Walking guide
Walking in the Southern Uplands
Ronald Turnbull · 2014
Best hill days in southern Scotland incl. the Moffat Hills, where the Grey Mare's Tail drains Loch Skeen.
United Kingdom · Scottish Borders
Grey Mare's Tail
Meltwater from a hanging glacial valley drops in a long silvery streak visible from the main road below, with resident wild goats often grazing the steep slopes beside it. A steep path climbs alongside the falls to Loch Skeen, the lake that feeds it.
One of Britain tallest waterfalls, in a classic hanging valley Essentials guide
Checked September 2026 by David Bussell
Grey Mare's Tail drops 60 metres (197 ft) on the Tail Burn, inside Grey Mare's Tail Nature Reserve. It is a horsetail-type fall, and the nearest base for a visit is Moffat, with EDI the closest airport. Access to the main viewpoint is rated moderate.
As a horsetail waterfall, water stays in contact with the rock as it falls.
What you can do here
A walk-in-and-look waterfall
No commercial adventures run at Grey Mare's Tail itself — the experience is the approach and the view. Guided day trips from Moffat are the easiest way to combine it with the area around it.
Also good forHikingPhotographyWildlife & safari
When to go
Spring and autumn rains keep the hanging-valley falls at their fullest.
Entry: Free; NTS car park charge
Getting there
- Base town Moffat
- Airport EDI
- Country United Kingdom
- Region Scottish Borders, British Isles, Europe
- Access Moderate — a real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail
How it compares
This waterfall
Grey Mare's Tail
United Kingdom
Height60 mWidth—
Most similar
Makahiku Falls
United States
Height61 mWidth—
Also a horsetail waterfall and of similar height
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
60 m
61 m
108 m
330 m
979 m
Grey Mare's TailMakahiku FallsVictoria FallsEiffel TowerAngel Falls
Khone Phapheng Falls
10,783 m
Victoria Falls
1,708 m
Angel Falls is 16× taller than Grey Mare's Tail. Victoria Falls is 1.8× taller. We don't have a reliable crest width for Grey Mare's Tail yet, so it is left off the width chart. Tallest · widest lists.
Watch and read
Videos from Grey Mare's Tail
12:38
8:52
Chosen from YouTube; videos belong to their creators and play from YouTube's privacy-enhanced player.
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 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.
On the map
55.4212, -3.2917
Quick answers
Where is Grey Mare's Tail?
Grey Mare's Tail is in United Kingdom (Scottish Borders), inside Grey Mare's Tail Nature Reserve. The nearest base is Moffat and the closest airport is EDI. Its coordinates are 55.4212, -3.2917.
How tall is Grey Mare's Tail?
Grey Mare's Tail drops 60 metres (197 feet). It is a horsetail-type waterfall on the Tail Burn.
When is the best time to visit Grey Mare's Tail?
Peak flow is April to May and September to October. Spring and autumn rains keep the hanging-valley falls at their fullest.
What can you do at Grey Mare's Tail?
Beyond the viewpoints: hiking, photography and wildlife & safari. Access to the main viewpoint is rated moderate — a real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail.
How do you get to Grey Mare's Tail?
The usual base is Moffat, and the closest airport is EDI. A real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail from there. Free; NTS car park charge.
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