At a glance
Our experience
Wailing Widow Falls, Assynt
Wailing Widow Falls was one of those places where the journey to the waterfall turned out to be almost as memorable as the waterfall itself. I had originally expected a short walk from the road to a viewpoint, but what I actually got was a proper little riverside scramble through mud, rocks and rough ground – and I absolutely loved it.
Finding Wailing Widow Falls
The first challenge was actually finding the place. There is very limited phone signal in this area, which I discovered when I was trying to find the map location for the waterfall. I eventually realised that I had passed it.
When I went back, the roadside parking was completely full. There are only limited places to pull in, and I didn't want to become another car creating an obstacle on the road like so many people do when places are busy. Instead, I drove on and stopped about ten minutes away for a short while before heading back.
Luckily, a space had cleared by the time I returned.
Parking and Getting Started
The parking area was extremely muddy, and I was honestly a little worried about my car sitting in it. I did wonder whether I might end up getting stuck, but I decided to carry on and make the most of being there.
I had originally planned to take my kids with me to see Wailing Widow Falls. After seeing the route, I was very glad they weren't with me this time.
The Walk to the Falls
I had believed this was going to be a short and fairly straightforward walk from the road. Technically, it is short, but after a few minutes I quickly realised that there wasn't really a proper path to follow to the base of the waterfall.
Instead, I found myself scrambling alongside the river, climbing over rocks and picking my way through mud and uneven ground.
Thankfully, I actually love a good scramble, so this wasn't a problem for me. In fact, it became one of my favourite parts of the whole experience.
There were definitely moments when I was walking along thinking about my fancy Gore-Tex hiking shoes sitting snug, clean and completely dry in the cupboard under the stairs at home. They would have been very useful here!
The Scramble
The route became increasingly rough as I got closer to the waterfall. Rocks, mud and the river all became part of the adventure, and it felt much more like exploring a wild Highland landscape than following a conventional walking trail.
It's worth knowing what you're getting yourself into before visiting. This isn't somewhere I would recommend treating like an easy family stroll. The ground is uneven and muddy, and there are plenty of places where you need to watch your footing.
For me, though, that made it even more enjoyable.
The Waterfall
Then I reached the final corner.
After scrambling my way along the river, I finally got my first proper view of Wailing Widow Falls.
The waterfall was powerful and dramatic, and it was the perfect reward for the effort it had taken to get there.
I honestly just stood there staring at it in awe.
There are some places where you take a few photographs, have a quick look and move on. Wailing Widow Falls wasn't like that for me. After the scramble to reach it, standing there watching the water crash down felt like one of those moments where you just want to stop and take it all in.
What I Liked Most
The scramble was probably my favourite part of the experience. I love the feeling of having to work a little bit to reach somewhere, and Wailing Widow Falls definitely gave me that.
The waterfall itself was incredible, but the combination of the rough riverside route, the surrounding landscape and finally seeing the powerful falls made the whole experience memorable.
Would I Visit Again?
Absolutely.
Even knowing what the route is like now, I would go back to Wailing Widow Falls as often as possible. I would just make sure I had proper footwear, downloaded my maps beforehand and was prepared for mud and scrambling.
I would also leave the kids at home unless they were older, confident on rough terrain and properly equipped for the conditions. After seeing the route for myself, I'm definitely glad they weren't walking it with me that day.
Wildly Wandering Rating
5/5
Wailing Widow Falls is exactly the kind of wild Highland adventure I love. It isn't the easiest little waterfall stop, but the scramble makes reaching it feel like an adventure, and the waterfall waiting at the end is absolutely worth it.
Wildly Wandering Recommendation
If you're travelling the NC500 and enjoy getting off the beaten track, I'd definitely recommend Wailing Widow Falls. Just don't expect a neat, surfaced path to the bottom. Come prepared for mud, rocks, scrambling and potentially very wet conditions – and you'll be rewarded with an incredible waterfall.
Wildly Wandering tip: Download your map before arriving because mobile signal can be extremely limited. And if you're planning to scramble to the base, wear proper waterproof hiking footwear with good grip.
