There’s lots of places in Scotland that you can see salmon leaping, but Perthshire is one of the most easily accessible for many people, and the Tay river system means that, in the right place at the right time of year, it’s quite likely you’ll see several salmon within a fairly short space. Autumn is the time, here are the spots:

The Hermitage

The Hermitage is very busy at this time of year, for good reason, but do bear this in mind when planning your visit. It’s best to go on a week day rather than a weekend if you can, and if no proper parking spaces are available, consider carrying on up to Pitlochry or Tummel, also on this list.

Let’s assume you’ve timed your visit well, what can you expect? The first notable landmark along the 1.5-mile loop trail from the car park (a parking charge applies for non National Trust members) is Ossian’s Hall, with its viewing platform over the spectacular Black Linn Falls, perfect for salmon spotting. You’ll also find an excellent viewpoint from the bridge just above, and several seating areas along the path, which continues up alongside the River Braan. Don’t forget to also look out for the Hermitage itself.

Buchanty Spout

Fifteen minutes northeast of Crieff, on the B8063, Buchanty Spout punches above its weight when it comes to salmon leaping. This narrow point on the River Almond is perfect for spotting jumps. You can park in the adjacent lay-by, then hike the five-minute path to the Spout, ready for some spectacular acrobatics. This is photographer Nathan’s location of choice when after salmon leaping photos, simply for the sheer volume in a short space of time and easily accessible location.

Pitlochry Dam

No Perthshire salmon tour should skip Pitlochry Dam, with its famous fish ladder. Although there hasn’t been so many in the last few years, it’s still a fascinating thing to see, and the visitor’s centre, with an interactive exhibition and cafe, makes a trip here especially worthwhile. There’s lots to do in Pitlochry itself afterwards too, or it’s a good location to stop at before or after a visit to the Linn of Tummel or Hermitage walks.

Cargill’s Leap

Cargill’s Leap on the River Ericht, Blairgowrie, is part of the Cateran Trail and so makes an excellent walking destination in its own right. There’s lots to see, including the old mills that the town industry was once built on. Cargill’s leap itself is the scene of a daring escape by Donald Cargill from chasing government troops. There’s a viewing platform here which is an excellent place to see more leaping, but by salmon this time.

There’s no doubt that Perthshire is an excellent place to catch this yearly phenomenon; if you haven’t yet been on a salmon spotting adventure, or it’s been a few years, why not make it a goal to head out this month?