Major rivers can be seen in this map
This list of rivers in Scotland is organised
geographically , taken anti-clockwise, from
Berwick-upon-Tweed .
Tributaries are listed down the page in an upstream direction. (L) indicates a left-bank tributary and (R) indicates a right-bank tributary whilst (Ls) and (Rs) indicate left and right forks where a named river is formed from two differently named rivers.
For simplicity, they are divided here by the coastal section in which the
mouth of the river can be found. Those on Scottish islands can be found in a section at the end. For Scottish estuaries, please see under
firths and
sea lochs .
The Scots have many words for watercourses.
A "Water" (
Lallans : "Watter",
Scots Gaelic , "Uisge") is a smaller river, e.g.
Ugie Water ,
Water of Leith etc. Many Scottish rivers incorporate the name "Water" traditionally.
A "
burn ",
Scots Gaelic : "allt" (anglicised as "Ault/alt"), used for smaller rivers and larger streams, also once widely used in England, now mostly in placenames especially the north, and sometimes spelled "bourne", e.g.
Bournemouth and
Ashbourne . In Scotland examples include
Coalburn ,
Bannockburn ,
Aultmore .
Abhainn in Gaelic meaning river, which is anglicised as Avon. There is also a similar Brythonic cognate. This sometimes leads to curious 'double' namings of rivers by
Anglo-Saxon speakers, such as
River Avon and
River Afton (literally "River River").
South-eastern Scotland
The River Tweed at
Coldstream
Flowing into the
North Sea between
Berwick-upon-Tweed and
Kincardine (East Coast)
The right-bank tributary of the Tweed, the
River Till together with its tributaries, is almost wholly within England but is included for completeness of the Tweed catchment.
Tweed catchment
Simple coastal catchments
Tyne catchment
River Tyne
Tyne Water (Ls)
Birns Water (Rs) (Humbie Water)
Firth of Forth (Estuary)
(Lothian) Esk catchment
Water of Leith catchment
Almond catchment
Avon catchment
Carron catchment
Forth to Tay
Meandering
River Forth viewed from the
Wallace Monument . The river flows from right to left, and the former limit of navigation was in the left distance.
Looking upstream (north) along the
River Tay from the centre of
Perth
Flowing into the
North Sea between
Kincardine and
Buddon Ness (East Coast)
Forth catchment
Simple coastal catchments
Eden catchment
Tay catchment
Simple coastal catchments
East Coast
Flowing into the
North Sea between
Buddon Ness and
Rattray Head
Falls of Dee, An Garbh Choire
River Don near Alford
Simple coastal catchments
River South Esk catchment
River South Esk
Noran Water (L)
Prosen Water (R)
Burn of Glenmoye (L)
White Water (R)
River North Esk catchment
Simple coastal catchments
Dee catchment
Don catchment
River Don, Aberdeenshire
Elrick Burn (L)
River Ury (L) (sometimes written River Urie)
Ton Burn (R)
Birks Burn (minor?)
Mossat Burn (L)
Kindie Burn (L)
Water of Buchat (L)
Deskry Burn (R)
Water of Nochty (L)
Ernan Water (L)
Water of Carvie (R) (minor)
Simple coastal catchments
Blackdog Burn
Potterton Burn
Eigie Burn ??
Blairton Burn ??
Menie Burn ??
Sandend Burn ??
Ythan catchment
Simple coastal catchments
Moray Firth (north-facing coast)
Flowing into the
North Sea between
Rattray Head and
Inverness
River Spey at
Aberlour
The
River Findhorn is crossed by the
Highland Main Line railway and the
A9 road just east of
Tomatin
Simple coastal catchments
Water of Philorth
Pouk Burn
The Dour
Tore Burn
Deveron catchment
Simple coastal catchments
Spey catchment
Lossie catchment
Findhorn catchment
River Findhorn
Burn of Mosset (R) (drains into
Findhorn Bay )
Muckle Burn (R) (drains into
Findhorn Bay )
Dorback Burn (R)
Leonach Burn (R)
Funtack Burn (L) ('Moy Burn' above
Loch Moy )
Glen Mazeran (L)??
