Did you know that not too far from Glasgow and Edinburgh in Scotland is a beautiful moss covered, 100ft deep gorge, through which flows an almost ruby coloured river?
This magic location, known both as Finnich Glen and the Devil’s Pulpit (more on that soon), appeared in TV’s Outlander (as the location for Liar’s Spring), and also in the 2019 Detective Pikachu movie.
It’s not well signposted, however, if you make the effort, it is a hugely rewarding spot for both photography and nature lovers.
So how do you find Finnich Glen, and the Devil’s Pulpit which lies within? In this post I’m going to tell you everything you need to know to help you find the Devil’s Pulpit in Finnich Glen, including where to park, how to get down into the gorge itself, photography gear to bring, and tips on taking pictures at Finnich Glen.
Let’s get started with this new entry in my series of photography location guides, which also includes places like Northern Ireland’s Dark Hedges, and Iceland’s Crashed Plane.
Table of Contents:
How to Find the Devil’s Pulpit, Finnich Glen
Why is it called the Devil’s Pulpit?
The real name of the gorge is Finnich Glen. The Devil’s Pulpit name comes from a rock formation that looks similar to that of a church pulpit – although presumably the red coloured water / sandstone seemed more satanic than saintly to early visitors.
The names Finnich Glen and Devil’s Pulpit are often used interchangeably to describe the location though. The water isn’t really red – it’s the red sandstone of the gorge that gives it that look.
The way down to the glen is often called the Devil’s Steps or Jacob’s ladder depending on who you ask. So plenty of interesting names going on here!
Where is Finnich Glen / The Devil’s Pulpit?
Finnich Glen / the Devil’s Pulpit is about fifteen minutes’ drive south from Loch Lomond, ninety minutes’ drive west from Edinburgh and thirty minutes’ drive north of Glasgow. Here’s a map to help you find it in relation to those locations, which you can see on Google Maps, here.
How to Get to the Devil’s Pulpit / Finnich Glen?
The easiest way to get to Finnich Glen is to drive. See the next section for information on where to park.
It is possible to take public transport to Finnich Glen, or at least, relatively close to it. First Scotland East operates the X10 service from Glasgow which stops in Killearn, just over 2 miles away.
However, bus services are not super regular, so you will want to check schedules in advance and have a reasonable itinerary in place before committing to this option.
Another option is to bus and cycle. There are a number of bus routes that pass within easy cycling distance of the Devil’s Pulpit, so you could easily make a cycling trip of it.
Finally, you can actually take a tour to the Devil’s Pulpit. This tour includes your round-trip transport to and from Glasgow and a guide to show you where to go.
Where do I Park for Finnich Glen?
If you’re driving to Finnich Glen / the Devil’s Pulpit, there is some parking nearby. However, as neither the glen nor the parking are signposted, you will want to read my instructions so you park in the best spot.
There used to be two locations where it was safe to park. However, the local council has now started to restrict parking in the area.
Currently the only parking available is the small parking area on the A809 next to the footpath just south of where the A809 crosses the glen itself.
Prior to 2020, you could also park a little further north at the junction with the B834, however this has been designated for emergency vehicle use only as of 2020, and commenters have reported that penalty notices are issued if you park here.
Here’s a map that shows the current parking option highlighted in red and the approximate route of the footpath in blue.
The parking by the footpath only has room for two or three cars.
Please be aware that the A809 is a main road with a lot of traffic, so do park considerately. Don’t park in the actual road – only park off the road in the parking spots.
Unfortunately, as with many beauty spots around the world, Finnich Glen has become a victim of its own success, which has led to issues around too many visitors and not enough parking.
As of July 2020, the local council has painted clear double yellow lines on the roads surrounding Finnich Glenn in order to stop people from parking on the road, as this was causing a serious hazard to other road users. Fines are issued for non-compliance, and it is dangerous to park where you shouldn’t, so please don’t.
I have contacted the local council to ask what their plans are regarding safe parking in the area, but have not heard back. If you are concerned about the parking in the area, I recommend contacting them, which you can do here.
If there is no parking on site, there is a larger parking lot about three miles south along the A809 known as the Queen’s View (see it on Google here). It is obviously much more of a walk from here, but there are lots of nice hiking trails in this area too so you could easily make a day of it.
