River Spey

Description of the River Spey

The Spey is over 100 miles long and starts Loch Spey near Fort Augustus.  It is one of the classic salmon rivers of Scotland, but also holds sea trout and brown trout. It flows in a generally northeasterly direction. It is the second longest and the fastest-flowing river in Scotland.

The Spey is justifiably world famous.  Not only is it home to the spey cast, but as a fly fishing river it offers some extraordinarily good water.

On its way down it passes Drummin, Laggan, Balgowan, Kingussie, The Insh Marshes, Loch Inch, Aviemore, Boat of Garten, Grantown-on-Spey, Cragganmore, Aberlour, Craigellachie, Rothes, Fochabers, Mosstodloch and enters the Spey Bay on the Moray Firth near Buckie.

Tributaries include: Markie Burn, River Mashie, River Truim, Highland Calder, Allt Mor, River Tromie, River Feshie, River Druie, River Nethy, River Dulnain, Burn of Tulchan, Allt a Gheallaidh, River Avon, Allt Arder, Knockando Burn, River Fiddich,  Burn of Rothes, Burn of Mulben, Red Burn and Burn of Fochabers.

Photo © Copyright John Ferguson and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Headwaters of the River Spey at Garva Bridge

 Photo © Copyright Alan Reid and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Spey Dam (there is a fish pass)

Photo © Copyright John Ferguson and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Confluence of rivers Spey and Calder by Newtonmore

Photo © Copyright Peter Bond and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Kincraig Bridge where the Spey exits Loch Insh

Photo © Copyright Oliver Dixon and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Looking upstream from the road bridge between Aviemore and Inverdruie

Photo © Copyright Mary and Angus Hogg and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Fishing Hut at Kinchurdy just above Boat of Garten

Photo © Copyright Peter Bond and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

River Spey at Boat of Garten

Photo © Copyright Mary and Angus Hogg and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Broomhill Bridge. Strathspey Angling Improvement Association have the fishings from here down to just below Grantown. Click on image for more info.

Photo © Copyright Bob Jones and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

An Island in the River Spey below Tulchan Lodge

 Photo © Copyright Ann Harrison and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Blacksboat Bridge below Ballindalloch

© Copyright Andrew Wood and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

River Spey at Knockando. he river here is very shallow, as can be seen by the fly fisherman, who is standing mid-stream in water barely over his knees.

Photo © Copyright Bob Jones and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

The River Spey upstream from Carron Bridge.

Photo © Copyright Andrew Wood and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Wester Elchies fishing hut seen from the Delagyle bank

Photo © Copyright Des Colhoun and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Looking down on the Dellagyle beat, River Spey.

Photo © Copyright Des Colhoun and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

At Kinermony a very fresh spring salmon of around 9lbs about to be returned to the river. The fish was removed for a quick photograph only and released with lots of energy.

Photo © Copyright Jock Royan and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

The Spey at Aberlour

Photo  © Copyright Andrew Wood and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

River Spey at Craigellachie.

 Photo © Copyright Alastair Young and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Arndilly to the left, Easter Elchies to the right. Looking upstream on the Spey towards two famous salmon beats.

Photo © Copyright Des Colhoun and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Playing a fish on the Long Pool at Rothes and Aikenway.

 Photo © Copyright Des Colhoun and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Upstream from Beat 4 on the Brae Water, River Spey near Fochabers

Photo  © Copyright Des Colhoun and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Anglers on the Fochabers Angling Association Water

Photo © Copyright Anne Burgess and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Upstream towards The Essil Pool and the Willows.

