BIG Five Lochs in Highland Perthshire

Loch Tummel

Loch Tummel is approximately 7 miles long from east to west, and is ½ mile wide. It became part of the Tummel Hydro-Electric Power Scheme when the Clunie Dam was constructed by Wimpey Construction at its eastern end in 1950, raising the water level by 4.5 metres. The loch is traversed by roads on both north and south banks, offering splendid views of the surrounding countryside, especially the South Side of Loch Tummel. The best view is probably the well-known Queen's View on the north shore, which Queen Victoria made famous in 1866, offering a magnificent vista over the loch with Schiehallion in the background. It is also claimed that the view was originally named after Queen Isabel, wife of Robert the Bruce.

Above the head of the loch, Tummel Bridge crossing the River Tummel actually has two bridges. The original bridge built by General Wade in 1730 has a modern replacement alongside carrying the traffic from Aberfeldy. Notable visitors who have stayed in this area include Mendelssohn and Swinburne. The northern side of the loch has many duns, forts and cairn circles. At the eastern end, high in Glen Fincastle to the north, sits Fincastle House, a 17th-century seat of a branch of the Stewarts, with links to the 1745 rebellion. At the head of the glen are the standing stones of Clachan Aoraidh in the Allean Forest, the forest offers a number of waymarked walking and cycling routes, providing magnificent views of Loch Tummel and the surrounding countryside, with plenty of historical and wildlife interest along the way

The area around the River Tummel and Loch Tummel is known as Strathtummel and is one of the most beautiful parts of Perthshire's Big Tree Country, with ever changing colours throughout the seasons and a great choice of walks, cycle routes and places to relax.

To get closer to the loch, a leisurely cycle along the quiet, scenic south shore road is worthwhile. Summer sees many campsites along the shores of Loch Tummel.

Loch Rannoch

Loch Rannoch runs east to west for 10 miles and just over a mile at it widest. Bordered by spectacular mountains to both the north and south, with the most famous being Schiehallion to the southeast. Wild Rannoch Moor extends to the west and the Black Wood on the south shore is one of the few last remnants of the old Caledonian Pine Forest, which once covered the land. This is proven in part by the presence of Scots Pine stumps preserved in the boggy areas of the moor, and pollen records from peat cores.

The loch is fed at its western end by the River Gaur which itself is sourced far to the west from Lochs Laidon and Eigheach, numerous other burns join the loch as well as the River Ericht. These all add to the rich features of the loch's Fishing. While the loch is part of the Tummel & Garry hydro scheme, with a barrage at its eastern outflow, the loch is quite natural and extremely beautiful. The River Tummel begins at the eastern end of Loch Rannoch.

Fishing Loch Rannoch
Rannoch is an unusual Scottish loch in that it has good areas of shallows particularly at the western end, which are ideal for fly-fishing from a boat, which can be launched from the Loch Rannoch Conservation Association launching site at Killichonan. Most of the trout are just under the pound, but they make for great sport. The loch has the advantage that minor roads run around its shorelines, making bank access much easier.

Fishing for Brown Trout, Pike and Arctic Charr is available by permit only to comply with the River Tummel Protection Order (renewed 1994). The Trout season runs from 15th March to 6th October. Loch Rannoch is controlled by the Loch Rannoch Conservation Association.

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Loch Tay

Loch Tay (Scottish Gaelic, Loch Tatha) is a freshwater loch which lies in the valley between the villages of Killin and Kenmore, stretching over 15 miles in length and 1 mile wide. Loch Tay is a long and narrow loch with steep sides, which follows the line of the valley from the south west to north east. It is the sixth largest loch in Scotland by area and over 150 metres (490 ft) deep at its deepest.

Ben Lawers on its north shore is at 1214 m the 10th highest mountain in the British Isles, and is the highest peak in a group of seven munros.

Killin at the head of the loch, and Kenmore at the outflow of the River Tay, are the main settlements on the lochside today. The smaller settlements of Acharn, Ardeonaig and Ardtalnaig are located on the south side of the loch whilst Fearnan and Lawers are on the north side.

The loch, and many of its surroundings, feature in the traditional Scottish 'Loch Tay Boat Song' (Scottish Gaelic, Iorram Loch Tatha).

In ancient times (in the Iron Age) people lived on defensible, man-made islands on the loch, called Crannogs. More than 20 submerged crannogs have been identified in the loch. An example has now been reconstructed on the south side of the loch at the Scottish Crannog Centre.

The rivers Lochay and Dochart run into the head of Loch Tay in the west, while the River Tay itself flows out of the loch in the east. Loch Tay acts like a giant reservoir for the River Tay, rumour has it that a strong west wind blowing down the loch can send an extra foot of water down the river.

Fishing Loch Tay

Trolling using Rapala plugs, Kynoch Killers, spoons and minnows is the most effective method for salmon fishing the loch. There is a shelf which runs nearly all the way round the loch, approximately 30m out the shelf plunges steeply into deep water, trolling boats are advised to follow this line. There are over 20 Crannogs submerged in Loch Tay, make sure you know where they are or they will damage your boat.

Salmon fishing in the loch has been practiced for many years, at the end of the nineteenth century it wasn't uncommon for 300/400 large salmon to be caught on rod and line during the first four months of the season. Today this is unheard of but the loch still produces a few monsters between 20/30lb each year. In addition to salmon there are substantial numbers of trout, charr, pike and roach. The low shores at Killin are renowned for Pike and Roach.