My recommendation if you plan on visiting Finnich Glen is to visit early in the morning when there are likely to be less people around, or during the week when it will also be less busy.
The site is a lot busier over the summer months, especially at the weekend and over public holidays, and you will likely have a more pleasant experience if you visit outside of these times instead.
Also note that there are no on-site litter/trash facilities, so please be considerate of others and take your litter with you.
Important note – the parking situation at the Devil’s Pulpit can change, so please read all posted notices, follow the laws of the road, and only park where it is legal and safe to do so.
How do I actually get down to the Devil’s Pulpit?
Once you’ve found parking, there’s a little gate you can get through to the footpath (in blue on the map above), and then a path to follow which winds along the gorge. When we visited the gate was open, but there was a small fence across the path I had to step over.
Note that various reports from different articles on the web show that the gate from the road to the footpath can sometimes be locked, in which case you might have to climb the wall to get to the start of the footpath. It’s a pretty low wall, so not too much of a challenge.
Once you have found the footpath, it follows the south side of the gorge through the forest. It’s pretty easy to follow, but do be careful as there’s no fence and the drop down to the gorge is quite far. You need to walk around five to ten minutes, and you will come to the stone steps of “Jacob’s Ladder”.
Jacob’s Ladder is an ancient stone staircase which runs down to the gorge below. It’s very steep and in very poor condition, but is pretty much the only way to get down to the gorge without climbing gear.
As you can see in the photo, there were ropes you could use to help yourself as you go down and up. These are not regularly maintained, so there may or may not be ropes when you visit. As of May 2022 there were some ropes to assist in the descent and ascent, but these should be treated with caution of course.
Either way, this is a steep staircase and it can be very muddy and slippery, so you will want to take your time and be careful.
Once you reach the bottom, my suggestion would be to turn left and head westwards along the gorge to the waterfalls, which are the most photogenic part of the route.
Do I need any special gear to get to the Devil’s Pulpit?
You don’t need climbing equipment; however, good, waterproof walking boots would definitely be advised. The gorge itself doesn’t have any paths once you are inside it.
Personally, I took off my boots and waded through the water, but you might prefer to take wellington boots or hip waders if you don’t want to get wet.
Is it Dangerous to Visit the Devil’s Pulpit in Finnich Glen?
There are a few things to be aware of when visiting the Devil’s Pulpit. Firstly, the gorge walls are very steep, and there are no fences. So don’t go too close to the edge when you’re walking above the gorge itself as it is a steep drop down.
The path down to the gorge floor, the aforementioned “Jacob’s Ladder”, is in a fairly perilous condition. If you have mobility difficulties or a serious fear of heights this might be too hard.
When you’re in the gorge, be aware that rocks or tree branches may become loose and fall into the gorge, particularly around times of rainfall.
Finally, do be aware that the waters can rise rapidly at times of rainfall, so do be very careful when visiting as it can become dangerous very quickly. So only venture as far as you are confident with, and heed the signs of danger such as the water level changing, or rainfall.
Overall, a trip to the Devil’s Pulpit can certainly be done safely, but as with any outdoor location you do need to be careful.
What Photography Gear do I need?
From a photography gear perspective, you will need as wide a lens as possible in order to capture the whole gorge. I used a 17-40mm lens on a full frame camera. On a crop sensor camera, you’d want something like a 10-16mm lens. Basically, the wider the better. Take a look at what camera gear we use for an idea of what you might want to bring, as well as our guide to choosing the best travel camera for you.
As there’s water down here which moves over waterfalls, you might also want a Neutral Density Filter. Something between a 6 and 10 stop should do. Read my article on Neutral density filters to help understand what they do and why you might want them for your photography.
To cut reflections in the water and make the red rocks underneath them more obvious, also consider using a polarising filter.
Finally, you’re definitely going to want a tripod for your visit down to the glen. Those steep and narrow gorge walls don’t let a lot of light in, so even without a neutral density filter you’re not going to get a lot of light to shoot with.
It’s also a very high contrast scene, with dark scenery around the water and walls, and bright areas in the sky, meaning you might want to bracket your photos and exposure blend them. Two definite reasons you need a tripod (if you’re interested, I have a whole pile more reasons you need a tripod for your photography!).
I use and love the Vanguard range of tripods, and I’ve been an ambassador for them for a few years now. For this shoot I used their VEO range, which is a series of lightweight travel tripods. Definitely check them out if you’re in the market for a new tripod.