Photo © Copyright Des Colhoun and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

The mouth of the Spey at Spey Bay

Photo © Copyright Christopher Gillan and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Local Tips and Advice on the River Spey

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Fishing Links for the River Spey

• Aberlour Angling Association Aberlour Angling Association has 1.5 miles of single bank salmon and sea trout fishing on the River Spey for members. Day tickets are also available at resonable cost.
• Abernethy and Aviemore Angling Improvement Association Abernethy and Aviemore Angling Improvement Association has 6 miles of double bank salmon and seatrout fishing on the River Spey at Boat of Garten and 1.5 miles at Aviemore for members. Day tickets are also available.
• Ballindalloch Castle Estate The Rivers Spey and Avon flow through the grounds and offer excellent fishing. The Ballindalloch beat on the River Spey is the best known middle beat on the river. Its two miles of double-bank fishing includes the famous Junction Pool. The Estate also owns six miles of excellent salmon and sea trout fishing on the River Avon.
• Fochabers Angling Association Lower Water salmon fishing beat on the River Spey. 1.3 miles in length, has both banks, and is approximately 4 miles from the sea. 4 visitors day tickets are allocated per day.
• Glenlivet Holiday Cottage A charming, detached converted steading holiday cottage, which sleeps up to 14 people, on The Glenlivet Estate right by The Speyside Way and near the Glenlivet Distillery. Ideal for parties wanting to walk, play golf, fish on the river Spey, River Avon or River Livet. Hill Loch fishing also available.
• Gordon Castle Estate Gordon Castle and Brae Water beats are amongst the most famous in the World. Spread over eight miles, the eight beats of double bank salmon fishing on the River Spey are together probably the largest and most prolific salmon fishery in Britain.
• Knockando Estate Knockando has three and a half miles of prime double bank salmon and sea trout fishing on the River Spey, split into three adjoining beats. The estate may have day rods available at times.
• Lower Arndilly Fishings Lower Arndilly Fishings is one of the famous Spey salmon fishing beats and is virtually impossible to get onto!
• Monteith Salmon Fishing Services Scotland's leading salmon fishing guiding service covering all Scottish Salmon rivers including the River Tay, River Dee, River Spey and River Tweed.
• Mortimers of Speyside Traditional fishing tackle shop in Grantown-on-Spey. Online shop is also available. Sells day tickets and weekly permits for the excellent Strathspey Angling Improvement Association waters as well as fishing on Loch Dallas for boat fishing only.
• Orton Estate Orton Estate has 1.5 miles of double bank salmon and seatrout fishing on the River Spey divided into two rotating 3 rod beats. The fishings are mostly let with holiday accommodation. The estate has a wide selection of cottages and houses.
• Peter Graham and Associates Letting agents for: Rothes and Aikenway Fishings, Delfur Fishings, Upper Arndilly and Easter Elchies and Inverfiddich Fishings. Waiting list in operation.
• Rothes and Aikenway Another superb River Spey salmon beat. Almost impossible to get onto with lets made years in advance.
• Rothiemurchus Estate Rothiemurchus Estate has two right hand beats over 4 miles for salmon and sea trout fishing on the upper River Spey near Aviemore. Also fishing for rainbow trout , brown trout and pike.
• Speymouth Angling Association Speymouth Angling Association offer day tickets to visitors between 11th February and 26th August on 1.5 miles double bank from the railway bridge to the sea.at very reasonable cost. Early booking is essential for prime time in July and August.
• Strathspey Angling Improvement Association Strathspey Angling Improvement Association has approximately 6½ miles of double bank salmon and trout fishing on the river Spey with 12 miles of double bank on the river Dulnain. Day tickets available at reasonable cost.
• Strathspey Estate Traditional Highland sporting estate offering holiday accommodation as well as superb salmon and sea trout fishing on classic River Spey beats at Castle Grant.
• Tulchan Estate Four superb salmon and sea trout fishing beats over 8 miles of the River Spey, each limited to six rods. Let either with an historic sporting lodge or cottage accommodation.
• Upper Arndilly Fishings Upper Arndilly Fishings is made up of 1 mile of single right hand bank fishing on the River Spey just below Aberlour for salmon and sea trout. Usually sold as a 3 rod week, but day tickets sometimes available.
• Wester Elchies Wester Elchies has a total of 17 pools covering a 2.4 mile single left hand bank on of the River Spey for salmon, sea trout and brown trout fishing. Beats are usually let by the week, but day tickets are sometimes available.