which can grip hold of almost any surface, any almost of hold grip can which
The lamprey has a sucker like mouth disc mouth sucker like a has lamprey The
well as many groups of alder trees, alder of groups many as well
bed, they can live for over one hundred years. hundred one over for live can they bed, of Donald Gorm’ who died in &3&4 in died who Gorm’ Donald of
exceptional variety of plantlife as plantlife of variety exceptional
important and support an support and important
*from Tàladh Dhòmhaill Ghuirm" the ‘Lullaby the Ghuirm" Dhòmhaill Tàladh *from lucky and land on a suitable area of river of area suitable a on land and lucky
challenge, in length in
below Fochabers" are internationally are Fochabers" below
vitality present a noble a present vitality
grows there for almost a year. If they’re If year. a almost for there grows
The shingle habitats of the Spey" the of habitats shingle The grow to 50cm to grow
(Strength of the salmon boldest in leaping) in boldest salmon the of (Strength whose strength and strength whose
prize is a spring salmon spring a is prize each one which then harmlessly then which one each
They can They
* leumas braise as bhradain a’ Neart
The angler’s greatest angler’s The
gills. The fish’s skin forms a cyst over cyst a forms skin fish’s The gills.
like adults. like
ridges of the coast. the of ridges
trout and attach themselves to the to themselves attach and trout
quickly into eel- into quickly
attracts anglers from all over the world prepared to prepared world the over all from anglers attracts shifting shingle shifting
they are inhaled by young salmon and salmon young by inhaled are they
emerge and transform and emerge
Scotland’s most important salmon fisheries and fisheries salmon important most Scotland’s meeting the meeting
larvae called glochidia. They survive only if only survive They glochidia. called larvae
after feeding on tiny organisms, they organisms, tiny on feeding after
skills or simply its taste! The Spey supports one of one supports Spey The taste! its simply or skills channels before channels
which, once fertilised, are squirted out as active as out squirted are fertilised, once which,
the riverbed’s silt and sand. Up to five years later, years five to Up sand. and silt riverbed’s the
for its indomitable energy, its navigational its energy, indomitable its for altering its altering
conditions. Females produce up to a million eggs million a to up produce Females conditions.
follow the current downstream before burrowing into burrowing before downstream current the follow
place in most people’s affections, whether affections, people’s most in place sandstone, often sandstone,
provide ideal provide
lower reaches. Larvae hatch after three weeks and weeks three after hatch Larvae reaches. lower
The Atlantic salmon holds a special a holds salmon Atlantic The it runs over runs it
, l l a a g g e e l l l l i i s s i i y y a a w w y y n n a a n n i i s s l l e e s s s s u u m m g g n n i i b b r r u u t t s s i i d d r r o o m m e e h h t t
waters of the Spey the of waters
to spawn in the clean gravel of the Spey’s middle and middle Spey’s the of gravel clean the in spawn to
occasionally form inside the shell shell the inside form occasionally r r o o f f g g n n i i h h s s i i f f t t u u b b approaches the sea, the approaches
The soft, clean soft, The
old and can live for &55 years, Small pearls Small years, &55 for live can and old then forsake feeding when they leave the Moray Firth Moray the leave they when feeding forsake then
A noble fish noble A As the river the As Fresh water pearl mussels mature around &' years &' around mature mussels pearl water Fresh
hole in their prey before drawing out blood. They blood. out drawing before prey their in hole
white patch, white waters of the river. the of waters
cod, salmon and trout, using their teeth to scrape a scrape to teeth their using trout, and salmon cod,
head is brown" with no with brown" is head waters. waters.
