List of rivers of Scotland

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Major rivers can be seen in this map

This list of rivers in Scotland is organised geographically, taken anti-clockwise, from Berwick-upon-Tweed. Tributaries are listed down the page in an upstream direction. (L) indicates a left-bank tributary and (R) indicates a right-bank tributary whilst (Ls) and (Rs) indicate left and right forks where a named river is formed from two differently named rivers.

For simplicity, they are divided here by the coastal section in which the mouth of the river can be found. Those on Scottish islands can be found in a section at the end. For Scottish estuaries, please see under firths and sea lochs.

The Scots have many words for watercourses.

  • A "Water" (Lallans: "Watter", Scots Gaelic, "Uisge") is a smaller river, e.g. Ugie Water, Water of Leith etc. Many Scottish rivers incorporate the name "Water" traditionally.
  • A "burn", Scots Gaelic: "allt" (anglicised as "Ault/alt"), used for smaller rivers and larger streams, also once widely used in England, now mostly in placenames especially the north, and sometimes spelled "bourne", e.g. Bournemouth and Ashbourne. In Scotland examples include Coalburn, Bannockburn, Aultmore.
  • Abhainn in Gaelic meaning river, which is anglicised as Avon. There is also a similar Brythonic cognate. This sometimes leads to curious 'double' namings of rivers by Anglo-Saxon speakers, such as River Avon and River Afton (literally "River River").

South-eastern Scotland[]

The River Tweed at Coldstream

Flowing into the North Sea between Berwick-upon-Tweed and Kincardine (East Coast)

The right-bank tributary of the Tweed, the River Till together with its tributaries, is almost wholly within England but is included for completeness of the Tweed catchment.

Tweed catchment

Simple coastal catchments

Tyne catchment

Firth of Forth (Estuary)

(Lothian) Esk catchment

  • River Esk, Lothian
    • River South Esk (Rs)
      • (R)
      • Dalhousie Burn
    • River North Esk (Ls)
    • Figgate Burn

Water of Leith catchment

  • Water of Leith
    • The Stank

Almond catchment

Avon catchment

  • River Avon

Carron catchment

  • River Carron
    • (R)
    • (L)

Forth to Tay[]

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

Flowing into the North Sea between Kincardine and Buddon Ness (East Coast)

Forth catchment

Simple coastal catchments

Eden catchment

  • River Eden, Fife
    • (L)
    • (R)

Tay catchment

Simple coastal catchments

  • Dighty Water

East Coast[]

Flowing into the North Sea between Buddon Ness and Rattray Head

Falls of Dee, An Garbh Choire
River Don near Alford

Simple coastal catchments

River South Esk catchment

River North Esk catchment

  • River North Esk
    • Luther Water (L)
    • West Water (R) (upper reaches known as )
    • Water of Tarf (L)
    • Water of Mark (Ls)
    • Water of Lee (Rs)

Simple coastal catchments

Dee catchment

Don catchment

  • River Don, Aberdeenshire
    • (L)
    • River Ury (L) (sometimes written River Urie)
      • (minor?)
    • (R)
    • (minor?)
    • (L)
    • (L)
    • (L)
    • (R)
    • Water of Nochty (L)
    • (L)
    • (R) (minor)

Simple coastal catchments

    •  ??
  •  ??
  •  ??
  •  ??
  •  ??

Ythan catchment

  • River Ythan
    • (R)
    • (L)
    • (L)
    • (R)

Simple coastal catchments

Moray Firth (south coast)[]

Flowing into the North Sea between Rattray Head and Inverness

River Spey at Aberlour
The River Findhorn is crossed by the Highland Main Line railway and the A9 road just east of Tomatin

Simple coastal catchments

Deveron catchment

Simple coastal catchments

Spey catchment

Lossie catchment

  • River Lossie
    • (L)
    • (R)

Findhorn catchment

  • River Findhorn
    • (R) (drains into Findhorn Bay)
    • (R) (drains into Findhorn Bay)
    • (R)
      • (R)
    • (R)
      • (L)
    • (L) ('Moy Burn' above Loch Moy)
    • (L)??
    • (R)
    • (L)

Nairn catchment

Ness catchment

  • River Ness
    • (R) (flows into Loch Ness)
    • River Enrick (L) (flows into Loch Ness)
    • (L) (flows into Loch Ness)
    • River Foyers (R) (flows into Loch Ness)
    • River Moriston (L) (flows into Loch Ness)
      • (L)
      • (L)
      • (R)
    • (R) (flows into Loch Ness)
    • River Oich (L)? (flows into Loch Ness)
    • River Tarff (R) (flows into Loch Ness)

