Whitebridge, New Bridge

Explorer Tom The Falls of Foyers hide below a Highland village as though the River Foyers wants you to earn the sight. Follow the woodland steps and you hear the water before you see it. After rain the gorge can roar; in a dry spell, or when water is drawn for power generation, the show may be quieter. The waterfall has never promised to perform on a visitor's timetable. The river drops through a steep wooded ravine before making its way to Loch Ness. Two viewpoints let you see different angles of the falls, with the lower one demanding more steps. Tall trees and red squirrels make the approach worth noticing, so do not treat the path as mere queueing space. Robert Burns once wrote about the falls' 'horrid cauldron', though the modern railings let you admire it without proving your bravery. The water's changing flow also tells a more recent story. Hydroelectric schemes around Foyers use the force of Highland water; what reaches the natural falls can vary. It is still a powerful place, but honest visitors leave room for that variability. If you have energy left, longer marked paths continue towards the gorge and Loch Ness shore. The falls are free to visit throughout the year. Parking is available in Foyers near the start, but the path has many steep steps and the climb back up is unavoidable. Wet leaves and rock can be slippery, so wear shoes with grip and stay behind the barriers. Go after rain if a big cascade is your aim, but let the woods have their share of your attention. Even a quiet river can put on a good entrance.