deeper, inaccessible deeper, they take off, The female’s The off, take they
Maturing sea lampreys live off fish such as haddock, as such fish off live lampreys sea Maturing
network of protection throughout the catchment. the throughout protection of network (moraine) left by the great ice flows and their melt their and flows ice great the by left (moraine)
bars on their wings when wings their on bars
persecution by the by persecution
you’ll see distinctive white distinctive see you’ll
main tributaries of the river; offering a sinuous a offering river; the of tributaries main spreads of sands and gravels are the debris the are gravels and sands of spreads
and are easily alarmed alarmed easily are and also been saved from saved been also A love bite to avoid to love bite A
Goldeneyes dive continually dive Goldeneyes In 2003, the SAC was extended to include the include to extended was SAC the 2003, In valley) of the Spey. The loose rocks and the and rocks loose The Spey. the of valley)
Many mussels have mussels Many
candidacy as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). Conservation of Area Special a as candidacy create the great srath (Gaelic for broad for (Gaelic srath great the create
Countryside Act. Countryside
and its importance further recognised by recognised further importance its and glaciers tore away much of the rock to rock the of much away tore glaciers
the Wildlife & Wildlife the
and toads. and
of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in 1998 in (SSSI) Interest Scientific Special of During the last 2.5 million years, huge years, million 2.5 last the During
their protection under protection their
such as salmon, trout and eel; they also enjoy frogs enjoy also they eel; and trout salmon, as such
In recognition, the Spey was notified as a Site a as notified was Spey the recognition, In
helped by Operation Necklace which has highlighted has which Necklace Operation by helped
eat all kinds of fish but prefer those with plentiful fat, plentiful with those prefer but fish of kinds all eat
Monadhliath and Cairngorm ranges. Cairngorm and Monadhliath
one of the few rivers where they continue to thrive - thrive to continue they where rivers few the of one
its many lochans, ponds and marshy patches. Otters patches. marshy and ponds lochans, many its
mussel and sea lamprey. lamprey. sea and mussel peaks to leave the rounded shapes of the of shapes rounded the leave to peaks
management of rivers and catchments. The Spey is Spey The catchments. and rivers of management
provides water of high quality and abundant food in food abundant and quality high of water provides
are the Atlantic salmon, otter, freshwater pearl freshwater otter, salmon, Atlantic the are formed. Rain, sun, wind, rivers and ice eroded many eroded ice and rivers wind, sun, Rain, formed.
of over-fishing, pollution and poor and pollution over-fishing, of
in Scotland for these agile swimmers. The catchment The swimmers. agile these for Scotland in
or endangered in a European context - these - context European a in endangered or Mountains were Mountains
change over time, over change endangered across Europe as a result a as Europe across endangered
However, the Spey is one of the best freshwater sites freshwater best the of one is Spey the However,
its outstanding habitats for threatened species, threatened for habitats outstanding its Spey so that the banks" gravel bars and pools and bars gravel banks" the that so Spey species in particular, that are rare, threatened rare, are that particular, in species Grampian
Freshwater pearl mussels are mussels pearl Freshwater
have suffered from destruction of their habitat. their of destruction from suffered have Statutory protection for the Spey will help to conserve to help will Spey the for protection Statutory Successive floods gradually shift the bed of the of bed the shift gradually floods Successive
The river and its tributaries are home to four to home are tributaries its and river The granite rocks of the of rocks granite
undergrowth. In many other parts of Europe, otters Europe, of parts other many In undergrowth.