Moray Firth (north coast)[]

Flowing into the North Sea between Inverness and Duncansby Head (East Coast)

Moniack catchment

Beauly catchment

Conon catchment

Simple coastal catchments

Carron catchment

  • River Carron (flows into Kyle of Sutherland/Dornoch Firth)
    • (L) (known in upper reaches as )
    • (R) ( in its upper reaches)
      • Alladale River (Ls)
      • (Rs) (known as in its upper reaches)

Oykel catchment

Shin catchment

Simple coastal catchments

Brora catchment

Simple coastal catchments

Wick catchment

North Coast[]

Flowing into the Atlantic Ocean between Dunnet Head and Cape Wrath

Thurso catchment

Simple coastal catchments

Hope catchment

Simple coastal catchments

North-west Highlands[]

Fly fishing on the River Carron, Wester Ross

Flowing into the Atlantic Ocean between Cape Wrath and Corpach at the head of Loch Linnhe

Simple coastal catchments

  • (minor)
  • River Laxford
    • (flows into Loch Assynt)
    • (flows into Loch Assynt)
  • (known as upstream)

Kirkaig catchment

Simple coastal catchments

  • (or Kanaird)
    • (R)
  • (known as upstream of Loch Achall and further upstream)
    • (Ls)
    • (Rs)
  • Dundonnell River
  • ( upstream of )
    • (L)
  • Little Gruinard River

Ewe catchment

    • (L) (flows into Loch Maree)
    • (L) (flows into Loch Maree)
    • (R) (flows into Loch Maree)
    • (flows into Loch Maree)
      • (Ls)
      • (Rs)

Simple coastal catchments

Shiel catchment

  • River Shiel
    • (L) (flows into Loch Shiel)
    • (R) (flows into Loch Shiel)
    • (R) (flows into head of Loch Shiel)
    • (L) (flows into head of Loch Shiel)

Simple coastal catchments

Aline catchment

    • (Ls)
    • (Rs)

Simple coastal catchments

  • (minor)
    • (Rs)
    • (Ls)

South-west Highlands[]

Flowing into the Atlantic Ocean between Corpach at the head of Loch Linnhe and the Mull of Kintyre

  • River Lochy
    • (L)
    • (R)
    • River Spean (L)
    • River Arkaig (R) (flows into Loch Lochy)
    • (L) (flows into Loch Lochy)
  • River Nevis (known as Water of Nevis upstream)
  • River Coe
    • (L)
  • River Etive
    • (R)

Awe catchment

  • River Awe
    • River Orchy (flows into Loch Awe)
    • (R)
      • (L)
    • (L) (flows into Loch Awe)
    • (R) (flow into Loch Awe)
    • (L) (flows into Loch Awe)

Simple coastal catchments

    • or (Rs)
    • (Ls)
  • River Add
    • Martin Burn (R)
  • Barr Water

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 Annick Water near Cunninghamhead mill

Rivers discharging into the Firth of Clyde between the Mull of Kintyre and Mull of Galloway. Rivers on Arran are found in the islands section.

Simple coastal catchments

  • Douglas Water
  • River Aray
  • River Shira
  • River Eachaig
    • (R)
    • (flows into Loch Eck)

Clyde catchment

  • River Clyde
    • River Leven (R)
      • Fruin Water (R) (flows into Loch Lomond)
      • Endrick Water (L) (flows into Loch Lomond)
        • Blane Water (L)
      • Luss Water (R) (flows into Loch Lomond)
      • Douglas Water (R) (flows into Loch Lomond)
      • Inveruglas Water (R) (flows into Loch Lomond)
      • (flows into head of Loch Lomond)
        • (R)
    • River Cart
      • Black Cart Water (L)
        • River Gryffe (L)
          • (Ls)
          • (Rs)
      • White Cart Water (L)
        • Levern Water (L)
        • Auldhouse Burn
    • River Kelvin (R)
    • Rotten Calder Water (L)
    • North Calder Water (R)
    • South Calder Water (R)
    • Avon Water (L)
      • (R)
      • (R)
    • River Nethan (L)
    • Mouse Water (R)
    • Douglas Water (L)
      • North Medwin (Rs)
      • South Medwin (Ls)
    • Duneaton Water (L)
      • (R)
    • (R)
    • (L)
    • (L)
    • Daer Water
      • (L)

Simple coastal catchments

Garnock catchment

  • River Garnock
    • Lugton Water (L)
    • (R)