The trout session runs from 15 March - 6th October and the salmon session runs from 15th January - 15th October (excluding Sundays).

Permit Details:
West/Central Beat: Killin & Breadalbane Angling Club operates the trout and coarse fishing from mouth of the Lawers Burn to Killin on the North side and Lochay/Dochart to Allt Mherin Burn on the South side. Permits are charged at £5.00 per day, available from News First, Killin, telephone 01567 820362

Central/East Beat: East Loch Tay Angling Club operates the trout and coarse fishing from Fearnan to Kenmore on the North side and Achianich Burn to Kenmore on the South side, including challenging fly fishing along the wooded shoreline. Permits are charged at £5.00 per day, available from Kenmore Post Office & Shop, telephone 01887 830200

Salmon fishing permits are issued by riparian owners. Permits are available to purchase from:

Loch Tay Highland Lodges, Milton of Morenish, Killin, telephone 01567 820323
Ardeonaig Hotel, Killin, telephone 01567 820400
Loch Tay Lodges, Acharn, telephone 01887 830209

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Loch Faskally

Situated between steeply wooded hills, Loch Faskally (Scottish Gaelic: Loch Faschoille) is nicely sheltered, and is approximately 2 miles in length narrowing to around 800 yards wide. Loch Faskally is man-made reservoir built between 1947 and 1950 by Wimpey Construction to stabilise river flows below the dam at Pitlochry as part of the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board's Tummel Hydro-Electric Power Scheme. Pitlochry Dam incorporates a salmon fish ladder, allowing around 5,400 salmon to ascend annually, and is a popular visitor attraction. Loch Faskally is fed by two rivers, the River Tummel and the River Garry from the North.

The Clunie Memorial Arch is located on the northwest side of Loch Faskally and leads to an attractive riverside picnic area, parking and picnic benches available. It was built to the same dimensions of the tunnel that carries water between Loch Tummel and the Clunie Power Station. The tunnel itself measures 2791 metres in length, approximately 400,000 tons of rock were removed during its construction.

The circular walk from Pitlochry to Killiecrankie follows a route close to Loch Faskally and then along the banks of the River Garry, this is one of the best low level walks in the area. Much of the walk is through oak and deciduous woodland, rich in wildlife such as red squirrels and woodland birds. Another highlight is the beautiful Linn of Tummel, a natural salmon leap at the confluence of the Rivers Garry and Tummel.

Fishing Loch Faskally

Loch Faskally is popular with anglers who fish for brown trout, pike and grayling. Salmon and a few sea trout pass through as they head up the Tummel and Garry systems. The water holds a good head of brown trout and the native fish are augmented by a stocking in the 1-5lb range. June sees the arrival of the summer grilse. There are also good numbers of small pike with a few larger specimens mixed in. The best recorded pike have been over 30lb.

Faskally Boating Station is easily accessible by car and has ample good parking available. The Boating Station can be found at the north end of Pitlochry and is clearly signposted on the left just as you exit the town boundary. There is a very pleasant café offering good quality, honest food at reasonable prices with excellent service.

Permits are available from the Boating Station, fishing tackle is available for sale and for hire there too. Contact the Boating Station by phone 01796 472919.

Fishing Permits: Bank per day £9.00, Bank per week £27.00, Boat 1/2 day £8.00, Boat full day £10.00, Boat weekly £36.00
Boats with Outboards: 4 Hours £30.00, 8 Hours £40.00

Notes: All anglers require a permit. Boats with outboards are for anglers only. Boats must be returned by 5.00pm. Life jackets must be worn at all times, which are included in cost of boat hire. No alcohol permitted.

Download a copy of the map here. More details available on the website.

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Loch Freuchie, Glen Quaich

Loch Freuchie ('Fraoch' the heatherly loch), rests sheltered behind the tiny settlement of Amulree in Glen Quaich, 9 miles west of Dunkeld. Loch Freuchie offers a pleasant walk in open countryside in a picture-postcard setting, a walk around the loch will take 4-5 hours. The terrain circling the loch can be slightly rough in places so take care when using farm tracks and watch out for vehicles on the minor roads.

Amulree itself lies almost 306m/1000ft above sea level. Dating from 1744, the white painted church is worth a visit, pop inside to view the information display on the history of the area. The Amurlee Hotel (now closed) became a 'King's House' when General Wade was building the military roads and the old bridge, following that it became a coaching inn.

A small shingle beach offers a great viewpoint for watching the bird life on the loch. The crannog (a man made island) is a stone-built island close to the south west shore near to Glenquaich Lodge, which has been planted with conifers. The Crannog has an interesting dragon legend... The story goes that a young man named Fraoch, at the request of the lady Maidh, went to the dragon inhabited island to gather rowan berries. He completed the task and evaded the dragon but the lady insisted that nothing would please her except that he return to her with the uprooted rowan tree. On his second visit he got the tree but woke the dragon, who in mortal combat gnawed off Fraoch's arms and legs! Maidh found both lying dead on the shore of the crannog.

Along the shores of Loch Freuchie you will find several sites of ruined communities, something consisting of houses and a mill, the home to 10-15 families.