The River Orchy (Scottish Gaelic : Urchaidh / Abhainn Urchaidh) is a river that passes through the village of Dalmally, Argyll in the West Highlands of Scotland. It rises in the Black Mount Forest, and flows southerly, passing through Loch Tulla and Glen Orchy before reaching Loch Awe. The hills of Beinn Mhic-Mhonaidh, Beinn Udlaidh and Beinn Bhreac-liath are to the north and south; there are falls and islands within the river. Reachable by the A82 road, tourists partake in kayaking, whitewater rafting, and fishing. Recent gold mining exploration has occurred in one of the river's glens just outside the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park.
The name Orchy may be ancient, and derived from Brittonic are-cētia meaning "on-wood" (c.f. Welsh ar-coed). [1]
The Orchy rises in the Black Mount Forest where its waters within the Deer Forest include the Island Pool and the Elbow Pool. [2] After a run of 10 miles (16 kilometres), in which it receives the waters of several large burns, it expands into Loch Tulla. Between Loch Tulla and Loch Awe, the river runs for 18 mi (29 km). It passes through Glen Orchy in a narrow channel. At Dalmally Vale, the river spreads into wide shallows, accumulating on banks. At the point of a shingle island, the Orchy flows through a cultivated strath, about 1⁄2 mi (800 m) wide. The river merges with the waters of Loch Awe at Kilchurn Castle. [3]
Above the Bridge of Orchy, the river water is shallow and stony. In the 5 mi (8 km) of the river before its falls, there are many angling streams and pools. At Bridge of Orchy, the river is accessible via the A82. [4]
The river's course changed in the mid 19th century. Prior to that, the river banks were protected, and the Orchy ran through Dalmally Vale through a narrow channel. As of 1884, the fields on the northern river bank extended farther south; and shingle island was a narrow strip of gravel with a small stream. When the banks were no longer protected, a large curve was cut away into an island, causing the river to extend farther and farther into the banks. Around 1900, a rough breakwater was built, diverting the current, and slowing the wear on the banks. The diverted current swept the gravel to either side of the island and into the bay to the south, causing it to fill with gravel. [5]
The falls of the Orchy are about 7 mi (11 km) from Dalmally, and are about 20 feet (6 metres) in height, forming almost a sheer drop. [3] On the right bank, a salmon stair or ladder has formed in the rock, going round the falls, enabling salmon to ascend. There are three significant falls: Eas Urchaidh ("the Falls of Orchy"), Easan Dubha ("Black Falls"), and Eas a' Chathaidh, as well as rapids such as "Chicken Chute", "Sheep Trolley Gorge", "Sore Tooth", "Roller Coaster", "Witches Step", and "The End of Civilisation". [4]
There are islands within the river including a large wooded one about 1 mi (2 km) above Inverlochy Castle; another one, Eilean a Phortaire, just below Dalmally Bridge, which is also wooded; and immediately below the latter lies a shingle island. The shingle island was separated from the fields by the 6 ft (1.8 m) drop of the bank. [5] Glenorchy Parish Church and the burial place of the Macgregors are located on an islet formed by the river; the well of Saint Conan is nearby. [6] [7] [8]
Wildlife includes salmon and trout, as well as otter, golden eagle, short-eared owl. [9]
The river's falls and rapids, Grades 3–5, are enjoyed by kayakers and rafting enthusiasts. [4] [10] Whitewater rafting season is October to March. Fishermen can fish for trout, [11] while salmon fishing season runs from February to October. [12] The Dalmally Beats 1, 2 and 3 offer 6 mi (10 km) of double-bank fishing from the Bridge Pool in Dalmally to Sam's Box Pool in Glen Orchy. There is vehicle access to most of the pools on both banks. [13] The Upper Craig Beat, an area of approximately 2 mi (3 km) between Little Colonels pool and the Boat pool allows fishing from both banks. [14] Hill walkers climb up to Beinn Dorain, an ascent of 1,076 m (3,530 ft), 6 mi (10 km) away. [15]
Gold mining used to take place at the Cononish mine, near Tyndrum, Scotgold obtained planning permission for development of the mine for gold and silver extraction in early 2012. [16] In 2010, gold mining exploration began in a River Orchy glen, approximately 5 km (3 mi) outside the Lomond National Park. [17] The river is reported to cross several quartz sulphide veins with significant gold mineralisation. [18] Environmental concerns about possible gold mining were raised due to the area's proximity to both the national park and Beinn Udlaidh, a popular climbing marilyn. [19]
The River Avon is a river in the Strathspey area of the Scottish Highlands, and a tributary of the River Spey. It drains the north-eastern area of the Cairngorm Mountains and is largely contained within the Cairngorms National Park
The River Tay is the longest river in Scotland and the seventh-longest in the United Kingdom. The Tay originates in western Scotland on the slopes of Ben Lui, then flows easterly across the Highlands, through Loch Dochart, Loch Iubhair and Loch Tay, then continues east through Strathtay, in the centre of Scotland, then southeasterly through Perth, where it becomes tidal, to its mouth at the Firth of Tay, south of Dundee. It is the largest river in the UK by measured discharge. Its catchment is approximately 2,000 square miles (5,200 km2), the Tweed's is 1,500 square miles (3,900 km2) and the Spey's is 1,097 square miles (2,840 km2).
