Escaping the city needn’t require days of meticulous planning – after all, some of the best day trips are the spontaneous ones we take. So, for a day trip from Glasgow that’s easy to plan, free, and reachable in under an hour, might we suggest a visit to the gorgeous Loup of Fintry? As one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the Scottish Lowlands, it’s an ideal place to reconnect with nature – and if the weather is on your side, it’s a stunning spot for a swim too.
Let’s get the obvious out of the way first: you’re going to want to bring your camera on a visit here. Whether you visit on a sunny day…
…or a moody, dramatic autumn weekend, the Loup of Fintry is an eager subject for photos.
With light traffic and some green lights, you can reach the Loup of Fintry from Glasgow city centre in under 45 minutes. You’ll need to find a parking spot along the little country lane nearby – public transport, sadly, is not an option here – but once you’ve snagged a space, it’s an easy five minute amble to the waterfall itself. It can, however, be a muddy one, so I wouldn’t recommend your box-fresh trainers come on a visit here!
Best enjoyed after a decent rainfall, the 94-foot waterfall either thunders or trickles over the edge, depending on how the weather’s been recently. It’s a gorgeous spot regardless of the season, but if you visit in autumn with the falls swollen by the autumn rains and the hills boasting oranges and browns, you’ll get a true glimpse of Scotland’s beauty.
Of course, if you’re visiting in the summer, you’ll get the warmest weather for swimming (just bear in mind that, August or not, this is still Scotland!). Sterner souls than I might favour a winter dip, and we’ve been reliably informed that the top river before the first fall, or the middle pool, are good spots to aim for if you’re looking to get into the water easily.
One final thing to note: whilst the Loup of Fintry is pretty easy to access, it’s still a 94-foot journey from the top to the bottom, and those rocks can get pretty slippery from the spray – so if you’re planning to get close, use caution and bring some sturdy shoes. And don’t forget your camera!