Any tips for taking pictures at the Devil’s Pulpit?
My suggestion would be to wade / walk upstream from the ladder along the gorge until you come to a couple of small waterfalls, which are very photogenic. Shoot as wide as possible, and try to get the feeling of those steep walls into your shot, and the contrast of the red water and green moss.
I’d also suggest checking out what the river has brought that can aid in your composition. A well placed dead log can make for a great bit of foreground. If that doesn’t work, try adding in a human subject, ideally in a brightly coloured clothing, to balance the shot and give some depth and scale.
Tips for What to Do Near the Devil’s Pulpit / Finnich Glen
The Devil’s Pulpit is very close to Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, and can also be easily reached from both Glasgow and Edinburgh. Whilst the gorge itself it’s a stunning location, there’s not much to do here beyond the short walk, so we’d recommend planning in some sight-seeing in the area.
At the top of your list should be a visit to Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. This has all kinds of attractions, including vintage steamboat rides, hiking routes, cycling and even more excellent photography stops. Read our advice on the top things to do in Loch Lomond here.
Loch Lomond and region makes for the perfect day trip or overnight stop from Glasgow. Take a look at our guide to spending two days exploring Glasgow and Loch Lomond for ideas on how to fill those two days.
Where to Stay When Visiting the Devil’s Pulpit / Finnich Glen
If you would like to spend a bit of time in this beautiful area, perhaps to further explore the beautiful Loch Lomond & the Trossachs region, then you might want to stay a night or two in the area.
The Devil’s Pulpit itself doesn’t have any accommodation on site as it is a rural attraction, however there are a number of lodging options nearby.
The closest accommodation is Finnich Cottages, a highly rated self-catering property. However this does have a minimum length of stay that varies between 3 and 7 nights, depending on the time of year.
A little further away is the small town of Drymen which has a number of accommodation options. In particular, the Shandon Farmhouse Bed and Breakfast is very highly rated.
Of course, there are many more lodging opportunities in the Loch Lomond region, as well as in Glasgow. Finnich Glen is also perfectly do-able as an easy day trip from Edinburgh, which has a wide range of accommodation options too.
Further Reading
And that summarises this guide to this epic photography location in Scotland! Before I leave you though, here are a few more resources related to photography, Scotland and the wider UK that you might find useful.
- Since you’re in Scotland already for this location guide, check out some of our Scotland content, including:
- A detailed guide to the highlights of the epic North Coast 500 road trip, as well as accommodation options along the route
- A two day Glasgow and Loch Lomond Itinerary, our guide to Glasgow, as well as ten things to do in Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park
- A two day Edinburgh itinerary, 21 Highlights in Edinburgh & Getting off the beaten path in Edinburgh
- A guide to the best Harry Potter filming locations in Scotland
- We also have content on the wider UK, including:
- Itineraries for one week in the UK and two weeks in the UK
- Our series of London itineraries including One Day, Two Day, and Six Day London Itineraries
- The Best Photography Locations in London
- Tips on Buying and Using the London Pass
- The Highlights of Oxford
- Visiting Blenheim Palace and the Cotswolds
- 20 Things To Do in Dublin
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- I have a series of detailed photography location guides, to help you find the perfect shot in locations around the world
- I also have a number of articles dedicated to helping you improve your photography, including how to pick the best camera for travel, tips for cold weather photography and reasons you need a tripod for your photography
- Finally, if you’re interested in improving your photography, take a look at my online travel photography course, which has everything you need to know to start taking awesome travel photos, from picking a camera, to mastering the settings, to editing – and more!
Hopefully you found this guide to finding the Devil’s Pulpit in Finnich Glen useful! As always, if you have any feedback, comments or suggestions, do pop them in the comments below.
This is especially the case if you visit and find any of my advice to be incorrect, I would love to correct it and make sure it is right.
Julie Mungomery says
Hi Laurence,
Well, I did it! This scene had been on my bucket list for years. Thanks for your wonderful article & helpfulness.
In case others want an update. We went on 24th April 2025 so this is the current situation.
Managed to park in the layby. No other cars there at about 9.45am. We did see cars at the intersection mentioned and there was a sign up so it’s possibly ok now?????? The layby is the best option though.
