Last Updated: May 30, 2023
Lealt Falls is a lovely picturesque stop off when on the Isle of Skye in Scotland.
With free parking and an easy viewing platform, you can easily see the top of the waterfall for a quick stop off along your journey.
But if you stay a while and venture down the steep track, you will be rewarded with an even better view.
And if you fancy a dip, then Lealt Falls is also a great place to have a wild swim with the kids.
We love a good wild swim as a family. There’s just something magical about finding a quiet spot in one of mother natures pools and cooling off on a hot day with mountains, woods or fields all around you.
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Getting to Lealt Falls
To find this paradise, the first thing you need to do is get to the Isle of Skye in Scotland.
If you’re flying into Scotland, Inverness Airport is your best bet. It as some limited international travel, but you may need to change at one of the other big UK airports if coming in from abroad.
Inverness is also an easy place to get the train to and from. Although there are some closer stations to Skye and the Lealt Falls if you want to go via a different route.
You can take a coach from Inverness to Portree on the Isle of Skye if you don’t have a vehicle. City Link do daily services on this route which takes approximately 3 hours.
If you’re driving from Inverness or anywhere else, you can drive straight to the Isle of Skye as it is connected to the mainland via a bridge.
Once on the Isle of Skye, Lealt falls is just off the A855, about a 20 minute drive north of Portree. If you don’t have your own wheels you can get the 57A Bus from Portree and get off at the ‘Road End’ stop and then walk around 3 minutes to the water fall.
If you do have your own wheels then there is a car park right next to the waterfalls. Where most people stop just to see the lookout spot.
The main car park has a height restriction, so if you are in a tall campervan or motorhome you will need to park outside it.
There are a small amount of spaces outside the height restriction for the tall vehicles. So if you have a car please park up in the main car park, so the vehicles that can’t get under the barrier will have a spot outside.
Both car parking areas are free.
Staying Near Lealt Falls
If you want to stay somewhere near Lealt Falls then there are a few good options.
If you are campervanning it then there is a great free spot just down the road at Tobhta Uachdrach View Point (try saying that three times fast!).
When you pull in off the road, there are a couple of spots at the bottom. But if you venture up the track a bit there are even more.
The track is a little bumpy and steep, so take your time up and down it in your vehicle. But at the top there are a few additional laybys that you can squeeze into.
You then have great views of the eastern coast and some nice protection from the western winds, courtesy of a high bank.
There is room for a few vehicles across the various laybys, maybe 10 or so, but it can be quite popular. So park responsibly making sure someone else can get in if possible rather than straddling a couple of spots.
If you prefer an actual campsite or if you are in a tent or a caravan, there are a couple of campsites top and bottom of the A855 with the water falls being about in the middle of them. Torvaig Campsite being the bottom and Staffin Campsite at the top.
If camping is not your style, Portree offers B&Bs, hotels, hostels and apartments.
The Track Down to Lealt Falls
When you first arrive at the car park you will see the Lealt Falls Viewpoint area on a wooden board walk. Go have a gander and admire the falls from the top and get some good snaps.
You will see from here that it is quite far down, with no way to the bottom it seems? But there is.
Head further up the footpath, keeping the main car park on your left and you will see another little viewpoint.
Head down to it where the rocky path seems to end, but a less obvious clay path begins.
You will have a great view of the sea here. Then, looking down, you will see the pebble beach and the ruins. This is where you will first aim for.
Follow the clay path down. It can be a bit slippery and thin, so take your time as you wind down and make sure you have good footwear on.
Although it’s a short walk it is quite steep, and remember you will be taking this path back up on your return.
At one point the path splits and you can take the right fork straight to the water fall or the left path down to the ruins. The ruins are worth a look so head left here and then keep following it until you get to them.
The ruins of an old factory are really cool to explore and you can usually cross over the river on the rocks to get to the other part of the ruins as well. Once you’ve finished exploring, maybe have a chill on the shore and watch the tide roll away.
When you’re ready, head back over the river and then follow the path around the steep hill, keeping the river on your left.
It should be walkable during low tide, but you may have to wade or even swim during high tide. So it may be advisable to check tide times before you go.
Around the corner the falls will open up before you and you will realise you have hit the natural jackpot!
It’s here you can now just relax and listen to the falls crashing into the pool below. Or for the adventurers out there you might be ready for a swim!
Swimming in Lealt Falls
Before we get wet, a small disclaimer, in that wild swimming is just that.
There are no life guards or flotation devices to help you if you get into trouble. Sometimes water can be dangerous with sudden deep drops from shallow areas. With sharp rocks and strong currents in some places.
The area around could also be treacherous and slippery and tides and currents can change regularly. At all times be cautious and if you feel unsafe, do not proceed. Always follow local authorities advice and if you see any warning signs ensure you follow them. You can read some more health and safety tips on wild swimming here.
Having said all the above, Lealt falls is generally a pretty safe wild swimming spot and good for kids. Providing you take the usual sensible precautions.
The waterfall was completely deserted when we arrived and we had the whole place to ourselves. With steep banks either side and the only way in or out being the wild path we just came in from, we felt like we were the first to discover this paradise.
Even in the summer, the water can be a bit chilly to say the least. But if you’re willing to brave the water and acclimates yourself properly, you will soon be having a great time swimming and paddling whilst you absorb your beautiful surroundings.
There is a shallow area for none-swimmers to paddle, but the pool drops suddenly into a very deep area. So keep little ones next to the bank and within arms reach. Some of the rocks can be a bit sharp, kids water shoes can sometimes help with this.
Once you’re done, dry off and take your time back up the same path. Ensuring you take everything with you.
There wasn’t a spec of rubbish when we visited so let’s all keep it that way. If you do see any, be a good Samaritan and pick it up so the beauty spot stays just that.
You can skip going back down the river and past the ruins (unless you want to see them again) and take the left path up to meet the main path that where we went the other way on the way down.
Once back at the top you can take one more look at Lealt Falls Viewpoint and really admire this great location. Before you say goodbye to what is a truly beautiful spot.