List of rivers of Scotland

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Major rivers can be seen in this map
Major rivers can be seen in this map

List of rivers in Scotland is a list of rivers in Scotland, organised geographically, taken anti-clockwise, from Berwick-upon-Tweed. Tributaries are listed down the page in an upstream direction.

For simplicity, they are divided here by the nation in which the mouth of the river can be found, and sea into which it flows.

The Scots have many words for water courses. A "Water" (Lallans: "Watter", Scots Gaelic, "Uisge") is a smaller river, e.g. Ugie Water, Water of Leith etc, and a "burn" (also widely used in England especially the north, sometimes spelled as "bourne". [Scottish Gaelic|Scots Gaelic]]: "allt", anglicised as "Ault/alt"), e.g. Coalburn, is slightly smaller than a "water", and often takes in everything from large streams to smaller rivers. Also Abhainn (Afon in British [Welsh etc.] both pronounced as "Avon"), Gaelic for river, which is anglisised as Avon, sometimes leading to the several strange misnamings of rivers such as Avon and Afton or "River River" by Anglo Saxon speakers, much as in Glendale, or "Valley Valley" a combination of Norse/Anglo Saxon "dale" and Gaelic "glen" [British [Welsh etc.] "glyn"].

Many Scottish rivers incorporate the name "Water" traditionally. Smaller rivers are traditionally called "burns".

Contents

[edit] Flowing into the North Sea

The River Tweed at Coldstream.
The River Tweed at Coldstream.
Meandering River Forth viewed from the Wallace Monument. The river flows from right to left, and the former limit of navigation was in the left distance.
Meandering River Forth viewed from the Wallace Monument. The river flows from right to left, and the former limit of navigation was in the left distance.
Looking upstream (north) along the River Tay from the centre of Perth
Looking upstream (north) along the River Tay from the centre of Perth
Falls of Dee, An Garbh Choire
Falls of Dee, An Garbh Choire
River Spey at Aberlour
River Spey at Aberlour

From Berwick-upon-Tweed to Duncansby Head (East Coast)

[edit] The Inner Hebrides and Isle of Skye

Isle of Skye

  • River Sligachan
  • Allt Dearg Mòr
  • Varragill River
  • Kilmartin River
  • River Conon
  • River Hinnisdal
  • River Haultin
  • River Snizort
    • Lòn an Eireannaich
    • Abhainn an Acha-leathain
      • Tungadal River
  • Bay River
  • Hamara River
  • River Ose
  • River Drynoch
  • Viskigill Burn
  • Eynort River
  • River Brittle
  • Coir' uisg
  • Abhainn Camas Fhionnairigh

Mull

  • Lussa River
  • River Forsa
  • Aros River
  • Coladoir River

Islay

  • River Laggan

[edit] Flowing into the Atlantic Ocean

Glen Etive and River Etive
Glen Etive and River Etive
Flyfishing on the River Carron (??Forth, Wester Ross or Sutherland?)
Flyfishing on the River Carron (??Forth, Wester Ross or Sutherland?)

Dunnet Head to Mull of Kintyre

  • River Thurso
    • Little River, Highland
  • Forss Water
  • Halladale River
  • River Strathy
  • River Naver
  • River Borgie
  • Kinloch River
  • River Hope
  • River Dionard
  • Rhiconich River
  • River Laxford
  • River Inver
  • River Canaird
  • River Broom
  • Dundonnel River
  • Gruinard River
  • Inverianvie River
  • Little Gruinard River
  • River Ewe
  • River Kerry
  • Craig River
  • River Torridon
  • River Carron
  • River Ling
  • River Elchaig
  • River Croe
  • River Shiel
  • Glenmore River
  • River Arnisdale
  • River Carnach
  • River Moidart
  • River Shiel
  • Strontian River
  • Carnoch River
  • River Aline
  • River Scaddle
  • River Lochy
  • River Nevis
  • River Kiachnish
  • River Leven
  • River Coe
  • River Etive
  • River Kinglass
  • River Awe
    • River Orchy (via Loch Awe)
    • River Avich (via Loch Awe)
  • River Add

