Everything about The River Spey totally explained
The
River Spey (
Scottish Gaelic:
Uisge Spè) is a
river in the north-east of
Scotland, the second longest and the fastest flowing river in Scotland. It is important for
salmon fishing and
whisky production.
Course
Rising at over 1000 feet (300 m) at
Loch Spey in
Corrieyairack Forest in the
Scottish Highlands, 10 miles (16 km) south of
Fort Augustus, it descends to flow through
Newtonmore and
Kingussie crossing
Loch Insh before reaching
Aviemore at the start of
Strathspey. From there it flows the remaining 60 miles north-east to the Moray Firth.
The Spey changes its course very frequently, either (relatively) gradually as a result of
deposition and
erosion from normal flow, or in a matter of hours as a result of going into
spate. The Spey spates very quickly due to its wide catchment area in the mountains, as a result of rainfall or snowmelt.
Insh Marshes, areas of roughly two miles on either side of the Spey in the lower reaches are designated a
Site of Special Scientific Interest, as are the extensive shingle systems at
Spey Bay.
Industry
The river traditionally supported many local industries, from the still popular salmon fishing industry to shipbuilding. At one stage, Garmouth was the shipbuilding capital of the UK, with timber from the forests around
Aviemore and
Aberlour being rafted down to create wooden hulled ships.
The river is also known for the quality of its
salmon and
trout fishing, including a particular form of fly fishing where the fisher uses a double-handed fly rod to throw a 'spey cast' whereby the fly and the line don't 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.
The
Speyside Way is a
long-distance footpath that follows the River Spey through some of
Morayshire's most beautiful scenery.
The River Spey is unusual in that it increases speed as it flows closer to the coast, due to the surrounding geography. The mean flow is around 16 m/s making it the fastest flowing river in Scotland, possibly the UK (depending on what constitutes a river.) The Spey doesn't meander, although it does rapidly move its banks. South of
Fochabers the banks are reinforced with a high earth barrier, but this has been broken by the river 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 (now pedestrianised) Spey Bay to Garmouth was originally designed with the 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.
Ptolemy named the river as Tuesis Aest.
Settlements
from source
Further Information
Get more info on 'River Spey'.
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