Grey Mare's Tail

Grey Mare's Tail is one of the highest waterfalls in Britain, a thin white plume dropping 60 metres from the hanging valley of Loch Skeen into Moffat Water, ten miles from Moffat. The National Trust for Scotland's reserve covers the fall and the hills above it, home to feral goats, peregrine falcons on the crags, ring ouzels and ospreys, with rare vendace in the loch and White Coomb for hill walkers. A surfaced path of 100 metres leads from the car park over a footbridge to a viewpoint at the foot of the fall; the path up the east side to the loch is steep and exposed, with a drop beside it, and takes about half an hour each way. Reviewers say the climb is worth the nerves and that the loch is unbelievably beautiful and quiet. Tips from visitors: parking is £5 a day, free for members, with room for motorhomes; keep dogs on a lead for the goats and sheep; and rangers run fossil walks in season.