Tucked into the southern side of Glencar Valley on the Leitrim–Sligo border, Glencar Waterfall is one of Ireland's most visited and most accessible waterfalls. A short woodland walk from the car park brings you to the base of the 15-metre cascade, which tumbles into a dark pool surrounded by lush vegetation. The setting is beautiful in any weather, but particularly atmospheric after rainfall when the flow is at its strongest.

The waterfall was made famous by W.B. Yeats, who referenced it in his poem 'The Stolen Child' — one of his most celebrated early works. The lines 'Where the wandering water gushes / From the hills above Glen-Car' are believed to refer to this very spot. That literary connection adds an extra layer to what is already a lovely natural setting, and it's a detail worth sharing with anyone who visits.

Getting to the waterfall is straightforward. From the main car park beside Glencar Lake, a well-maintained woodland path leads you to the base of the falls in just a few minutes. The walk is flat and suitable for all ages, including families with young children and pushchairs on dry days. Facilities at the car park include toilets, a children's playground and the teaSHED café — making this one of the most family-friendly waterfall stops in the northwest.

Glencar Waterfall is also the ideal base for combining with the Devil's Chimney — Ireland's tallest waterfall — which sits just 2 km away on the northern side of the valley. The two waterfalls are completely different experiences: Glencar is easy and accessible, while the Devil's Chimney requires a proper uphill walk through ancient woodland to reach a 150-metre cascade. Doing both in the same visit gives you the full range of what Glencar Valley has to offer. We'd recommend tackling the Devil's Chimney first while you have energy, then finishing at Glencar for the café and a well-earned rest.