The water spray effect accounts for the name "reekie" (smokey), a name given in Victorian times when travellers began visiting. The linn part of the name is Gaelic - meaning a dark pool.
Reekie Linn is a waterfall formed on the Highland Boundary fault where the hard metamorphic rocks of the Highlands give way to the softer sedimentary rocks of Strathmore
The falls were created when the hard volcanic rock gives way to the much softer sandstone. At the boundary of these rocks is the waterfall. The hard volcanic rocks resist erosion whilst the softer sandstone will gradually erode. The falls have created a plunge pool at their base 36 metres deep. The erosion of the sandstone will eventually cause the falls to undermine themselves and collapse. This continuous erosion / undermining / collapse over thousands of years has created the spectacular gorge downstream as the falls have migrated upstream.
To log this cache can you do the following
1. There are normally 2 smaller falls which combine into one much larger spectacular fall when the river is in spate. Please email your estimation of the total drop of either the 2 smaller falls that you see or the larger one (dependent on the river when you visit).
2. Post a photograph with your log clearly showing both the falls and your GPS. This is optional but we like seeing pretty pictures of the falls!
When walking along the gorge pay notice to the warning signs. There is a 45 metre sheer drop at the viewing point. Please take care of children and dogs.
If you are doing the nearby Peel Farm cache, there is another viewing point (and information board) of the Isla Gorge at approx 56°40.198'N, 3°11.997'W
