The River Spey (
Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic ( gd, Gàidhlig ), also known as Scots Gaelic and Gaelic, is a Goidelic language (in the Celtic branch of the Indo-European language family) native to the Gaels of Scotland. As a Goidelic language, Scottish Gaelic, as well as ...
: Uisge Spè) is a
river
A river is a natural flowing watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, sea, lake or another river. In some cases, a river flows into the ground and becomes dry at the end of its course without reaching another body of ...
in the northeast of
Scotland
Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to ...
. At it is the eighth longest river in the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and ...
, as well as the second longest and fastest-flowing river in
Scotland
Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to ...
. It is important for
salmon
Salmon () is the common name for several commercially important species of euryhaline ray-finned fish from the family Salmonidae, which are native to tributaries of the North Atlantic (genus '' Salmo'') and North Pacific (genus '' Onco ...
fishing and
whisky production.
Etymology
The origin of the name ''Spey'' is uncertain. A possible etymological genesis for the name ''Spey'' is
Early Celtic ''*skwej-'', meaning "thorn".
The involvement of a
Pictish form of
Welsh
Welsh may refer to:
Related to Wales
* Welsh, referring or related to Wales
* Welsh language, a Brittonic Celtic language spoken in Wales
* Welsh people
People
* Welsh (surname)
* Sometimes used as a synonym for the ancient Britons (Celtic peopl ...
''ysbyddad'', meaning "hawthorn", has been suggested,
but adjudged unlikely.
One proposal is a derivation from a Pictish cognate of
Old Gaelic ''sceïd'', "vomit" (c.f
Welsh
Welsh may refer to:
Related to Wales
* Welsh, referring or related to Wales
* Welsh language, a Brittonic Celtic language spoken in Wales
* Welsh people
People
* Welsh (surname)
* Sometimes used as a synonym for the ancient Britons (Celtic peopl ...
''chwydu''),
which is dubious both on phonological and semantic grounds.
Ptolemy
Claudius Ptolemy (; grc-gre, Πτολεμαῖος, ; la, Claudius Ptolemaeus; AD) was a mathematician, astronomer, astrologer, geographer, and music theorist, who wrote about a dozen scientific treatises, three of which were of importanc ...
named the river on his map of 150 as ''Tuesis''. The name 'Spey' first appears in 1451.
Course
The Spey is long. It rises at over at
Loch Spey in
Corrieyairack Forest in the
Scottish Highlands
The Highlands ( sco, the Hielands; gd, a’ Ghàidhealtachd , 'the place of the Gaels') is a historical region of Scotland. Culturally, the Highlands and the Lowlands diverged from the Late Middle Ages into the modern period, when Lowland S ...
, south of
Fort Augustus. Some miles downstream from its source it is impounded by
Spey Dam Spey may refer to:
* Spey River (disambiguation)
*Spey casting, a fly fishing technique developed on the River Spey
*Rolls-Royce Spey, an early turbofan engine
* HMS ''Spey'', the name of seven ships of the Royal Navy
* For spey-wife -- see Völva a ...
before continuing a descent through
Newtonmore and
Kingussie, crossing
Loch Insh before reaching
Aviemore, giving its name to
Strathspey. From there it flows the remaining north-east to the
Moray Firth
The Moray Firth (; Scottish Gaelic: ''An Cuan Moireach'', ''Linne Mhoireibh'' or ''Caolas Mhoireibh'') is a roughly triangular inlet (or firth) of the North Sea, north and east of Inverness, which is in the Highland council area of north of Sc ...
, reaching the sea west of
Buckie.
On some sections of its course, the Spey changes course frequently, either gradually as a result of
deposition
Deposition may refer to:
* Deposition (law), taking testimony outside of court
* Deposition (politics), the removal of a person of authority from political power
* Deposition (university), a widespread initiation ritual for new students practiced f ...
and
erosion
Erosion is the action of surface processes (such as water flow or wind) that removes soil, rock, or dissolved material from one location on the Earth's crust, and then transports it to another location where it is deposited. Erosion is d ...
from normal flow, or in a matter of hours as a result of
spate
Spate is a surname, and may refer to:
* Clive Spate (born 1952), British game show contestant
* Oskar Spate
Oskar Hermann Khristian Spate (30 March 191129 May 2000) was a geographer best known for his role in strengthening geography as a disci ...
. The Spey spates quickly due to its wide mountainous catchment area as a result of rainfall or snow-melt.
Insh Marshes, an area of roughly on either side of the Spey in its middle reaches are designated by
Scottish Natural Heritage as a
Site of Special Scientific Interest, as are the extensive shingle systems at
Spey Bay.
Tributaries
After leaving Loch Spey the river gathers numerous burns in the Corrieyarack, Sherramore and Glenshirra Forests. The first sizeable tributary is the Markie Burn which drops out of Glen Markie to the north to enter the waters of Spey impounded behind the Spey Dam. A further mile downstream the River Mashie enters from Strath Mashie to the south.
The
River Truim enters on the right bank a couple of miles above Newtonmore and the
Highland Calder enters from Glen Banchor on the left bank at Spey Bridge at Newtonmore. At Kingussie the Spey is joined on its left bank by the River Gynack which runs through the town and downstream it is joined by the
River Tromie
The River Tromie ( gd, Tromaidh / Abhainn Tromaidh) is a right bank tributary of the River Spey in northeast Scotland
Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain ...
which enters on the right bank. The sizeable
River Feshie
The River Feshie ( gd, Fèisidh / Abhainn Fhèisidh) is a major right bank tributary of the River Spey in north-east Scotland. It rises in the remote countryside of the Glenfeshie Forest, flowing initially eastwards before turning sharply to th ...
joins on the right bank at Kincraig and the
River Druie
The River Druie ( gd, Drùidh) is a right bank tributary of the River Spey in northeast Scotland. The Druie tributaries are Am Beanaidh, which emerges from Loch Einich and flows north through Gleann Einich; and the River Luineag, which emerges ...
does likewise at Aviemore. Several miles downstream the
River Nethy
The River Nethy ( gd, Neithich / Abhainn Neithich) is a right bank tributary of the River Spey in northeast Scotland. It rises as the Garbh Allt between Cairn Gorm and A' Chòinneach on the northern slopes of the Cairngorms and flows northwards t ...
joins from the east near Nethy Bridge and the
River Dulnain originating in the
Monadhliath contributes a considerable flow from the west near Dulnain Bridge.