years ago, the ago, years
large area of little-disturbed waterside with plenty of plenty with waterside little-disturbed of area large ‘Operation Necklace’ ‘Operation
aquatic environment of the highest quality. quality. highest the of environment aquatic than 400 million 400 than
which takes in a in takes which
of it .... has an has .... it of catchment ... all 3008km all ... catchment More events. major
2
bank is often chosen to give direct access to the water. the to access direct give to chosen often is bank (droppings) and (droppings)
unmodified and unpolluted. Accordingly, the Accordingly, unpolluted. and unmodified two to character
The site of an otter’s sheltered holt under the river the under holt sheltered otter’s an of site The
with spraints with
as well as in many tributaries. many in as well as above sea level, the river is largely is river the level, sea above its of much owes
which it marks it which
spawn throughout most of its length its of most throughout spawn highest of the Cairngorm hills over 1300m over hills Cairngorm the of highest and Scotland in
its own territory, own its
obstructions, mean salmon can salmon mean obstructions, Spey flows into the Moray Firth, to the to Firth, Moray the into flows Spey river longest second
Every otter needs otter Every
flow, and its lack of pollution and pollution of lack its and flow, From the rivers’ mouth at Spey Bay where the where Bay Spey at mouth rivers’ the From the is Spey The
The water’s fast and relatively even relatively and fast water’s The
for otters for river system river islands and
(stretches) of the lower river. river. lower the of (stretches)
res des A Protecting a unique a Protecting lands High try their luck along the beats the along luck their try
A walk on the wild side
TheThe A map of the Spey deceives as it informs for it can’t swiftness. It’s a RiverRiver Spey Spey show the subtleties of the river’s flow, the light and river that shade of its landscape nor the complex ‘web of life’ conjures many CatchmentCatchment that links water, plants and animals. other pictures too - of salmon, The map does show a river, 157km (98 miles) long, whisky, ospreys surging from the high moorland of the Monadhliath or otters; of (Grey Mountains) and meandering through the lands walking, of Badenoch, Strathspey and Speyside before rushing canoeing, fishing or pinewoods: or simply ever- into the Moray Firth. changing waters.
The river’s name is Celtic, probably meaning The Spey offers all these pleasures and more. It’s a hawthorn stream but perhaps describing its frothing river to savour, remember and respect.
Magnum et miserabile flumen" quod vocatur Spe (the large and dangerous river" which is called Spey) from a &'th century manuscript De Situ Albaniae The following publications are all available for download as pdf files from www.snh.org.uk/spey The River Spey Catchment Management Plan River works on the Spey and its Tributaries: Who to contact and how to proceed The Economic Impact of Water-related Recreation in the River Spey Catchment 2003 An Investigation of the Scope for Improved Farm Water and Waste Management in the Spey Catchment The Spey Catchment leaflet For hard copies and further information please contact: Spey Catchment Steering Group Achantoul, Aviemore, Inverness-shire, PH22 1QD
Photography by Laurie Campbell, Keith Ringland, Pete Moore, Iain Sarjeant, John Macpherson, P&A Macdonald/SNH, Sue Scott/SNH, Lorne Gill/SNH, Highland Council/Highland Folk Museum Text based on original by Michael Glen, Touchstone Heritage Management Consultants Map by Wendy Price Painting by Gillian Jones Design by Iain Sarjeant Printed by Nevisprint on environmentally friendly paper, 2004 Timber" floods and fishing by the collation of guidance on river engineering and And it doesn’t only go in ,,, Working an educational resource to raise awareness of the importance of the river community has also been waters In 1539, the first recorded consignment The catchment is more than just a home to the special produced. of timber from Strathspey was floated creatures and habitats we’ve mentioned ... Like many other down the river to Speymouth. Over and more than just a glorious backdrop for great rivers, the the next 350 years or so, large areas our pleasure. The river is a drain for Spey and its tributaries play their part in the local of Caledonian pine forest were felled When the river acidified rainfall, for summer economy. Nature conservation and outdoor to build ships