Ross is a region of Scotland. One of the provinces of Scotland from the 9th century, it gave its name to a later earldom and to the counties of Ross-shire and, later, Ross and Cromarty. The name Ross allegedly derives from a Gaelic word meaning "headland", perhaps a reference to the Black Isle. Another possible origin is the West Norse word for Orkney – Hrossey – meaning horse island; the area once belonged to the Norwegian earldom of Orkney. Ross is a historical comital region, perhaps predating the Mormaerdom of Ross. It is also a region used by the Church, with the Presbytery of Ross being part of the Synod of Ross, Sutherland and Caithness.
Loch Awe is a large body of mostly freshwater in Argyll and Bute, Scottish Highlands. It has also given its name to a village on its banks, variously known as Loch Awe, or Lochawe. There are islands within the loch such as Innis Chonnell and Inishail.
Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park is a national park in Scotland centred on Loch Lomond and the hills and glens of the Trossachs, along with several other ranges of hills. It was the first of the two national parks established by the Scottish Parliament in 2002, the second being the Cairngorms National Park. The park extends to cover much of the western part of the southern highlands, lying to the north of the Glasgow conurbation, and contains many mountains and lochs. It is the fourth largest national park in the British Isles, with a total area of 1,865 km2 (720 sq mi) and a boundary of some 350 km (220 mi) in length. It includes 21 Munros and 20 Corbetts.
The River Spey is a river in the northeast of Scotland. It is the eighth longest river in the United Kingdom, as well as the second longest and fastest-flowing river in Scotland. It is important for salmon fishing and whisky production.
Loch Shiel is a freshwater loch situated 20 kilometres (12 mi) west of Fort William in the Highland council area of Scotland. At 28 kilometres long it is the 4th longest loch in Scotland, and is the longest to have retained a natural outflow without any regulation of its water level, being 120 m (393 ft) deep. Its nature changes considerably along its length, being deep and enclosed by mountains in the north east and shallow surrounded by bog and rough pasture in the south west, from which end the 4 km River Shiel drains to the sea in Loch Moidart near Castle Tioram.
Glen Orchy is a glen in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It runs from Bridge of Orchy to Dalmally.
Bridge of Orchy is a village in the Glen Orchy in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It is named after the crossing over the River Orchy, which was constructed by British Army during the pacification of the Highland Clans following the Battle of Culloden in 1746. Military roads were built between the Scottish Lowlands and Highlands of northern Scotland to facilitate the speedy movement of Crown forces.
Dalmally is a village in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It is near the A85 road and is served by Dalmally railway station.
Beinn Achaladair is a Scottish mountain situated six kilometres north east of the hamlet of Bridge of Orchy. The mountain stands on the border of the Perth and Kinross and Argyll and Bute council areas.
Stob Ghabhar is a Scottish mountain nine kilometres (5.6 mi) north west of Bridge of Orchy. It is part of the Black Mount group of mountains and stands on the border of the Argyll and Bute and Highland council areas.
Beinn Chùirn is a hill five kilometres west-south-west of Tyndrum, Scotland, standing on the border of Stirlingshire and Perthshire at the northern extremity of the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park.
Inishail is an island and former parish, in Loch Awe, Scotland.
The Affric / Beauly hydro-electric power scheme for the generation of hydro-electric power is located in the western Highlands of Scotland. It is based around Glen Strathfarrar, Glen Cannich and Glen Affric, and Strathglass further downstream.
Glenorchy Parish Church is a congregation of the Church of Scotland in the village of Dalmally, Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It is the parish church of the parish of Glenorchy and Inishail. The church is also known as Glenorchy Kirk, and was historically known as the Church of Dysart. There have been many alternate spellings, including "Dysert", "Disart", "Glenwrquha", "Glenvrquha", "Glenvrquhay", "Clachandysert", "Clachan Disert, "Claghan-Diseirt" and "Dysart and Glenurquhie".
Loch Affric is a freshwater loch within Glen Affric, in the Highland council area of Scotland. It lies about 25 miles (40 km) southwest of Beauly. The loch sits in a national nature reserve known for being home to a number of rare species and the loch itself is popular for trout fishing. An annual duathlon is held on the banks of the loch in May and the loch has been widely used as the backdrop in films.
Cuil Bay, meaning recess, corner, niche or nook, is a 237° facing, large sand and shingle coastal embayment with a semi-circular outline, on a chord of 2 km, situated on the south‐west part of the Ardsheal peninsula, on the southern coast of the sea loch of Loch Linnhe, in the parish of Lismore and Appin, within the council area of Lochaber in Scotland. It was formerly part of Argyll and Bute before boundary changes occurred. The bay is situated adjacent to the village of Duror. The bay is reached by a small road that leads from the Duror Primary School, leaving the main A828 road, following the line of the River Duror, as it races to meet the sea, before opening out into a vista of a long shore of meadows and sea-grasses as the land meets the bay proper.
Loch Freuchie, also known as Fraoch, the heatherly loch, is a large freshwater loch on a north-west to south-east orientation, within Glen Quaich in Perth and Kinross. The loch is located 2 miles (3.2 km) west of Amulree and 6.5 miles (10.5 km) southeast of Kenmore.
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