Steall falls

Steall falls (also named An Steall Ban or Steall Waterfall) is an impressive waterfall near  Fort William in Scotland (United Kingdom). It is only a 10 km drive from Fort William but many people walk from the town in the Glen Nevis valley to visit the Steall falls.

We took the easy way and drove from the main road ( road A82) at Fort William to the end of the Valley. There are many car parks but we drove along the Lower Falls Car Park (paid car park – gps 56.770147, -5.036791) to the Ben Nevis car park. This one is free! At the end of the road you can find a medium big parking (gps 56.777428, -5.000835) for Glen Nevis. This car park can be crowded in summer time but if you are early (before 10.20 a.m.) there should be some spots left.

From the parking there is a trail going east following the river Nevis. The walk is easy and goes slightly up with several nice viewpoint on the river and a few rapids. After approximately 25 minutes you can see the Steall falls from a far distance. From here it is another 10 minutes to the rope bridge near the waterfall. Here you can cross the river to the base of the Steall falls but small children can’t cross when they are too little. Note: not everybody dares to cross the bridge but it isn’t that difficult.

Once you have crossed the river Nevis, it is a 5 minute walk to the base of the waterfall. Follow the path directly along the river, there it isn’t very muddy!!!! At the base of the waterfall there is a big rock you can climb. Perfect for a good picture:) The river Allt Coire a’ Mhail plunges down from Coire Dubb an Stell over 120 meters. An impressive point to see. When we where at the Steall fall, August 2023, it had rained the day before and the waterflow with medium powerful. The weather was great (half sun-half clouds) but the sun was standing almost directly above the waterfall, not ideal for taking pictures.

With its stunning backdrop of rugged mountains, lush greenery, and serene surroundings, Steall Falls is a testament to the raw beauty of the Scottish Highlands. This hidden gem is not only a feast for the eyes but also an embodiment of the wild, untamed spirit that defines the Scottish landscape.

Steall falls is one of Scotland’s highest waterfalls, with a total drop of 120 meters. An Steall Bàn means “The White Spout” in Gaelic. 

There are other nice waterfalls near Fort William and a visit to the Isle of Skye is a must. There are many great waterfalls at the Island. More closer you can visit Glencoe valley with the Glencoe waterfall. Not that impressive as Steall falls, but certainly nice to see and easy to reach.