Check out the new suspension bridge at Rogie Falls for breathtaking views and extended walking trails in the beautiful Scottish landscape
Rogie: The waterfalls on the Black Water at Rogie are something else, especially after heavy rain or when the snow melts off Ben Wyvis. It’s like nature’s own show!
The river tumbles down the rocks, losing height before it flows more gently through Contin, eventually joining the River Conon that leads to the Cromarty Firth.
When the Rogie Falls are in full flow, they’re a sight to behold. The falls are over 13 meters high, and there’s a new suspension bridge that lets you take in the view from above.
If you park at Rogie Falls, just off the A835 road, you’ll find some marked trails that take you through the woods to the bridge. The yellow Salmon Trail goes straight to the bridge, while the Riverside Trail offers a more scenic route along the water’s edge.
We decided to explore a bit more, crossing the bridge and heading into the forest at Contin. It’s a lovely path that runs alongside the Blackwater, and we even spotted a red kite flying overhead!
The path twists and turns, leading to a viewpoint over the falls before descending to the bridge. Just a heads up, it can get slippery around the falls, so watch your step!
Once on the bridge, you can feel it sway a bit, but the view of the falls is totally worth it. The sound of the rushing water is incredible, and you can really appreciate the power of nature.
When the water isn’t at full flow, there’s a salmon ladder on the far side of the river to help the fish reach their spawning grounds. If you’re lucky, you might catch a glimpse of salmon leaping in August and September.
After crossing the bridge, there’s a boardwalk that makes it easier to reach the other side. From there, we headed up the hill, where the river looks calm and peaceful.
At the top, we joined a wider forestry track. Just a heads up, you might see forestry lorries or farm vehicles along the way, so keep an eye out!
The forest might have taken a hit from the recent Storm Eowyn, so be sure to follow any signs that are up. The track goes on for about a mile, with some nice views of the Strathconon hills when the trees thin out.
There are plenty of biking trails around here too, and I’m definitely coming back to check them out!
When we reached a green marker post, we took a shortcut path that led us back down to the parking area for Contin Forest. Just so you know, the toilets at both car parks are only open from April to October.
From the Contin Forest car park, there’s a path that leads out between the rocks. The red route is a short loop, so keep going straight to stay on track with the Black Water on your left.
This path climbs a bit and then veers away from the river, following a burn up the hillside. It’s a fun little trail that winds over tree roots until it meets the vehicle track we were on earlier.
After crossing the burn, we followed the track back to a wooden sign pointing us back to Rogie Falls. You get another chance to see the waterfalls before deciding how to return to the car park.
We chose part of the blue route, taking a left fork after the bridge and following the path back up to the car park. It was a nice climb alongside the burn.
