Three of the Best Places to See Salmon Leaping
There’s lot’s of places in Scotland that you can see salmon leaping, but Perthshire is surely one of the best and most easily accessible for many people. The abundance of rivers and waterfalls 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 period. November is the time, here’s are three of the best places:
Buchanty Spout
Fifteen minutes northeast of Crieff, on the B8063, Buchanty Spout punches above its weight when it comes to salmon leaping. The River Almond is a Tay tributary and this narrow point is perfect for spotting jumps. Park in the adjacent layby, 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 a fascinating thing to see, and the visitors 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 ideal place to catch this yearly phenomenon; if you haven’t yet been on a salmon spotting adventure recently, why not make it a goal to head out this month?
