Wild Swimming
Eas Chia-aig
Eas Chia-aig ("Waterfall of the Little Narrowing") pours over a broad rock shelf into a deep plunge pool on the Allt Chia-aig stream near Loch Arkaig — a hidden gem in the forestry of the Dark Mile, the tree-tunnel road that forms part of the Road to the Isles. The pool is deep and dark-tannic with an overhanging rock shelf ideal for a dramatic entry. The Witch's Pool legend (Corrag Mhòr is said to have been drowned here in the 1690s) adds atmosphere. One of Scotland's best lesser-known waterfall swims.
Quick facts
- Type
- Waterfall
- Region
- Lochaber
- Grid ref
- NN 175 889
- Entry
- Rock slab
- Depth
- Deep (over head near entry)
- Summer water temp
- 7–13°C
- Midges
- Very high
- Dogs
- On lead only
Key hazards
- cold water shock
- strong current below falls in spate
- very slippery rock
Getting there
Forestry car park on the B8005 road to Loch Arkaig (PH34 4EJ), 1km east of the waterfall. 10-minute walk through the Dark Mile forest track. SOAC rights apply on the Forestry and Land Scotland land.
Parking postcode: PH34 4EJ
Safety
Very slippery rock approach. The plunge pool is deep — do not jump from height. In spate the channel below the falls becomes fast; swim in the pool section only. Midges are among the most intense in Lochaber June–August.
Best for
- lesser-known waterfall experience
- Loch Arkaig forest walk
- Jacobite history combination
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:15
- Sunset
- 21:19
- Civil dawn
- 04:25
- Civil dusk
- 22:08
NOAA Solar Calculator · 9 May 2026
Common questions
- Is Eas Chia-aig the "Witch's Pool"?
- Yes — local legend holds that Corrag Mhòr (a woman accused of witchcraft) was drowned in this pool in the 1690s. The Dark Mile road nearby is also steeped in Jacobite history, used as a escape route after Culloden.
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