Irvine catchment

  • River Irvine
    • Annick Water (R)
    • (R)
      • (R)
    • (L)

Ayr catchment

Doon catchment

  • River Doon
    • (L) (flows into Loch Doon)
      • (Ls)
      • (Rs)
      • (flows into head of Loch Doon)

Simple coastal catchments

Solway Firth[]

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

Mull of Galloway to Gretna; rivers flowing into the Irish Sea and Solway Firth

Water of Luce catchment

  • Water of Luce
    • (Rs)
    • (Ls)

Bladnoch catchment

  • River Bladnoch
    • Tarf Water (R)
    • (R)

Cree catchment

Water of Fleet catchment

  • Water of Fleet
  • (R)
    • Little Water of Fleet (Ls)
    • Big Water of Fleet (Rs)

Dee catchment

  • River Dee (known also as 'Black Water of Dee' above confluence with Water of Ken)
    • Tarff Water (R)
    • Water of Ken (L)
      • Polharrow Burn (R)
      • (R)
        • (R)

Urr catchment

  • Urr Water
    • (L)

Nith catchment

Minor catchment

Annan catchment

(Border) Esk catchment

  • River Esk, Dumfries and Galloway (a.k.a. 'Border' Esk)
    • Kirtle Water (R) (enters tidal section)
    • River Sark (R) (straddles the border in its lower reaches, enters tidal section)
    • River Lyne (L)
    • Liddel Water (L)
    • Tarras Water (L)
    • Wauchope Water (R)
    • Ewes Water (L)
    • Meggat Water (L)
      • White Esk (Ls)
      • Garwald Water (R)
      • Black Esk (Rs)

Further tributaries of the Esk lie wholly in England - see List of rivers of England.

Rivers on Scottish islands[]

Most of the Scottish islands are too small to maintain watercourses of any great length or size, and are frequently indented by numerous long bays and inlets which further break up the landscape. However a disproportionate number of their watercourses bear the name 'river', though many are relatively tiny.

Arran[]

The numerous small watercourses on Arran are listed anticlockwise from Brodick.
  • (upper reaches known as )
  • (also known as )
  • (a.k.a. )

Skye and the Inner Hebrides[]

Islay

There are numerous watercourses on Islay, many of which though short are termed 'rivers'. They are listed anticlockwise from Port Askaig.
  • River Sorn
  • River Laggan
    • Duich River (L) (upper reaches known as Torra River)
    • Kilennan River (L)
    • Barr River
    • (L)

Jura

There are numerous watercourses on Jura, some of which though short are termed 'rivers'. They are listed anticlockwise from Feolin Ferry.

Mull

Beach River, Isle of Mull
There are numerous watercourses on Mull, some of which though short are termed 'rivers'.They are listed anticlockwise from Tobermory.

Rùm

There are a number of watercourses on Rùm, some of which are named as 'rivers'. They are listed anticlockwise from Kinloch.

Isle of Skye

Listed anticlockwise around the coast from Kyleakin. Many small watercourses, which would in other areas be named as 'burn' or 'allt', bear the name 'river' in Skye.

Outer Hebrides[]

Lewis

  • (Greeta River or River Creed)

Orkney[]

Mill Dam wetlands, Shapinsay

Mainland

Shetland[]

Mainland

  • /Burn of Pettawater

Listing by length[]

Various measurements are provided for the lengths of Scottish rivers. The table below distinguishes between the river alone and the river plus tidal waters, which many sources use. In all cases the distance is for the longest distance through the catchment area not just the distance of that portion of it which the named river covers excluding upstream tributaries.

