Guide to Grey Mare’s Tail Walk to Loch Skeen, Scotland

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As one of the UK’s highest waterfalls, Grey Mare’s Tail is spectacular beyond belief. The Grey Mare’s Tail walk to Loch Skeen follows the course of the waterfall as it cascades 60m into the valley below.

Only a 1-hour drive from Dumfries and Galloway and just a few minutes from the pretty town of Moffat, this walking route climbs past the falls and continues up to beautiful Loch Skeen, surrounded by rugged hills and mountains.

This really is one breathtaking walk! Read on for the guide to hiking the Grey Mare’s Tail, with all the insider info you need to plan your walk, including how to get there, where to park and a full route summary.

Grey Mare’s Tail Walking Route Guide

From the Grey Mare’s Tail Nature Reserve Car Park, continue along the path away from the main road and cross a wooden footbridge.

The area is owned by the National Trust for Scotland, with an information trailer open during the summer season – it was closed when we visited in December. 

Here, you’ll enjoy your first glimpse of the cascading waterfalls tumbling down the mountain from its source at Loch Skeen. The footpath continues up the hillside, keeping the waterfalls on your left-hand side, beginning with a fairly steep ascent for the first half of the hike.

From here, the views get more spectacular with each step. The ascent is steep at first, but it’s over soon enough. After about 20 minutes of walking uphill, the trail plateaus to a more leisurely walk, following the contours of the hillside and the path of the waterfalls.

The first part of the hike is definitely the hardest, but overall, it’s not too difficult, as the hill climb is fairly short. You’ll have plenty of time to get your breath back as you stop to marvel at the incredible scenery.

Hiking in December meant there was a lot of ice on the ground and many icicles hanging from the waterfalls, which made for a stunning winter wonderland! While absolutely beautiful, it did mean we had to be careful as it was very slippery underfoot at times.

Following the path, you’ll keep the river and waterfalls on your left-hand side and continue through stunning, rugged scenery. You’ll start to see mountains in the distance, which is your target destination with Loch Skeen at the foot.

When you finally reach the loch, you’ll turn a blind corner and gasp as the valley opens out to reveal an incredible loch, surrounded by mountains and hills. When we visited in December, the loch was completely frozen, which made for some stunning views and some fun ice-skimming across the frozen lake.

The scheduled walking route ends here, following the same path back to the car, or you can continue on a circular walk around the loch for a longer and more challenging hike if you have enough daylight and energy left.

Wildlife at Grey Mare’s Tail

Wildlife enthusiasts should be on the lookout for nesting peregrine falcons, wild goats and the odd osprey fishing in the loch. The loch is also home to the UK’s rarest freshwater fish, the vendace.

While hiking, we didn’t see any peregrine falcons or osprey, unfortunately, but on our way to the trail in the car, we did see a buzzard and 4 herons next to a lake that all took flight together – possibly grey herons, but they weren’t close enough to tell, and we didn’t have binoculars.

Grey Mare’s Tail Walking Route Safety Tips

The Grey Mare’s Tail walk is safe and easy to follow. The path is well-constructed but uneven and rocky. There are areas where the drop to the side of the path is steep and could be difficult for those with a fear of heights, but the path is not dangerous.

Sturdy walking boots with a good grip are important. The trail is short, and you can be back at the car within 1 hour, but it’s always a good idea to take plenty of snacks and water and let someone at home know where you’re going to be.

In addition, the weather can change abruptly in Scotland, so always check the forecast and plan for every eventuality.

Frequently Asked Questions