There were no ropes there. We did actually go about half way down then my husband (who was carrying a bag with my waders plus my heavy tripod) thought it too dangerous as, especially, he thought that where it narrows, there was a sheer vertical drop. Not so, there’s a turn to the left. We went back up and continued to get closer to the glen. Coming back we spoke to a helpful man who said it was quite doable, plus a lot more people around. Yes, it’s a little difficult but going down slowly and carefully, perfectly fine. There’s plenty of room at the bottom to take off shoes etc. I was the only one with waders and they were a pain to carry but I was happy in them. Everyone else just took off their boots and socks and rolled up their trousers.
If you’re careful, it’s fine!
Walk to the left along the glen to the waterfalls. Most of my photos were from there. The water wasn’t moving as fast as it could be after more rain but this also made the hole thing a lot safer. Even with a ‘big stopper’ & polarising filter, there wasn’t a lot of movement in the water near the waterfall but it’s beautiful.
All the stories about the litter are completely true unfortunately. Do be prepared mentally. It’s very sad that people feel they can disregard someone’s property.
Do go! Laurence’s information is the best I’ve found.
thanks so much. I’m so very happy I went.
Kind regards,
Julie.
Laurence Norah says
Hey Julie,
That’s awesome! Glad to hear you made it out here and managed to both find parking and make your way down to the gorge floor safely. Also, thanks so much for providing an up to date trip report that is really helpful for other people looking to visit.
Thanks again for taking the time to share your experience! It’s really appreciated 🙂
Laurence
Julie says
Hello 🙂
I was wondering if you’ve been there recently?
I read in a post somewhere about a week ago that there had been an avalanche affecting the stairs.
Considering the parking nightmare, are there any tour companies you know of that schlep people there & maybe ‘guide’? We’ll be staying in Stirling in a couple of weeks’ time.
Thanks 🙂
Laurence Norah says
Hi Julie!
So the staircase has always been in very bad condition, to call it a staircase is honestly a bit of a stretch. It’s a steep muddy slope with some stones placed in it to make it easier, but it’s definitely not an easy descent. I haven’t been recently but looking at the photos posted recently it doesn’t look much worse than normal to be honest. I’m not aware of any tour companies that visit. I think there was one that included it as part of a tour but the issue with parking makes it especially tricky for a tour bus, even a smaller one, to be able to rely on parking. If you do decide to visit, my best advice is to go early, mid-week, and not during a holiday, and you should be fine. Every time I’ve visited we’ve pretty much had the place to ourselves, but that is definitely not everyone’s experience!
Enjoy your time in Scotland!
Laurence
Julie says
Thanks so much Laurence for your speedy reply.
I’ll have a look on google maps to see if I can find the layby you mention.
There is a lot of rain predicted over Easter so it might not be an option (we’ll be there a few days after Easter) as that would be crazy. I’ve wanted to go there for so long but it might just have to wait!
Kind regards,
Julie.
Laurence Norah says
It’s my pleasure, and for sure, please be careful. The water levels can rise very rapidly in the gorge and it can become dangerous quickly. Definitely worth erring on the side of caution!
Fingers crossed you are able to visit though 🙂
Thomas Miller says
is the devil’s pulpit area safe to visit in winter,
Laurence Norah says
Hi Thomas
The devil’s pulpit can be visited in winter. How safe it is really is a personal thing. The slope down to the gorge is quite steep, and the gorge itself is unfenced, so there are risks at any time of year. In addition, the river can flood quickly if there is rain upstream. So it’s really just a question of being aware of the risks and taking care when on site, at whatever time of year. I have visited in Winter and it’s generally a nicer experience as it’s so much quieter, but it is nice year round to be honest.
Enjoy!
Laurence
Thomas Miller says
thank you for your reply,will defo pay a visit in November,
Larry Ng says
I will visit Scotland in 3 weeks from today. I hope I can find this beautiful place follow your guides. Wish me luck.
Laurence Norah says
Good luck Larry, have a great time in Scotland 🙂
Larry Ng says
I was there today. Lucky I got a parking spot right at the entry. Following the path it was easy to get to the steps and to go down the water. Going down a little scary, going up is easier. But it’s so beautiful and worth to visit. Everybody be careful crossing the road. Look both ways carefully before crossing. Today a woman almost hit by the car. If she was slower 2 seconds she’d have been hit.
