Corrieshalloch Gorge is one of the most dramatic short walks near Ullapool: a narrow, wooded chasm carved by glacial meltwater, crossed by a Victorian suspension bridge and filled by the River Droma as it drops through the Falls of Measach.
It feels completely different from the open coast around Loch Broom and the Minch. Within a short distance, wide Highland views give way to damp woodland, steep rock walls and the sound of water echoing through a gorge almost hidden from the surrounding road.
You can make Corrieshalloch a quick stop for the bridge and waterfall, or follow the full woodland circuit if you have around an hour.
Corrieshalloch Gorge at a glance
| Visit detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Location | About 12 miles south of Ullapool, near Braemore Junction |
| Main circuit | About 2¼ miles (3.4 km) |
| Typical time | Around 1 hour for the full circuit |
| Ascent | About 331 ft (101 m) |
| Short option | About 10–20 minutes to reach the suspension bridge, depending on the route |
| Gorge depth | Up to about 200 ft (60 m) |
| Falls of Measach | About 148 ft (45 m) high |
| Terrain | Good paths overall, with steep gradients, steps and potentially wet surfaces |
| Public transport | Bus stop at Braemore Junction, about ½ mile from the gorge |
| Dogs | Welcome, but should be kept on a lead |
| Best for | Waterfalls, geology, woodland, photography and a short stop near Ullapool |
Why Corrieshalloch is worth stopping for
Corrieshalloch is easy to pass without realising what lies beside the road.
From the surrounding landscape there is little warning that the River Droma has cut such a deep, narrow channel through the rock. Within minutes of leaving the visitor centre, the ground falls away into a wooded gorge with the river far below.
That sudden change is part of what makes it memorable.
If you have been travelling around Ullapool, Loch Broom or the Minch coast, much of the landscape is defined by distance: open water, mountains, islands and long horizons. Corrieshalloch turns everything inward. The view becomes vertical rather than horizontal.
You hear the waterfall before you fully understand the depth of the gorge.
The walk to the suspension bridge
The quickest visit takes you from the visitor area through the woodland to the suspension bridge.
There are two short approaches. The more direct path takes roughly 10 minutes, while Lady Fowler’s Fern Walk gives you a longer and more atmospheric approach through the trees.
Both bring you to the Victorian suspension bridge spanning the River Droma.
The bridge is about 82 ft (25 m) long and is deliberately light in construction, so a little movement underfoot is normal.
From the centre, the river is far below and the walls of the gorge rise tightly on either side. If you dislike heights, there is no need to force yourself across simply because everyone else is doing it.
The bridge is one of the best places to appreciate just how narrow Corrieshalloch really is.
The Falls of Measach
The main waterfall is the Falls of Measach, where the River Droma drops about 148 ft (45 m) into the gorge.
After crossing the suspension bridge, continue for around 220 yards (200 m) through the woodland to the cantilevered viewing platform.
This gives one of the clearest views back towards both the waterfall and the bridge, with the narrow chasm running away through the trees.
The gorge can be particularly impressive after rain, when the River Droma is carrying more water and spray hangs in the shaded air.
Wet weather also makes paths, steps and viewing areas more slippery, so footwear with good grip is worthwhile.
How was Corrieshalloch Gorge formed?
Corrieshalloch is a slot gorge, or box canyon, shaped largely by powerful glacial meltwater.
During repeated Ice Age glaciations, ice occupied the wider Loch Broom landscape. As glaciers retreated, huge volumes of meltwater were channelled through weaknesses in the underlying rock.
The water carried rock and debris with it, progressively cutting deeper into the landscape and creating the steep-sided gorge visible today.
The result is a chasm around a mile long and up to approximately 200 ft (60 m) deep.
The River Droma now runs through the bottom, descending through a series of smaller falls before making its most dramatic drop at the Falls of Measach.
The Victorian suspension bridge
The bridge is almost as interesting as the landscape it crosses.
It was built in 1874 for Sir John Fowler, the Victorian engineer whose career included the Metropolitan Railway in London and work as chief engineer on the Forth Bridge.
Fowler owned the Braemore estate and reshaped much of the surrounding landscape during the 19th century. The bridge allowed visitors to experience the gorge from directly above the River Droma rather than simply looking into it from the rim.
Its structure uses cast-iron pylons, a wrought-iron deck and suspension cables stretching from ledge to ledge.
More than 150 years later, crossing it remains one of the defining parts of a visit to Corrieshalloch.
The full Corrieshalloch Gorge circuit
If you have more than a quick stop in mind, take the full circuit rather than turning back immediately after the waterfall.
The complete route is around 2¼ miles (3.4 km), takes roughly one hour and involves about 331 ft (101 m) of ascent.
Beyond the bridge and waterfall viewpoint, the path continues through woodland above the River Droma and passes a series of smaller waterfalls and viewpoints.
One of the later viewpoints opens away from the enclosed gorge towards Loch Broom and Ullapool, giving the walk a useful change of scale before it loops back towards the visitor centre.
The full circuit is still a relatively short Highland walk, but it gives you a much better sense of the woodland and wider reserve than visiting the suspension bridge alone.
Woodland, ferns and wildlife
The gorge creates its own cool, damp microclimate.
Its shaded walls and woodland support mosses, lichens and a rich collection of ferns, including hart’s-tongue, lady fern and male fern.
The woodland also provides habitat for species that depend on damp, decaying timber, including a nationally rare cranefly.
Ravens can be found around the gorge, while red squirrels may leave signs in the surrounding woodland.
It is easy to focus entirely on the waterfall, but some of the interest here is much smaller: ferns growing from wet rock, moss-covered timber and the way the woodland changes as the path moves between light and shade.
