Kilfinnan Falls

Kilfinnan Falls

The walk from the hostel to Kilfinnan falls will take approximately 2 - 3 hours, and is suitable for most people, although there is a steep short climb towards the end.

On leaving the Hostel you turn left, and walk along the A82 for about 200 metres, when you will come to a path off to the left, alongside a creek which runs into the Caledonian Canal. Take this path to the left, and you will now head southwest for about one mile. The path is a pleasant walk alongside the Canal through deciduous and pine trees. After about 15 minutes you will reach the Laggan Locks, a series of locks in the canal where Loch Lochy meets the Caledonian Canal.

From here we head across the locks, and along a bitumen road which follows the shore of Loch Lochy, past a group of holiday chalets, across a cattle grid and we then come to a T-junction. Turn left here and then continue along the road for about 10 minutes, when you'll come to a bridge over the Kilfinnan Burn. About 20 metres before this bridge there is a small parking place on the right and a track leading off it. Take this track, which at this stage is a gravel track used for farm vehicles, and it will head up by the river, although most of the time you'll be some way above the river.

After a short steep climb on this track the path will turn into a small walking track, which heads further up the side of the hill, along the river, but still above it as well. Around this area the path can become somewhat indistinct, however as long as you're walking parallel to the river you're heading in the right direction. The path will become somewhat narrow, and follows the side of the hill which drops steeply down to the river below. After about 15 minutes you should be rewarded for your time and effort with a nice view of the falls.

The return trip can either be back the way you came up to the falls, or for the more adventurous, you can ascend higher, and make a loop back to the bottom where the track started from the road below. A word of caution here though - the track further on is indistinct and quite steep, and there are steep drops to the waterfall below.

If you wish to take this loop back down, scamble on up to just above the falls, and then keep heading up through the heather until you reach a tall deer fence which blocks your way. At this fence turn right, and head up alongside the fence to the top of the hill. This part is quite a steep haul. At the top you'll find a stile over the deer fence to the left of you, which you can sit on and relax, taking in the wonderful views of Ben Tee to the west. Don't cross the fence, but turn right at the stile along a sheep track which skirts along the side of the ridge. Heading back towards the road now you'll come to the end of the hill after about twenty minutes, and you'll be able to see the road that you left earlier beneath you. Descend down the hill and make your way back to the hostel for a well earned cup of tea.


	Kilfinnan Falls The walk from the hostel to Kilfinnan falls will take approximately 2 - 3 hours, and is suitable for most people, although there is a steep short climb towards the end. On leaving the Hostel you turn left, and walk along the A82 for about 200 metres, when you will come to a path off to the left, alongside a creek which runs into the Caledonian Canal. Take this path to the left, and you will now head southwest for about one mile. The path is a pleasant walk alongside the Canal through deciduous and pine trees. After about 15 minutes you will reach the Laggan Locks, a series of locks in the canal where Loch Lochy meets the Caledonian Canal. From here we head across the locks, and along a bitumen road which follows the shore of Loch Lochy, past a group of holiday chalets, across a cattle grid and we then come to a T-junction. Turn left here and then continue along the road for about 10 minutes, when you'll come to a bridge over the Kilfinnan Burn. About 20 metres before this bridge there is a small parking place on the right and a track leading off it. Take this track, which at this stage is a gravel track used for farm vehicles, and it will head up by the river, although most of the time you'll be some way above the river. After a short steep climb on this track the path will turn into a small walking track, which heads further up the side of the hill, along the river, but still above it as well. Around this area the path can become somewhat indistinct, however as long as you're walking parallel to the river you're heading in the right direction. The path will become somewhat narrow, and follows the side of the hill which drops steeply down to the river below. After about 15 minutes you should be rewarded for your time and effort with a nice view of the falls. The return trip can either be back the way you came up to the falls, or for the more adventurous, you can ascend higher, and make a loop back to the bottom where the track started from the road below. A word of caution here though - the track further on is indistinct and quite steep, and there are steep drops to the waterfall below. If you wish to take this loop back down, scamble on up to just above the falls, and then keep heading up through the heather until you reach a tall deer fence which blocks your way. At this fence turn right, and head up alongside the fence to the top of the hill. This part is quite a steep haul. At the top you'll find a stile over the deer fence to the left of you, which you can sit on and relax, taking in the wonderful views of Ben Tee to the west. Don't cross the fence, but turn right at the stile along a sheep track which skirts along the side of the ridge. Heading back towards the road now you'll come to the end of the hill after about twenty minutes, and you'll be able to see the road that you left earlier beneath you. Descend down the hill and make your way back to the hostel for a well earned cup of tea.