Factoids about the 3 Longest Rivers in Scotland
1. River Tay
The River Tay originates in the Highlands and flows down through Strathtay , in the centre of Scotland, through Perth and into the Firth of Tay, south of Dundee.
- 120 miles long (193 km)
- It is the longest river in Scotland.
- largest river in the UK by volume of discharge.
- It flows through Perth and Kinross to the Firth of Tay and the North Sea
- main towns are Perth, Aberfeldy
2. River Spey
The River Spey is a river in the northeast of Scotland, the second longest and the fastest flowing river in Scotland. It is important for salmon fishing and whisky production.
- 98 miles long
- The Spey is one of the most, if not the most, unpolluted river in the UK
- some of its inhabitants include pearl mussels, otters and Atlantic salmon, sea lampreys and trout
- at least 25 whisky distilleries along its banks
- at its steepest it falls about 12 feet per mile, the greates of any Scottish river
- tributaries of the Spey are the Truim, from Loch Ericht, and the Calder.
- main towns on the river include Aviemore, Newtonmore, Kingussie and Grantown-on-Spey
3.River Clyde
The River Clyde is the 3rd largest river in Scotland and is the 9th longest river in the United Kingdom. Flowing through the major city of Glasgow, it was an important river for shipbuilding and trade in the British Empire.
- 109 miles long
- there are around 72 bridges that cross the Clyde
- largest towns on the Clyde include Lanark and Glasgow
- the Industrial Revolution in the early 18th century was driven by the location of Glasgow, being a port facing the Americas.
- flows past the SECC conference and exhibition centre, the Glasgow tower and the Clyde Auditorium, affectionately nicknamed the Armadillo
- Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth, QE2 and the Royal Yacht Britannia were all built on the River Clyde
- New Lanark was a cotton spinning village founded in 1785 on the banks of the River Clyde, still existing, it is now a world heritage site.
Clyde Arc over the River Clyde