River River Length[1] River + Estuary Length[1] Notes[1]
River Tay 155 kilometres (96 mi) 185 kilometres (115 mi) The Tay-Tummel-Gaur from its source, Coirean Lochan by Stob Ghabhar, to a line from Budden Ness to Tentsmuir Point.
River Spey 168.6 kilometres (104.8 mi) 168.6 kilometres (104.8 mi) The Spey is the longest stretch of river in Scotland bearing the same name throughout, though that does include Loch Insh.
River Clyde 158 kilometres (98 mi) 168.4 kilometres (104.6 mi) The river length is measured to Dumbarton Rock, the estuary to the Firth of Clyde at Ardmore Point.
River Tweed 162 kilometres (101 mi) 162 kilometres (101 mi) The lower reaches of the Tweed are in England.
River Dee, Aberdeenshire 143 kilometres (89 mi) 143 kilometres (89 mi)
River Forth 113 kilometres (70 mi) 136 kilometres (85 mi) The river is measured to the Kincardine Bridge, the estuary to easternmost point of Inchgarvie by the Forth Bridge.
River Don 135 kilometres (84 mi) 135 kilometres (84 mi)
River Ness 109 kilometres (68 mi) 109 kilometres (68 mi) The Ness-Oich-Garry. No account is taken of the Inverness Firth.
River Findhorn 103 kilometres (64 mi) 103 kilometres (64 mi)
River Nith 101 kilometres (63 mi) 101 kilometres (63 mi) At low tide, the sea recedes to such an extent that the length of the river is extended by 13 kilometres (8.1 mi).
River Deveron 100 kilometres (62 mi) 100 kilometres (62 mi)
River Beauly 82 kilometres (51 mi) 94 kilometres (58 mi) The Beauly-Glass-Affric with the estuary measured to the Kessock Bridge.
River Dee, Galloway 88 kilometres (55 mi) 88 kilometres (55 mi) The Dee-Ken-Water of Deuch. At low tide, the length is extended by 2.9 km.
River Conon 70 kilometres (43 mi) 88 kilometres (55 mi) The estuary is measured to Invergordon Harbour/ Newhall Point.
River Lochy 87 kilometres (54 mi) 87 kilometres (54 mi) The Lochy-Spean to Loch Linnhe at mouth of the River Nevis.
River South Esk, Angus 85 kilometres (53 mi) 85 kilometres (53 mi)
River Annan 78 kilometres (48 mi) 78 kilometres (48 mi)

Listing by area of catchment[]

The major rivers of Scotland, in order of catchment,[2] are:

  1. River Tay c. 2,000 square miles (5,200 km2)
  2. River Tweed 1,500 square miles (3,900 km2)
  3. River Spey 1,097 square miles (2,840 km2)

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

Shared names[]

A number of Scottish rivers have identical or very similar names which can be a source of confusion. These are some of the main ones. The symbol '>' is used here to signify 'tributary of':

Ale

  • Ale Water ( > Eye Water, Eyemouth); Ale Water ( > Tweed)

Allan

  • Allan Water ( > Forth); Allan Water ( > Teviot > Tweed)

Almond

Avon

  • River Avon (Falkirk); River Avon ( > Spey); Avon Water ( > Clyde)

Ba

  • (Mull); (Rannoch Moor)

Bannock Burn

Barr

  • Barr River (Morvern); Barr River ( > River Laggan, Islay); Barr Water (Kintyre)

Black Burn

  • – commonly occurring including Lossie, Tweed, Water of Luce

Black Water

  • Black Water – very frequent

Calder

Carron

Conon

Dee

  • River Dee, Aberdeenshire (Aberdeen); River Dee (Galloway)

Dibidal, Dibidil

  • (Skye); (Rùm)

Dorback

  • Dorback Burn ( > Nethy > Spey); Dorback Burn ( > Findhorn)

Douglas

  • Douglas Water ( > Clyde); Douglas Water (Loch Lomond); Douglas Water (Loch Fyne)

Eden

Elrick

  • (Don); (Findhorn)

Enrick, Endrick

Esk, North Esk, South Esk

  • River Esk, Dumfries and Galloway ('Border Esk'), River Esk, Lothian (Lothian); River North Esk; River North Esk (Lothian); River South Esk; River South Esk (Lothian)

Gala

Garry

Glass

Glenmore

  • ;

Isla

Kilmory

  • (Rùm);

Kinglas, Kinglass

  • ;

Kinloch

  • (Rùm); ;

Ledmore

  • (Kirkaig); (Mull)

Leven

Lochy, Lochay

Lunan

  • (Tay); Lunan Water

Lyne

Machrie

  • (Islay); (Arran)

Meggat, Megget

  • Meggat Water ( > Border Esk); Megget Water ( > Tweed)

Mor (This is merely a Gaelic adjective meaning "large" or "great")

  • (Arran); (Kirkaig)

Shiel

Tarf, Tarff

  • Tarf Water ( > Tilt > Garry > Tummel > Tay); Tarf Water ( > River Bladnoch (Galloway)); Tarff Water ( > River Dee, Galloway); River Tarff, Fort Augustus ( > Loch Ness); Water of Tarf ( > River North Esk, Angus/Aberdeenshire )

See also[]

Footnotes[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c Almanac of Scotland Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  2. ^ Alastair Gowans. "Fishing Rivers". Archived from the original on 14 August 2006. Retrieved 20 August 2006.
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