Reekie Linn: the hidden waterfall in Glen Isla

There are places round here that people drive straight past, all the way to the big-name car parks, never knowing what they've missed. Reekie Linn is one of those. A proper hidden waterfall, tucked into a wooded gorge, and one of those spots locals know and visitors usually don't.

Let me tell you about it.

Where it is and how you get there

Reekie Linn sits on the River Isla, up in Glen Isla, where the river drops through a wooded gorge and throws itself over the rock. You reach it by a short walk from a picnic car park, so there's no epic hike involved, no special kit, no map and compass business.

Just park up, follow the path in through the trees, and let the sound do the rest. It's a short run from us here at the park, well worth the trip.

The walk in

This is the bit I love, honestly.

You hear it before you see it. The path winds in through the woodland (damp bark, leaf mould, that green, mineral smell you only get near running water) and the low rumble grows into something you can feel in your chest.

Then the trees open and there it is. The Isla folding over the lip of the gorge and dropping away into the dark below, spray hanging in the air, the whole thing louder than you expected.

Go after a good spell of rain and it's a different beast entirely. The falls are at their most powerful when the river is in spate, thunderous and brown and properly wild. Go in a dry spell and it's gentler, prettier, easier to linger over. No wrong answers, though the wet-weather version is the showstopper.

A word on safety, because it matters

Right, I'll be straight with you here.

The gorge at Reekie Linn has steep, unfenced drops. That's part of what makes it so dramatic, and it's also why you keep well back from the edge, mind your footing on the wet ground, and don't go clambering about for a better photo.

Keep dogs close and little ones closer. The view is more than good enough from a safe distance, I promise. Treat the place with a bit of respect and it'll reward you.

Make a day of it

This is the sort of outing that suits a slow afternoon. Take a flask, take the picnic, take your time on the path and let the woods do their thing.

Then come back here to the quiet. Spend the day out at the falls, breathe in all that spray and birdsong, and finish the evening with your feet up and nothing louder than the wind in the trees. Festival by day, peace and quiet at night, that's the Foresterseat way, and it works just as well for a waterfall.

If you're thinking of a stay to build the trip around, have a look at foresterseat.co.uk and get in touch. I'm always happy to point you at the good spots.

And for this one, take stout shoes and go after the rain. You won't be disappointed.

Emma x