Falls of Foyers, Loch Ness

The Falls of Foyers drop 30 metres in a single dramatic plunge into a dark pool in a tree-lined gorge on the eastern shore of Loch Ness, and the woodland walk from the village of Foyers to reach them passes through mature mixed forest of oak, birch and hazel that clothes the steep loch-side slopes. Robert Burns visited in 1787 and wrote a poem about the falls, and they remain one of the more overlooked natural attractions on Loch Ness-side given the distraction of the monster search to the north. The circuit can be extended to the loch shore itself, where a pebble beach gives access to the deep, dark water of the loch.

This is a dog friendly walk well suited to all ages and abilities. The forest paths provide good off-lead opportunity on the broad sections, though leads are needed near the gorge edge and at the falls viewpoint where the drop is significant. The loch shore extension adds an excellent swimming section for dogs in the clear, cold water of Loch Ness. Livestock risk is negligible throughout the woodland. The tearoom in Foyers village welcomes dogs outside and provides a practical refreshment stop. The eastern shore of Loch Ness carries far less tourist traffic than the western shore through Drumnadrochit, giving this walk a notably quieter character than the monster-watching crowd of the main road.