Laurence Norah says
Hey Larry,
Glad to hear you had a good visit to the Devil’s Pulpit. And for sure, that road can be quite dangerous, so it’s important to pay attention and be careful 🙂
Safe travels!
Laurence
Tam says
Our boss took us down this on Friday as a work night out after there was a heavy down pore,
You could not walk through most of it, instead, you got pushed down it with the speed and pressure of the water, 3 people for sucks, and at one point someone called 999 thinking were not going to get out
It was an experience but not recommended to go down the waterfall when it has been heavily raining.
we all managed to get out safely but were all banged up, cut heads, cuts, bruises etc, we were wearing wetsuits that made it a bit more bearable but we should have wore helmets and life vest, or put it off until the water levels were back down to normal lol
Laurence Norah says
Hi Tam
Yes, this sounds like quite the experience. I definitely wouldn’t recommend going down here after heavy rain unless you know what you are doing and have all the right equipment. And even then it’s still a risky proposition. Glad to hear you all got out ok!
Laurence
Nina says
Hi! I tried to find the public transport, but the First website doesn’t recognise the B9 route, and GoogleMaps also can’t show a public transport route. Are you sure there is a way to get there with a bus? If yes, what’s the bus stop’s name?
Best regards!
Nina
Laurence Norah says
Hi Nina,
You are correct, the B9 route seems to have gone away. The closest I can currently find is the X10 from Glasgow which goes to Killearn, which is 2 miles away. Not ideal, but I can’t find anything closer unfortunately 🙁 I generally recommend using traveline for route planning in Scotland, it can be more useful than Google 🙂
I hope you make it to the Devil’s Pulpit, safe travels!
Laurence
Jill Shepherd says
Hi. Love your blog. Would love to visit here in April. I walked the entire area on the google street view and CAN NOT find a gate (or the parking area though I used your map image above) and way you can get me actual gps or ggogle map coordinates? I don’t want to miss this one!
THANKS!
Laurence Norah says
Hi Jill!
Thanks very much! So I did the street view walk as you said and I agree, it’s not great. However, if you look at the satellite view for GPS co-ordinates 56.03123365356561, -4.417432817463017 (https://goo.gl/maps/XNkw1kd7cn6qWS3PA) then you will see some cars parked. The space is very small, there is really only room for three cars, so I advise arriving early in the day. The gate is across the road just near the parking. Some people park a little further up at the intersection of the A809 and B834 (if you look at the Google Maps satellite view you’ll see a bunch of cars). I advise against this – it used to be a good option, but it’s now clearly marked as Emergency Vehicles only, and a lot of people have had tickets as a result of parking here.
I hope this helps!
Laurence
Jill Shepherd says
I see it! Thanks so much!
Mona says
Thank you, the guide to getting there was so helpful as there is really no sign posting when you get there. Breathtakingly beautiful . Thank you
Laurence Norah says
My pleasure Mona, I’m delighted you found it useful and enjoyed the spot!
Evie Jesson says
Can you visit the glen without having to go into the water? We are 3 ladies in our late 60’s and want to visit, but other than walking boots, won’t have wet kit? Can you do some of it just on the rocks etc? How long to climb down, spend maybe half an hour and climb back up? Thanks.
Laurence Norah says
Hi Evie,
You can definitely visit without going in the water, but you should be aware that the canyon is fairly narrow and once you have made it down at the only access point, the only options are to go up and down stream – there aren’t much in the way of banks to walk along. So once you are down you will see a snapshot up and down, but not much beyond that. So I’d say if you weren’t going to go up and downstream you wouldn’t need more than 10-15 minutes at the base. Overall, you’re looking at around a 10 minute walk in, assuming you can find parking, 5 minutes to get down, depending on pace, up to 15 minutes in the canyon base and then the same to get out. So 45 minutes to an hour all in I’d say!
I hope this helps. Personally I only had walking boots too, but I just took them off to walk up stream. It’s worth doing if you don’t mind getting cold feet as the views are somewhat better and you can see the small waterfalls if you go up stream just a few metres. Do be careful of course and don’t do anything you aren’t comfortable with. Also pay close attention to water levels as they can rise quickly.
Have a safe trip!
Laurence
Rani Dhanda says
Thanks for sharing detailed information about Finnich Glen, it’s very useful. Also, just to say you can not park at the B834 /A809 Junction, although it may look like a car parking area, there is marking on the ground stating ‘Emergency Vehicles Only’. Unfortunately I (and the owners of another 6 or so cars) learned the hard way and we got penalty charges notices. I suggest you amend your map showing car parking areas. Thanks.
