Falls of Bruar Waterfall

Address: Falls of Bruar, near Pitlochry, Perthshire, Scotland

Admission: Free

The Falls of Bruar are a series of cascades on the Bruar Burn in Perthshire, Scotland. The falls became widely known after the poet Robert Burns commented on them in 1787.

A short woodland walk leads to a sequence of waterfalls and rocky cascades set within a wooded gorge, with several simple viewpoints and footpaths following the burn. The route is a popular short outing for walkers and for people seeking a compact riverside scenic walk.

Robert Burns wrote a poem in 1787 urging local landowners to plant trees along the burn to improve the landscape; that literary association helped draw attention to the site and influenced later planting and conservation. The falls have remained a managed woodland and walking area since the 19th century.

Situated in rural Perthshire on the Bruar Burn, the falls lie in central Scotland’s upland countryside, within driving distance of towns in the Perthshire area and accessible from nearby country roads.

• Robert Burns connection: Robert Burns wrote a poem about the Bruar water in 1787 which drew literary attention to the site and prompted tree-planting in the area.

The falls are best reached by car from Pitlochry (about 20 minutes) via the A9 and local minor roads; there is parking near the trailheads. Local buses serve Pitlochry from Glasgow and Inverness, with onward taxi or bus connections.

• Approach the falls via the marked trails from the A9 side for clearer paths and viewpoints.
• Autumn colors intensify the gorge; visit just after rain for more dramatic water flow.
• Bring a camera with a polarizing filter to manage reflections on fast water and wet rocks.