Eas na Saighe Caime
Eas na Saighe Caime is a remote and relatively obscure waterfall located in the wild landscape of Inchnadamph Forest in the northwest Highlands of Scotland. The waterfall is formed by the Allt Poll an Droighim, a small mountain stream that descends through one of the most geologically significant areas in Britain. The name "Eas na Saighe Caime" translates from Scottish Gaelic roughly as "waterfall of the crooked arrow" or "waterfall of the bent arrow," though like many Gaelic place names, the precise etymology and original meaning may be lost to time or subject to local interpretation. This waterfall sits within the Assynt region, an area renowned for its dramatic limestone geology, ancient mountains, and sparse human habitation.
The surrounding landscape of Inchnadamph is dominated by Cambrian quartzite mountains and Durness limestone, creating a distinctive karst topography with numerous caves, sinkholes, and underground drainage systems. The Allt Poll an Droighim flows through terrain shaped by millions of years of geological processes, and the area around Inchnadamph has been of particular interest to geologists since the nineteenth century when pioneering work was done here that helped establish the science of geological mapping. The Moine Thrust, a major geological fault line that marks the boundary between different types of ancient rock formations, runs through this region, and the complex folding and faulting of rock strata has created the varied topography that gives rise to waterfalls like Eas na Saighe Caime.
The waterfall itself is relatively modest in scale compared to Scotland's more famous cascades, but it possesses a wild and pristine character that reflects its remote setting. The stream tumbles over weathered rock in a series of drops rather than a single dramatic plunge, with the water flowing through a landscape of heather moorland, rough grassland, and scattered birch and rowan trees. The flow volume is highly dependent on recent rainfall, as is typical of Highland waterfalls, and during dry periods the cascade may be reduced to a trickle, while after heavy rain it can become a vigorous torrent. The surrounding terrain is characterized by the classic Highland landscape of low hills, boggy ground, and exposed rock, with views extending across the vast wilderness of Assynt.
Access to Eas na Saighe Caime requires a degree of commitment and navigational skill, as the waterfall lies away from established tourist routes and roads. The nearest habitation is the small settlement of Inchnadamph, which sits at the head of Loch Assynt and has historical significance as the location where important geological discoveries were made. From Inchnadamph, reaching the waterfall would typically involve walking cross-country through rough terrain, following the course of the Allt Poll an Droighim upstream from wherever it can be accessed. The OS grid reference NC264221 places the waterfall in the heart of Inchnadamph Forest, though this "forest" is more accurately described as open moorland with scattered woodland rather than dense tree cover, as is typical of many Highland deer forests which were historically managed for stalking rather than timber production.
The wildlife of the area reflects the harsh but pristine Highland environment, with red deer being the most prominent large mammals, along with mountain hares, wildcats, and pine martens in the wider region. Birdlife includes golden eagles, which hunt across the open moorland, as well as ravens, buzzards, and various species of waders and waterfowl near the streams and lochs. The relatively undisturbed nature of the landscape around Eas na Saighe Caime means that wildlife can thrive with minimal human interference, and the area forms part of the traditional range for deer that move between different elevations with the seasons. The streams themselves support brown trout and other freshwater species adapted to the acidic, peat-stained waters typical of Highland burns.
The remoteness and relatively unknown status of Eas na Saighe Caime means that it lacks the folklore and historical associations that attach to more prominent waterfalls in Scotland. However, the wider Assynt area is rich in Highland history, having been the territory of Clan MacLeod of Assynt for centuries, and the landscape bears the marks of both ancient and more recent human activity, from prehistoric settlements to the ruins of shielings where cattle were taken for summer grazing in the traditional Highland farming system. The clearances of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries dramatically reduced the human population of areas like this, and the landscape today is far emptier than it was in previous centuries, giving places like the waterfall an aura of wilderness that would have been less pronounced when the glens were more densely populated.
Visitors seeking out Eas na Saighe Caime should be properly equipped for Highland hillwalking, with appropriate clothing, footwear, maps, and compass skills, as the terrain is pathless in places and weather conditions can change rapidly. The waterfall is best visited as part of a wider exploration of the Inchnadamph area, which offers numerous geological and scenic attractions including the famous bone caves where remains of Ice Age animals were discovered. The lack of formal paths or signage to this particular waterfall means it retains an element of discovery and solitude that has been lost at more accessible Highland waterfalls, offering those willing to make the effort a genuine sense of wilderness and connection with the raw Highland landscape.