Laurence Norah says
Hi Rani,
Thanks very much for this very useful feedback, and I’m sorry to hear you had a penalty notice. I will update the map right now. Can you still park near the entrance to the walk, at the other point on my map?
Thanks
Laurence
Saffy says
Sadly the Devil’s Pulpit has now been spoilt by inconsiderate and an unmanageable number of visitors who have no understanding of their responsibilities when visiting areas of natural beauty or just don’t care. In good weather the surrounding roads are nearly blocked with dangerous parking on blind bends, litter and broken glass everywhere, alcohol consumption leading to antisocial behaviour and since there are no toilet facilities nearby I will leave that to the imagination. So sad as it is an amazingly beautiful part of the areas natural heritage that was once greatly enjoyed by many people who behaved responsibly.
Laurence Norah says
Hi Saffy,
I am sorry to hear about this. I’ve never really understood why people would visit a beautiful spot like this and not treat it with respect 🙁 I have heard that there were plans to develop it with a proper car park and so on. I think that would lose part of the “hidden” charm, but I suspect by now that is hard to find.
Thanks for your comment,
Laurence
Linda says
I have had a knee replacement. I am 68yrs old. I would love to visit this place. Finnich Glen. I am worried about the risks. I can’t swim. Mobility is ok. But the height sounds difficult. I am not great if no safety ropes or something. HELP! .. Linda
Laurence Norah says
Hi Linda,
So it’s unlikely you would need to swim, but my concern would be around the descent into the gorge which is very steep and requires the use of a rope to pull yourself up and down, it’s definitely not an easy entrance. Of course, you can see into the gorge partly from above, but the main features are best observed from inside unfortunately.
The good news is that the gorge is due to have improvements made to it in the coming years, with a proper car park and visitor entrance being planned, so it’s possible that in coming years it will be more accessible!
Laurence
Dana says
Thank you so much for this – I used this article to convince my travel buddies to rent and car just so we could go here. This was one of the highlights of the trip.
Laurence Norah says
That is awesome – delighted you had a great time! Thanks for dropping by to let me know 😀
Jenn says
Such a helpful post to get us ready for our adventure to Finnich Glen and Devils Pulpit. Especially appreciated the parking tips. I am afraid of heights so going down I simply turned to the right side wall and made my way down one step at a time using the handy root handles until I got to the green rope. No problem. I took a pair of water shoes in my backpack so I could wade across which was great. The water was quite high. Thanks for this very helpful post
Laurence Norah says
Hi Jenn! Thanks so much for your positive feedback and I’m delighted you had a good time 🙂
Terry Dunlap says
Very informative article. I was just in Scotland, wish I would have found your site before I left. You can be sure I’m filing this away for my next trip. Thanks for articles like this!
Laurence Norah says
My pleasure Terry, and we hope to help you out on your future adventures!
John F Schroeder says
Laurence,
We plan to visit Scotland in September. Would you say that would be a good time of year?
We ant to avoid the tourist season. I really like your photos of the gorge. I hope we will be able to visit it. I will look at the rest of your information on best places to visit while in Scotland. I like to photograph landscapes, castles and nature mainly.
Thanks,
John
Laurence Norah says
Hi John!
September would be a good month. There’s a better chance of good weather than later in the year, but you avoid the rush of August. There will of course be some travellers around, as there are all year, but it shouldn’t be as busy.
Have a wonderful trip
Laurence
pawel says
Hi
Fantastic blog and thank you for all the advice you give here.
Can you tell me what time of year you visited the Devils Pulpit so that the moss is soo green, and what time of day so that the light is so nice?
I am planning to visit soon but dont want to miss the best light.
Thank you
Laurence Norah says
Hi Pawel – thanks very much! I visited in May for these photos, and it was the afternoon. It’s pretty green much of the time though, although if it’s a drier summer this might change.
Enjoy!
