Ben Nevis and Glen CoeRonald Turnbull
Walking guide
Ben Nevis and Glen Coe
Ronald Turnbull · 2017
100 walks around Ben Nevis and Glen Coe incl. the Glen Nevis gorge path to Steall meadow and its wire bridge.
United Kingdom · Scottish Highlands
Steall Falls
Steall Waterfall
Scotland's second-tallest waterfall sits at the head of a dramatic gorge below Ben Nevis, reached by a scramble along an exposed path and, for the adventurous, a wire rope bridge with only three strands to cross the river at its base. The surrounding meadow has appeared in several Harry Potter films.
Scotland's second-tallest waterfall Essentials guide
Checked September 2026 by David Bussell
Steall Falls drops 120 metres (394 ft) on the Allt Coire a' Mhail, inside Nevis Gorge. It is a horsetail-type fall, and the nearest base for a visit is Glen Nevis, with INV 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 Steall Falls itself — the experience is the approach and the view. Guided day trips from Glen Nevis are the easiest way to combine it with the area around it.
Also good forHikingPhotography
When to go
Spring and autumn balance flow with clearer scrambling conditions along the gorge path.
Entry: Free
Getting there
- Base town Glen Nevis
- Airport INV
- Country United Kingdom
- Region Scottish Highlands, British Isles, Europe
- Access Moderate — a real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail
How it compares
This waterfall
Steall Falls
United Kingdom
Height120 mWidth—
Most similar
Stalheimsfossen
Norway
Height126 mWidth—
Also a horsetail waterfall, of similar height and in Norway
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
120 m
126 m
330 m
979 m
Victoria FallsSteall FallsStalheimsfossenEiffel TowerAngel Falls
Khone Phapheng Falls
10,783 m
Victoria Falls
1,708 m
Angel Falls is 8.2× taller than Steall Falls. It is about the same height as Victoria Falls (108 m). We don't have a reliable crest width for Steall Falls yet, so it is left off the width chart. Tallest · widest lists.
Watch and read
Videos from Steall Falls
12:04
9:42
2:03
Chosen from YouTube; videos belong to their creators and play from YouTube's privacy-enhanced player.
Books worth packing
Walking the Cape Wrath TrailIain Harper
Walking guide
Walking the Cape Wrath Trail
Iain Harper · 2022
Backpacking guide to the Cape Wrath Trail, whose Kintail section passes the remote Falls of Glomach.
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.
On the map
56.7702, -4.9798
Quick answers
Where is Steall Falls?
Steall Falls is in United Kingdom (Scottish Highlands), inside Nevis Gorge. The nearest base is Glen Nevis and the closest airport is INV. Its coordinates are 56.7702, -4.9798.
How tall is Steall Falls?
Steall Falls drops 120 metres (394 feet). It is a horsetail-type waterfall on the Allt Coire a' Mhail.
When is the best time to visit Steall Falls?
Peak flow is April to June and September to October. Spring and autumn balance flow with clearer scrambling conditions along the gorge path.
What can you do at Steall Falls?
Beyond the viewpoints: hiking and photography. 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 Steall Falls?
The usual base is Glen Nevis, and the closest airport is INV. A real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail from there. Free.
Nearby
Closest to Steall Falls
Falls of Lora
United Kingdom · 40 km away
Falls of Lora is a waterfall in United Kingdom.
Falls of Falloch
United Kingdom · 50 km away
Falls of Falloch is a waterfall and local beauty spot on the river Falloch off the A82. It is 7 km south-west…
Falls of Glomach
United Kingdom · 113 m · 50 km away
One of Britain tallest waterfalls
Falls of Foyers
United Kingdom · 14 m · 60 km away
The Falls of Foyers are two waterfalls on the River Foyers, which feeds Loch Ness, in Highland, Scotland.…