[edit] Firth of Clyde

The Clyde flowing through Glasgow. The Finnieston Crane on the left is seen as a lasting symbol of the industrial heritage of the Clyde.
The Clyde flowing through Glasgow. The Finnieston Crane on the left is seen as a lasting symbol of the industrial heritage of the Clyde.
The River Findhorn is crossed by the Highland Main Line railway and the A9 road just east of Tomatin
The River Findhorn is crossed by the Highland Main Line railway and the A9 road just east of Tomatin
The Annick Water near Cunninghamhead mill<center.
The Annick Water
near Cunninghamhead mill<center.

From Mull of Kintyre to Mull of Galloway

Arran and the Cumbrae Islands

  • Glen Rosa Water
  • Benlister Burn
  • Glenashdale Burn
  • Kilmory Water
  • Stiddery Water
  • Clauchan Water
  • Machrie Water
  • Iorsa Water

[edit] Solway Firth (Mull of Galloway to Gretna, Irish Sea)

The estuary of the River Nith, opening into Solway Firth south of Dumfries.
The estuary of the River Nith, opening into Solway Firth south of Dumfries.
Hoddom Bridge, River Annan
Hoddom Bridge, River Annan

[edit] Outer Hebrides, Orkney, Shetland

[edit] By length

The ten major rivers of Scotland, in order of length, are:

  1. River Tay 193 km (120 miles)
  2. River Spey 172 km (107 miles)
  3. River Clyde 171 km (106 miles)
  4. River Tweed 156 km (97 miles)
  5. River Dee 137 km (85 miles)
  6. River Don 132 km (82 miles)
  7. River Nith 112 km (71 miles)
  8. River Forth 105 km (65 miles)
  9. River Findhorn 101 km (63 miles)
  10. River Deveron 98 km (61 miles)
  11. River Annan 79 km (49 miles)

[edit] By catchment

The major rivers of Scotland, in order of catchment[1], are:

  1. River Tay c. 2000 sq miles (6200 km²)
  2. River Tweed 1500 sq miles (5000 km²)
  3. River Spey 1097 sq miles (3008 km²)

Note: Imperial figures from quoted source; and metric figures less certain.

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ Alastair Gowans. Fishing Rivers. Retrieved on August 20, 2006.
v • d • e
List of rivers of Europe
Sovereign
states

Albania · Andorra · Armenia1 · Austria · Azerbaijan2 · Belarus · Belgium · Bosnia and Herzegovina · Bulgaria · Croatia · Cyprus1 · Czech Republic · Denmark4 · Estonia · Finland · France4, 5, 6 · Georgia2 · Germany · Greece · Hungary · Iceland · Republic of Ireland · Italy · Kazakhstan3 · Latvia · Liechtenstein · Lithuania · Luxembourg · Republic of Macedonia · Malta · Moldova · Monaco · Montenegro · Netherlands · Norway · Poland · Portugal · Romania · Russia3 · San Marino · Serbia · Slovakia · Slovenia · Spain6 · Sweden · Switzerland · Turkey3 · Ukraine · United Kingdom (England • Northern Ireland • Scotland • Wales)
Dependencies,
autonomies,
other territories

Abkhazia 2 · Adjara1 · Akrotiri and Dhekelia · Åland · Azores · Crimea · Faroe Islands · Gagauzia · Gibraltar · Greenland7 · Guernsey · Jan Mayen · Jersey · Kosovo · Isle of Man · Madeira8 · Nagorno-Karabakh1 · Nakhchivan1 · Northern Cyprus1 · Republika Srpska · South Ossetia 2 · Svalbard · Transnistria
Italics indicates an unrecognised or partially recognised country. 1 Entirely in Southwest Asia.  2 Partially or entirely in Asia, depending on the border definitions.  3 / 4 / 5 / 6 Has part of its territory in Asia / North America / South America / Africa.  7 / 8 Entirely on the North American Plate / African Plate.