River Tay

The River Tay is the name given to the final 50 plus mile leg of the Tay from where it leaves Loch Tay at Kenmore and becomes tidal at Perth.

For the first few miles after emerging from Loch Tay, the Tay is already a considerable and spectacular river, and is boosted further once met by the River Lyon a few miles upstream from Aberfeldy. Practically all of the 18 mile stretch from Kenmore to Ballinluig where it meets the River Tummel is fished for salmon. Much of the river is manageable from the bank or wading and many stretches are very picturesque. However, this area is not so well known nor has such good catches as further downriver.

When the Tummel joins, the Tay becomes a truly big river. This next 19 mile “middle” Tay section is generally more open that the upper Tay. It largely is relatively placid, meandering and gravelly with a moderate gradient. It is an important salmon fishing area, where most beats have to use boats as well as bank fishing.

After the Isla joins, the Tay gets even bigger. Its character also changes because it enters something of a long shallow sandstone gorge. The Tay disappears below the general farming landscape, into its own special secluded world. It is a river of formidable scale, with steep bluebell wooded banks. Some of Britain’s best riverscapes are found here. It is also here that the best of the Tay’s salmon fishing is to be found, with boats very necessary on most stretches. As the Tay approaches Perth, the country does slowly open up again and before becoming tidal adjacent to Scone Palace, it is finally joined by its last important tributary, the River Almond.