Between
Grantown-on-Spey and Craigellachie, the Burn of Tulchan and Allt a Gheallaidh join from the west whilst the Spey's most important tributary, the
River Avon joins from the east. The Allt Arder and Knockando Burn also join from the west near Knockando. The
River Fiddich enters from the right at Craigellachie and the Burn of Rothes enters from the left at
Rothes. Downstream more burns enter the Spey, the most important of which are the Burn of Mulben, Red Burn and Burn of Fochabers.
Industry
The river traditionally supported many local industries, from the salmon fishing industry to shipbuilding. At one stage, Garmouth functioned as the shipbuilding capital of Britain, with timber from the forests around
Aviemore and
Aberlour
Aberlour ( gd, Obar Lobhair) is a village in Moray, Scotland, south of Elgin on the road to Grantown. The Lour burn is a tributary of the River Spey, and it and the surrounding parish are both named Aberlour, but the name is more commonly used ...
being rafted down to create wooden-hulled ships.
The river is known by anglers for the quality of its salmon and
trout fishing, including a particular form of fly fishing where the angler uses a double-handed fly rod to throw a '
Spey cast' whereby the fly and the line do not travel behind the fisher (thereby keeping these away from the bushes and trees lining the banks behind him or her). This type of cast was developed on the Spey.
Speyside
distilleries produce more
whisky than any other region.
Scotland's Malt Whisky Trail is a tourism initiative featuring seven working Speyside distilleries, a historic distillery and the
Speyside Cooperage. The concept was created in the early 1980s. The region is a natural for whisky distillers because of three benefits: it is close to barley farms, contains the River Spey and is close to the port of Garmouth.
The
Speyside Way, a
long-distance footpath, follows the river through the
County of Moray.
The River Spey is unusual in that its speed increases as it flows closer to the sea, due to a broadly convex long-profile. The Spey does not meander, although it rapidly moves its banks. South of
Fochabers a high earth barrier reinforces the banks, but the river has broken through on several occasions, removing a large portion of
Garmouth Golf Course, sections of wall surrounding
Gordon Castle, parts of the Speyside Way and some of the B9104 road.
The Spey railway bridge (pedestrianised ) Spey Bay to Garmouth was originally designed with its main span over the main flow of the river, however before construction was completed the river had changed its course and was running at one end of the bridge.
Settlements
''Starting from the source''
*
Laggan
*
Newtonmore
*
Inverdruie
*
Aviemore
*
Boat of Garten
Boat of Garten ( gd, Coit a' Ghartain; originally: Garten) is a small village and post town in Badenoch and Strathspey, Highland, Scotland. In 1951, the population was less than 400; in 1971, it was almost 500; in 1981, it was almost 700, and the ...
*
Grantown on Spey
Grantown-on-Spey ( gd, Baile nan Granndach) is a town in the Highland Council Area, historically within the county of Moray. It is located on a low plateau at Freuchie beside the river Spey at the northern edge of the Cairngorm mountains, abou ...
*
Cromdale
Cromdale ( gd, Cromdhail, from ''crom'' 'crooked' and ''dal'' 'valley, dale') is a village in Strathspey, in the Highland council area of Scotland, and one of the ancient parishes which formed the combined ecclesiastical (later civil) parish ...
*
Mains of Dalvey
*
Advie
Advie ( gd, Àbhaidh) is a small village in Strathspey, in the Highland Council Area of Scotland. It lies to the south of the River Spey, and next to the A95 road, roughly halfway between Grantown-on-Spey and Aberlour.
History
Advie was in ...
*
Ballindalloch
*
Pitchroy
*
Blacksboat
*
Marypark
*
Knockando
Knockando distillery is a single malt Scotch whisky distillery, located in Knockando, Moray, in the Strathspey whisky-producing area of Scotland.
Knockando Distillery was built by John Tytler Thomson in 1898, and is named after the village ...
*
Carron
*
Speyview
*
Aberlour
Aberlour ( gd, Obar Lobhair) is a village in Moray, Scotland, south of Elgin on the road to Grantown. The Lour burn is a tributary of the River Spey, and it and the surrounding parish are both named Aberlour, but the name is more commonly used ...
*
Craigellachie
*
Dandalieth
*
Rothes
*
Crofts
*
Newlands of Dundurcas
*
Garbity
*
Ordiequish
*
Fochabers
*
Upper Dallachy
Upper Dallachy is a small village situated in Moray, Scotland, approximately 2 miles south-east of Spey Bay.
The village is located next to the now-abandoned RAF Dallachy airfield, which was used frequently in the Second World War and was the ...
*
Stynie
*
Garmouth
*
Kingston on Spey
*
Spey Bay
References
External links
Spey Fishery BoardThe Moray Firth Wildlife Centre is situated at the mouth of the Spey RiverGreater Speyside infoGuide to Canoeing on the River SpeyCanoe hire expertsFishing on the Spey
{{authority control
Spey
Spey
Ramsar sites in Scotland
Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Badenoch and Strathspey
Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Moray and Nairn