and houses. Much floods, for washed-out salts and runs through it; RIVER recreation are increasingly valuable means of went south by sea but Garmouth SPEY silts from our roads and for treated Water resources generating income from naturalists, photographers, and Kingston later became sewage and trade effluent. painters, anglers, water sports enthusiasts and shipbuilding ports in their own and flooding CAIRNGORMS walkers. A network of paths and routes such as the rights. NATIONAL PARK With much of the catchment Speyside Way long distance route encourage There are times when the river runs floodplain being agricultural land, exploration of the area. Increasing road transport demanded riot. Snow melt or prolonged rainfall we needed to find out whether that the Spey be bridged and Telford’s arch Timber from cause the hillsides to flow with water, modern farming was a threat to estates along the Spey was A recent study determined that at Craigellachie is the most graceful of any burns and culverts to boil and the Spey to water quality and if so, how things floated" or rafted" down the Spey visitors undertaking water related structure. It still until the early &;55s, spill out onto the floodplain. could be improved. recreation in the Spey catchment, stands, having escaped (principally angling, sailing and damage in the Tonnes of water pass through the canoeing) spent around £13.5m in ‘Muckle Spate’ (big catchment each year; the long term 2003 and supported over 400 jobs. flood) of 1829 that average flow (measured at a gauging devastated much station in the lower catchment), is 65 Lossiemouth Moray Firth Fishing has long been an economic of Strathspey and ‘cumecs’ - or 65 cubic metres per second A941 Buckie A98 To Fraserburgh mainstay of the riverside communities, ... that’s about one hundred and thirty Kingston Tugnet Speyside To Inverness Garmouth Spey A96 Elgin Bay generating significant income for the area, including many of the other seven thousand pints every second! Lhanbryde and providing employment. With an The chain operated ferry bridges. Flooding remains a Mosstodloch Fochabers across the River Spey at Lossie increase in the popularity of outdoor recreation in In &<&'" after Telford designed The river changes its course constantly A96 problem today when flash E Boat of Garten served Spey Craigellachie Bridge – Scotland’s first recent years, together with changes in legislation, travellers until a bridge River A941 but spates can change it dramatically; D storms turn the river and its cast iron bridge – he took local advice er was built in &<;;, we’re all facing new challenges in the management of tributaries into torrents. and fortunately" built it five feet higher sometimes overnight; carving, scouring, I Riv than planned S our shared resource. moving, depositing. Keith Y Rothes Ben Aigan ¥ E 471m To Aberdeen A96 P Craigellachie A95 The River Spey A complex system of automatic S Upper Knockando Spey Charlestown Part of a park monitoring is in place to enable River of Aberlour Project '55& '558 A920 flood-warnings to be issued to A95 A939 To Forres Dufftown and Nairn A941 The icehouse at Tugnet is a reminder Ballindalloch Tourism is big business and with the designation of farmers and other residents Ben of the days when fresh salmon were Rinnes h ic To Deeside the Cairngorms as Scotland’s second National Park, ¥ d packed for delivery by rail to towns 841m id The Spey is such an important of impending flood risk. F Advie and cities throughout Britain, the special features of the area are likely to reach an von r e resource for so many people, it’s A v A95 i R even wider following. only natural that everyone Grantown- Cromdale To Inverness on-Spey Spey A9 Dulnain R. River recognises the need to ensure its future protection. In Whooper swans" winter Bridge River Duthil A938 ¥ 2 visitors from Iceland" feed Hills of Livet The Park covers 3816 km and includes two thirds of Cromdale722m 1999 a group of key agencies and authorities (Moray across the flooded meadows Dulnain Carrbridge River Y at Ruthven on the Insh Nethy the River Spey Catchment within its boundary - & Highland Councils, Scottish Natural Heritage, The A95 Bridge Marshes reserve E A939 including the majority of the important upper Tomintoul Spey District Fishery Board & The Scottish Boat of Garten P Dulnain Loch k A939 Garten tributaries; the Rivers Avon, Feshie, Tromie and Environment Protection Agency) started to consider S To Deeside s River of Ailnac Truim.
