Blair Atholl Fishing

The Mighty Atlantic Salmon!

Salmon (Salmo salar – Roman for Salmon the leaper)

Watching a salmon leaping up a waterfall on its way home to spawn is one of nature's sights to behold. Records show salmon leaping at least 12 feet in determination to ascend a waterfall. In Highland Perthshire you can often see Salmon leaping at The Hermitage, Pitlochry Dam & Salmon Ladder, Soldiers Leap at Killiecrankie and the Linn of Tummel.

Rivers and burns throughout Highland Perthshire are home to many thousands of migratory salmon, some of which swim many miles into the mountains to reach their home pools to spawn and start another cycle of their amazing life story. The young salmon grow in our clean waters for a few years before starting their epic journeys to the salt water feeding grounds via the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Some of them reach the Davis Straight on the west coast of Greenland before heading home again, a distance of 6000 miles as the crow flies! On their return they battle their way past nets, killer whales, dolphins and the thousands of seals that prey upon them around the coasts. The survivors, a small percentage of those that hatched in our rivers return home safely to re-produce and provide thrilling sport for the angler fortunate enough to encounter them.

Salmon fishing is available throughout Highland Perthshire from 15th January until 15th October although some beats of the River Tay remaining open until 31st October. Click here to peruse our Angling pages.

Salmon may arrive in the River Tay on any day of the year but of course there are peak times. Spring salmon are the earliest running multi sea winter fish. In most rivers the main runs start to arrive in March, but on the River Tay they can arrive much earlier but generally the numbers are fairly low until then. April and May are the hot times for spring salmon, these fish can be large, and in years gone by specimens around the 30lb mark have been encountered.

Salmon require a good freshwater habitat for successful breeding; pollution free water, accessible stable redds, and good water levels.

Catch & Release has been introduced on our rivers to aid the survival of the mighty Salmon, one of our treasured natural resources. Over the last 3 decades the number of salmon returning to our rivers from the sea has fallen by more than half.

For more information on river habitats visit Scottish Natural Heritage, the mighty salmon visit Salmon & Trout Association, fly fishing visit Lets Fly Fish with Ally Gowans

Atholl Estates Country Sports

Atholl has long been known for the quality of its red stag stalking, but stalking for hinds, is also available. Ponies are used in the traditional manner to retrieve deer from the hills whenever possible. All stalking guests are accompanied by a professional stalker.

There are five sporting beats available on the Estate, providing a mixture of sporting opportunities to suit all tastes. Bookings can be arranged either for larger parties on a weekly basis, together with self-catering lodge accommodation, or on a daily basis subject to availability.

The beats are as follows :

Forest Lodge: Red deer stalking, grouse shooting and fishing.
West Hand: Red deer stalking and grouse shooting.
Glen Bruar: Red deer stalking, grouse shooting and fishing
Clunes: Red deer stalking.
Dalnamein: Red hind stalking

Fishing on Atholl Estates
Atholl Estates provides some of the most scenic fishing in Scotland. The estate has three salmon fishing beats on the rivers Tummel, Garry and Tilt, plus a hill loch for wild brown trout.

Salmon Fishing
The Lower Tummel cuts through some of Scotland's most impressive scenery, the Tummel beat extends from the village of Moulinearn to the Logierait bridge (approx 2500 yards), just before the Tummel meets the Tay at Ballinluig. The Garry Pol Dornie is one of the most beautiful stretches of river in Scotland, the Pol Dornie beat of the River Garry flows past Blair Atholl and towards the dramatic Pass of Killiecrankie, offering some immensely satisfying fishing for discerning anglers. The Tilt runs through the famous Glen Tilt, this stretch of water offers unparalleled scenery and an abundance of wildlife. The river is split into four beats but only the middle two are let.

Trout Fishing
There can be few better remedies for stress than a day's fishing for wild brown trout on a quiet Scottish hill loch. The only sound to disturb the peace is the gentle lapping of water against the sides of your boat. Atholl Estates offers wild brown trout fishing on Loch Broom and stocked rainbow and blue trout fishing on Rotmell and Dowally.

Country Sports Tourism Group

Scotland is revered internationally as a mature sporting destination that offers visitors outstanding sporting experiences amongst stunning & dramatic landscapes.

Fish for wild Atlantic Salmon on world-renowned rivers such as the Tay. Hunt for majestic Red Deer Stags amongst Scotland’s famous mountains. Or have the Red Grouse, unique to the United Kingdom, driven over you as part of a team of guns strung out in butts over heather clad grouse moors.

The Scottish Country Sports Experience - Beginners Welcome!

These half day sessions are ideal for anyne interested in trying Country and Field Sports. Choose either shooting, fishing or deer stalking and learn direct from some of the top professionals in the field. Lasting approximately three hours, these courses are the ideal introduction to one of Scotland’s most exciting sports.

We want to welcome both UK and international visitors from all over the world to come and enjoy Scotland as a unique sporting destination.

Atholl Estates

145,000 acres of spectacular landscapes, stretching from Dunkeld in the south to beyond Blair Atholl in the north, Atholl Estates offer a range of accommodation options, country sports, hill-loch and river fishing, pony trekking, the historic Blair Castle as well as miles of walking and cycling trails.

Countryside Trails in Dunkeld

There is an orientation map in the Cally Car Park and a leaflet is available from the Dunkeld Tourist Information Centre. Alternatively you can download the PDF version of the map and trail directions here.

Cally to Loch Ordie circuit - 11 miles. A very scenic route with no steep ups or downs. Rair to Guay circuit - 10 miles . A varied walk of lochs, woods and fields. Atholl Woods Walk 6.5 or 5 miles. Superb views and varied terrain. This route can be muddy. The paths link lochs, woodland and moorland, and, as with all walks in Perthshire, the scenery in this area is superb. The most popular routes are the track to Loch Ordie and the Council-managed Atholl Woods Walk (7 miles).

Fishing on Atholl Estates

Atholl Estates provides some of the most scenic fishing in Scotland. The estate has three salmon fishing beats on the rivers Tummel, Garry and Tilt, plus a hill loch for wild brown trout.

Salmon Fishing

The Lower Tummel cuts through some of Scotland's most impressive scenery, the Tummel beat extends from the village of Moulinearn to the Logierait bridge (approx 2500 yards), just before the Tummel meets the Tay at Ballinluig. The Garry Pol Dornie is one of the most beautiful stretches of river in Scotland, the Pol Dornie beat of the River Garry flows past Blair Atholl and towards the dramatic Pass of Killiecrankie, offering some immensely satisfying fishing for discerning anglers. The Tilt runs through the famous Glen Tilt, this stretch of water offers unparalleled scenery and an abundance of wildlife. The river is split into four beats but only the middle two are let.

Trout Fishing

There can be few better remedies for stress than a day's fishing for wild brown trout on a quiet Scottish hill loch. The only sound to disturb the peace is the gentle lapping of water against the sides of your boat. Atholl Estates offers wild brown trout fishing on Loch Broom and stocked rainbow and blue trout fishing on Rotmell and Dowally.

Click here for Atholl Estates Rangers Events Listings... great days out in Highland Perthshire!

Click here for Blair Castle Events listing