The Gateway to Nature Centre
The Gateway to Nature Centre is the main visitor base at Corrieshalloch and the start and finish point for the full gorge circuit.
It is useful for more than simply finding the path. The centre has a takeaway café serving food and drinks, outdoor seating and a viewing deck, so it works well for a coffee or something to eat before or after the walk.
There is no indoor café seating, so in poor weather it is better thought of as a convenient visitor stop than somewhere to settle in for a long lunch.
The facilities also include toilets, an accessible toilet, baby-changing facilities, a small retail selection, bike racks and electric-vehicle charging.
Accessible parking spaces provide step-free access to the centre itself.
The gorge is open daily, but the visitor centre, café, toilets and main car park operate to seasonal opening hours. If you are relying on those facilities, check the current opening information before travelling.
Parking at Corrieshalloch Gorge
Corrieshalloch Gorge is about 12 miles south of Ullapool, close to Braemore Junction where the A835 meets the A832.
There is a main car park beside the Gateway to Nature Centre and a separate overflow car park. The overflow area remains available outside the main car park’s opening hours.
Parking is free for National Trust for Scotland members. Charges apply to other vehicles, so check the current rate before travelling if that matters to your plans.
Corrieshalloch is a popular stop and the car parks can fill during busy periods. Do not improvise a space on or beside the A835 if the site is busy; the trunk road carries fast-moving traffic.
Can you reach Corrieshalloch Gorge by bus?
Yes, although the bus does not take you directly to the visitor centre.
The nearest stop is at Braemore Junction, about ½ mile from Corrieshalloch Gorge, with services from the Ullapool and Gairloch directions.
If travelling without a car, check the current timetable carefully before setting out. Services in this part of the Highlands can be infrequent, and the return journey matters just as much as the outward one.
Is Corrieshalloch Gorge accessible?
Parts of the site are accessible to wheelchair and pushchair users, but the main gorge experience includes steep gradients and rougher sections.
An easier wheelchair- and pushchair-friendly route leads to a bench with views towards Loch Broom and the surrounding countryside.
The path from the overflow car park towards the suspension bridge is step-free for around 440 yards (400 m), but the suspension bridge itself has a small step and is not suitable for buggies.
The route from the bridge to the cantilevered viewing platform also includes steps and rough, uneven ground.
If mobility is a concern, check the latest access information before travelling rather than assuming every viewpoint can be reached.
Visiting safely
Corrieshalloch is a managed visitor site, but the landscape beneath the paths and barriers is genuinely steep.
- Stay on established paths and behind barriers.
- Do not attempt to climb or scramble into the gorge.
- Wear footwear with good grip, particularly after rain.
- Keep dogs on a lead throughout the site.
- Keep children close around bridges, platforms and steep ground.
- Give other visitors space on narrow sections of path.
- Secure phones, cameras and other loose objects before using viewpoints.
- Respect the limit of six people at a time on the suspension bridge and viewing platform.
The suspension bridge, the area immediately around it and the metal viewing platform are also no-drone zones. Elsewhere on the property, permission is required before flying a drone.
If a path, bridge or viewpoint is closed, treat the closure as part of the visit rather than an obstacle to work around. There is no safe unofficial route into the gorge.
Is Corrieshalloch Gorge worth visiting?
Yes — particularly if you are travelling to or from Ullapool and want a short walk that feels completely different from the surrounding coast.
You do not need to make Corrieshalloch a half-day expedition. Even the short walk to the suspension bridge and Falls of Measach delivers the essential experience.
But if you have an hour, the full circuit is better. It gives you the bridge, waterfall, woodland, geology and wider views towards Loch Broom rather than treating the gorge as a single photograph.
The Gateway to Nature Centre also makes the stop easier than many Highland walks: you can arrive, use the facilities, walk the gorge and have a coffee without turning it into an all-day plan.
After miles of open Highland road, mountains and sea, there is something striking about stepping into a landscape where everything suddenly closes around you.
Corrieshalloch is not really a detour from the landscape of the north-west Highlands. It is another side of it.
Corrieshalloch Gorge FAQs
How long is the Corrieshalloch Gorge walk?
The full circuit is around 2¼ miles (3.4 km) and takes approximately one hour. If you only want to see the suspension bridge and waterfall, the shorter approaches reach the bridge in roughly 10–20 minutes.
How deep is Corrieshalloch Gorge?
The gorge reaches roughly 200 ft (60 m) deep and extends for around a mile through the landscape.
How high is the Falls of Measach?
The Falls of Measach drop around 148 ft (45 m) through the gorge.
Do you have to cross the suspension bridge?
No. If you are uncomfortable with heights or the movement of the bridge, there is no reason to force yourself across it. Enjoy the parts of the site that suit you.
Is Corrieshalloch Gorge free?
Entry to the gorge is free. Parking charges apply for visitors who are not National Trust for Scotland members.
Is there a café at Corrieshalloch Gorge?
Yes. The Gateway to Nature Centre has a takeaway café serving food and drinks, with outdoor seating. Opening days and hours vary through the year.
Are there toilets at Corrieshalloch Gorge?
Yes. Toilets, including an accessible toilet and baby-changing facilities, are available at the Gateway to Nature Centre during its operating hours.
Can you take dogs to Corrieshalloch Gorge?
Yes. Dogs are welcome but should be kept on a lead throughout the site.
Explore more around Ullapool and the Minch
Corrieshalloch lies inland from Loch Broom, making it an easy contrast to the open coastal landscape around Ullapool.
For a much shorter coastal outing nearby, continue with our guide to Rhue Lighthouse.
Or explore the wider sea and landscape beyond Ullapool in our guide to The Minch.