Nethy how best to develop a more integrated approach to n H ater i Aviemore W T
a Coylumbridge River its management. They combined to form the Spey Loch t Alvie A n Glenmore The Park was established with four specific aims; Catchment Steering Group. u Alvie R Loch o Morlich Avon T h M River S to conserve and enhance the natural and h Kincraig k The Farm Water and Waste Study audited t a Loch Feshiebridge Cairngorm r cultural heritage of the area i River Einic ¥ s Two years ... and a partnership application to the l ¥ Insh Insh 1245m n a a selection of farms throughout the h Carn A9 Marches a i d Ban t n a 941m Kingussie Insh n P to promote the sustainable use of the natural Highlands and Island Special Transitional Fund M o Sgoran Dubh Mor u catchment and found that there was much to ¥ o Newtonmore 1108m M l Loch a resources later, the River Spey Project began. Carn Leac H Einich be commended in the way they are run. It also ¥ A86 881m C m n B N O r o to promote the understanding and enjoyment Laggan A D E o i identified a few, small changes in management, Riv eshie F t er omie g Spey Spey r n a of the Park and One of the main outcomes from the Loch R. Spey r N which could make a big difference.
Catlodge River River T i m s to promote the sustainable economic and social project has been a Catchment a o r C a i r n g Management Plan. A86 C But it doesn’t only go in to the river .... considerable development of the area’s communities. Creag Meagaidh ggan ¥ h La L 1128m Loc © Wendy Price Cartographic Services, Inverness 2004. The plan provides O Based upon Ordnance Survey mapping with the quantities of water are also taken from the catchment Dalwhinnie A9 permission of the Ordnance Survey on behalf of Once again, the Catchment Management Plan has C the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office © Crown copyright. a timely H ht Scottish Natural Heritage licence number GD03006G/01/01. A86 resource; In the upper catchment there are large dams started to address some of these issues A To Fort B h Eric stepping-stone for William Loc diverting water as part of hydro schemes. Water is and provides a few E R the measures included To Perth drawn for domestic supply from a loch high in the blocks for the Park under the Water Framework Cairngorms and also from a large well-field on the Authority to Directive. This new European riverbank, near Fochabers, in the lower catchment. build upon in legislation makes it a This allows stock to be Near Aviemore, water is drawn from the River Druie developing their requirement to have moved and in extreme to service a large fish farm. National Park integrated management and conditions, houses to be Plan. protection of water quantity, evacuated in advance. Famously, the catchment is the home of a thriving quality and physical habitat. whisky industry. The water of the Spey and its tributaries are used both Over the years, much The Spey is an upland river and the run off in its Over to our children ,,, But the River Spey Project hasn’t just been about bank protection work has catchment is rapid" resulting in sudden spates at almost as an ingredient and in the any time of the year, planning; its also about doing. taken place. Rock process. Around 30 malt We wanted to make sure that the young people of armouring has smoothed curves, turning the river whisky distilleries produce Moray, Badenoch and Strathspey, who live in the Over the past three years, gaps in knowledge have and keeping it where people want it to be. Dredging their own distinctive catchment, understand their cultural and natural been filled by studies of economics and farm waste, has cleared channels and re-dug the pools filled with ‘drams’ of uisge beatha heritage and so another output of the project has been spate gravels. These actions to ‘contain’ have often from the Spey waters. ‘Riverbanks’. contributed to subsequent flooding problems. We now know the extent of impacts on the river and the Surface water is drawn ‘Riverbanks’ are boxes of books, videos, fact sheets important species that live in and around it and river directly from the river or and images explaining everything about the works are regulated. from small tributary burns catchment; its history and who and what lives here. as a coolant; It passes We included things like feathers and rocks, bird rings, More often than not, there’s a time through the distillery .... fishing nets and music to help people appreciate the and a place (and a way), which will and then most of it goes rivers influence on their lives. minimise damage to the river. To back into the river system help people through the tricky - perhaps a few degrees process and put them in contact warmer - downstream. The water drawn from springs by each with the right people for advice, This ‘uplift’ of the water distillery is largely responsible for the we’ve published a ‘Riverworks temperature is also closely subtle variations in the taste of individual malt whiskies, code’. regulated.
After ;< miles" the waters of the Spey spill in the Moray Firth through the shifting gravels at Spey Bay