingdom · 14 m · 80 km away
The Falls of Foyers are two waterfalls on the River Foyers, which feeds Loch Ness, in Highland, Scotland.…
Falls of Glomach
United Kingdom · 113 m · 100 km away
One of Britain tallest waterfalls