Laurence
Rhianna says
How long is the full walk you can do? and how long is there a path before it becomes mainly water. i hope to go monday as good weather but dont want to go in deep water
Laurence Norah says
Hi Rhianna
This is definitely not a long walk. From the parking area to the gorge entrance (Jacobs ladder) is no more than ten minutes. Then how far you can go in the gorge depends on how dry it is, but it’s unlikely you’ll be able to get more than a couple of hundred metres in either direction. So this is less of hike and more of a thing to see 🙂
Best
Laurence
Nadya says
Hi
I was here on 01.09.21, I just wanted to let you know that the rope is no longer there making the climb quite difficult and dangerous in parts.
You can walk along the top path about 5 minutes past the steps and down an embankment to the stream and wade back in that way, but even this will require good mobility as you have to scramble over a couple of fallen trees in the gorge. It’s still a magical and beautiful location, but the litter left by uncaring visitors is mounting up. Please if you visit leave only good wishes and footsteps, don’t spoil the magic for others.
Laurence Norah says
Thank you very much Nadya, I have updated that section of the article. It is very sad that people leave litter. When I first visited it was far less popular, but obviously that is no excuse. It’s not far to carry litter back to a car and away to a suitable location.
Marcel Dutu says
Great post! Used it as a guide when I visited last year! Even wrote my wee take on it as well! Thank you!
Laurence Norah says
Our pleasure Marcel, we’re pleased you enjoyed visiting 🙂
Rod Dalitz says
How about a proper map link, so I can check exactly where the Devil’s Pulpit is, and work out how to combine it with another trip?
Laurence Norah says
Hi Rod. Sure thing. If you enter “Devil’s Pulpit” into Google Maps, it will give you the location, but in case that doesn’t work here’s a link:
https://goo.gl/maps/AkYCQiykBQA2
James says
I come from Glasgow and have passed this area hundreds of times and never knew it existed. I now live in Australia, but I’ve returned for a holiday. Finnich Glen is stunning.
I did however go well equiped with my swimming shorts underneath my trousers along with my photography equipment.
The area can be muddy so I would suggest a old pair of shoes, a towel and a change of clothes.
This is not for anyone who is vertically challenged as the only way down is through a very steep and narrow stairway which is eroded.
I’m glad I went.
Laurence Norah says
That’s always the way! Pleased you had a good time and thanks for sharing your experience here 🙂 Would love to see your photos!
Monique P says
Hi!
Wow such great pucs, I love them!
At this moment I’m in Drymen and want to visit this place tomorrow!
About how many steps down do we have to take?
Kind regards, Monique
Laurence Norah says
Hey Monique, and thanks! I’d say it’s about ten metres down, so maybe 30 – 40 steps.
I could be wrong though, so if you could count them and let me know that would be appreciated!
Monique P says
Hi Laurence,
What a quick reply, thanks!
Ten meters is not that much, I can do that 😉
We got a deal, I’ll inform you about the number of steps!
Monique P says
Hi Laurence,
We were SO glad this morning that we could park right in front of the entrance! Unfortunately it had rained all night and still did this morning 🙁 It was VERY muddy and slippery! We walked at the edge of the gorge because the path was like a swamp, but we couldn’t reach the stairs to the Devil’s Pulpit! So sorry I could not count the number of steps! We had a small view on the water and gorge, but not where we came for…. There were lots and lots of branches in the water, therefore no good view on the water. Hope other people have more luck with the weather! Enjoy your time over there!
Laurence Norah says
Hey Monique!
Ah, that is Scotland for you, you can never quite tell what the weather is going to be. Sorry to hear that, but I’m pleased that at least you saw the gorge. No worries on the steps, I’ll just have to pop up there myself soon and count 🙂
Enjoy the rest of your trip!
Laurence
Monique P says
Thanks!
Israel says
It is a great information, that´s really nice of you.
Katie says
Thanks for the information. I am going to Scotland in September October and would love to go there and take photos. Thanks also for answering the question about time. I will have your kids with me who I may have to leave with hubby so good to know about half an hour should cover it. Not too long to keep them amused. I love your photos and travel guides. Very useful
Laurence Norah says
Thanks Katie! It’s a really beautiful place, worth the stop for sure!
john says
thanks
Laurence Norah says
My pleasure – enjoy your visit 🙂
Anne Marie Harriet says
I am someone who stays about 8 miles away and drives on this route regularly.. Today was the worst I have witnessed for cars and being very irresponsible too. The red area on the map is only a small plot and it is also access to someone’s farm land. People are parking all along the B834. It is actually quite a busy route for vehicles travelling to other areas of interest and it is dangerous as it is a 60 mph speed limit and with cars parked on the actual carriageway, cars in front of and behind me all had to drive up on the embankment on the side of the road with cars coming in the opposite direction then people walking on the road. The road has a few twists and turns too.
To make it safer for everyone there is a massive car park along the A809 with plenty of parking and amazing views. (Maybe if you could add it to your map?)
This is my fastest route for my journey and essential for a lot of others, in all sorts of vehicles. Who is going to pay for repairs when cars get damaged? Who is responsible if someone gets knocked down?
People should act responsibly in their options for their entire outing and not just worry about the proper footwear to wear.
Laurence Norah says
Hi Anne Marie – thanks for the feedback! Do you mean the car park on the A809 known as Queen’s View? I’ve added it to the post, but it’s three miles south of the Devil’s Pulpit and so about an hours walk along the road, which doesn’t seem that practical for most visitors. Happy to be corrected if there’s a closer option?
Marek says
Hi everyone. Does anybody know if its possible to leave a bike somewhere nearby before exploring the gorge?
Laurence Norah says
You could leave a bike nearby but there isn’t a bike parking space, so you’d either want to find something to secure it to, or find somewhere to hide it 🙂
Edward Dock says
Having just returned from the Devils Pulpit can I also advise extra care be taken when going to the waterfall section of the gorge as some parts though seemingly shallow are actually quite deep in certain spots and a misplaced step can have you in head hight water very quickly. As I can testify at the moment as I’m currently soaked (clothes, backpack,wallet and phone. sheesh 🙂
Laurence Norah says
Hey Edward! Well, that does sound like quite the (mis)adventure. Sorry to hear that, hopefully nothing too damaged! And yes, good advice, it’s definitely a place to watch your step. Thanks for stopping by!
Karen Gibbs says
This place is amazing as well as your photos. We will be staying near Loch Lomond and plan to visit Devils Pulpit.
In early April. Do we need permission from anyone to take the hike before we start? Coming from the US I don’t want to be considered trespassing.
Laurence Norah says
Thanks Karen – it is a special place for sure! You won’t need any special permission as far as I am aware. Whilst I believe that it is on private land, under the Scottish Land reform act, you are still allowed to access private land as long as you behave responsibly. You can see the guidelines here: https://www.scotways.com/faq/law-on-statutory-access-rights
So there’s not really an issue of trespass as you have in the US 🙂
Jennifer Abdulla says
I am in the middle of planning my trip to Scotland. Taking my best friend as her birthday gift for a milestone birthday. We are both hikers and I’m also a professional photographer. This blog post is wonderful and your pictures are beautiful and inspiring, I have added this to my list of places to surprise her. Thank you for the wonderful advice, and like the previous comment said, thanks for the warnings. I live in Arizona where we can get flash floods within minutes, so I am all too familiar with those dangers.. I hope the weather in Scotland is favorable at the beginning of May!
Laurence Norah says
Hey Jennifer – my pleasure! It’s a wonderful place to visit and photograph, and I’m sure you’ll have a great time! May is actually one my favourite months to travel in Scotland, it’s usually the right balance of warmth and long days, with fewer tourists than the summer months 🙂
Serena says
How long do you think the whole active to the devils pulpit took from parking to getting back in your car?
Laurence Norah says
I would say it could be easily done in half an hour, although it depends how many photos you end up taking of course!
Terry says
Do you see the face in the rock on photo #9 (count includes maps too)? I especially like that picture. What a magical place!
Laurence Norah says
Do you mean at the top left? I think someone said that on Facebook too! It is quite face-like indeed 🙂 And yes, it’s a really magic place 😀
Ryan Biddulph says
Hi Laurence.
These photos are inspired.
How green.
Good advice too on potential safety issues. I have lived in remote areas where the waters can rise in minutes. Similar streams, and if a torrential downpour happens upstream you better be ready to bounce if the torrent flows down stream, to your location.
Thanks for the fabulous share and keep up the excellent work here.
Ryan
PS…..I found you via the 27 travel blogging mistakes round up, where we were both featured.
Laurence says
Hi Ryan,
Thanks for dropping by, and for your kind words! For sure, people have definitely gotten in trouble down here when not reading the signs, so I thought it best to mention it! You can easily get lost in the photography moment 😉
Thanks for connecting!