Elrick Burn (R)
River Eskin (L)
Nairn catchment
Ness catchment
Moray Firth (east-facing coast)
Flowing into the
North Sea between
Inverness and
Duncansby Head (East Coast)
Moniack catchment
Beauly catchment
Conon catchment
Simple coastal catchments
Carron catchment
River Carron (flows into
Kyle of Sutherland /
Dornoch Firth )
Black Water (L) (known in upper reaches as Abhainn an t-Srath Chuileannaidh)
Water of Glencalvie (R) (Diebidale River in its upper reaches)
Alladale River (Ls)
Abhainn a' Ghlinne Mhoir (Rs) (known as Abhainn a' Ghlinne Bhig in its upper reaches)
Oykel catchment
Shin catchment
Simple coastal catchments
Brora catchment
Simple coastal catchments
Wick catchment
North Coast
Flowing into the
Atlantic Ocean between
Dunnet Head and
Cape Wrath
Thurso catchment
Simple coastal catchments
Hope catchment
River Hope (known as Strathmore River above
Loch Hope )
Glen Golly River (Ls)
Abhainn Srath Coir' an Easaidh (Rs)
Simple coastal catchments
Amhainn an t-Sratha Bhig
River Dionard
Daill River
Kearvaig River
North-west Highlands
Fly fishing on the River Carron, Wester Ross
Flowing into the
Atlantic Ocean between
Cape Wrath and
Corpach at the head of
Loch Linnhe
Simple coastal catchments
Keisgaig River (minor)
Sandwood River
Rhiconich River
River Laxford
River Inver
River Traligill (flows into
Loch Assynt )
River Loanan (flows into Loch Assynt)
Abhainn Bad na h-Achlaise (known as Abhainn na Clach Airigh upstream)
Kirkaig catchment
River Kirkaig
Abhainn a' Chrocain (L) (flows into
Loch Veyatie )
Abhainn Mor (R) (flows into Loch Veyatie)
Simple coastal catchments
River Polly
River Canaird (or Kanaird)
Ullapool River (known as Rhidorroch River upstream of
Loch Achall and River Douchary further upstream)
River Lael
River Broom
Abhainn Cuileig (Ls)
Abhainn Droma (Rs)
Dundonnell River
Gruinard River (Abhainn Srath na Sealga upstream of Loch na Sealga)
Allt Loch a Ghiubhsachan (L)
Inverianvie River
Little Gruinard River
Ewe catchment
River Ewe
River Talladale (L) (flows into
Loch Maree )
River Grudie (L) (flows into Loch Maree)
Abhainn an Fhasaigh (R) (flows into Loch Maree)
Kinlochewe River (flows into Loch Maree)
A' Ghairbhe (Ls)
Abhainn Bruachaig (Rs)
Simple coastal catchments
Shiel catchment
River Shiel
River Polloch (L) (flows into
Loch Shiel )
Glenalladale River (R) (flows into Loch Shiel)
River Finna (R) (flows into head of Loch Shiel)
Callop River (L) (flows into head of Loch Shiel)
Simple coastal catchments
Aline catchment
River Aline
Abhainn a' Ghlinne Ghil (Ls)
Black Water (Rs)
Simple coastal catchments
Rannoch River
Glensanda River (minor)
River Tarbert
River Gour
River Scaddle
Cona River
Garvan River
South Garvan River (Rs)
North Garvan River (Ls)
Dubh Lighe
Fionn Lighe
An t-Suileag
South-west Highlands
Flowing into the
Atlantic Ocean between
Corpach at the head of
Loch Linnhe and the
Mull of Kintyre
Awe catchment
River Awe
River Orchy (flows into
Loch Awe )
River Strae (R)
River Lochy (L)
Allt Kinglass (R)
Water of Tulla (L) (flows into
Loch Tulla )
Abhainn Shira (R) (flows into Loch Tulla)
Archan River (R)
River Avich (L) (flows into Loch Awe)
Kames River (R) (flow into Loch Awe)
River Liever (L) (flows into Loch Awe)
Simple coastal catchments
Firth of Clyde
The
Clyde flowing through
Glasgow . The
Finnieston Crane on the left is seen as a lasting symbol of the industrial heritage of the Clyde.
The
Annick Water near
Cunninghamhead mill
Rivers discharging into the
Firth of Clyde between the
Mull of Kintyre and
Mull of Galloway . Rivers on
Arran are found in the
islands section .
Simple coastal catchments
Clyde catchment
Simple coastal catchments
Noddsdale Water
Gogo Water
Garnock catchment
Irvine catchment
Ayr catchment
Doon catchment
River Doon
Carrick Lane (L) (flows into
Loch Doon )
Whitespout Lane (Ls)
Eglin Lane (Rs)
Gala Lane (flows into head of Loch Doon)
Simple coastal catchments
Solway Firth
The estuary of the
River Nith , opening into
Solway Firth south of
Dumfries
Hoddom Bridge,
River Annan
Mull of Galloway to
Gretna ; rivers flowing into the
Irish Sea and
Solway Firth
Water of Luce catchment
Bladnoch catchment
Cree catchment
Water of Fleet catchment
Dee catchment
River Dee (known also as 'Black Water of Dee' above confluence with Water of Ken)
Urr catchment
Nith catchment
Minor catchment
Annan catchment
(Border) Esk catchment
Further tributaries of the Esk lie wholly in England - see
List of rivers of England .
Rivers on Scottish islands
Most of the Scottish islands are too small to maintain watercourses of any great length or size, and are frequently indented by numerous long bays and inlets which further break up the landscape. However a disproportionate number of their watercourses bear the name 'river', though many are relatively tiny.
Arran
The numerous small watercourses on
Arran are listed anticlockwise from
Brodick .
Glencloy Water
Glenrosa Water
South Sannox Burn
North Sannox Burn
Abhainn Mór
Iorsa Water
Machrie Water
Black Water (upper reaches known as Clauchan Water)
Sliddery Water
Torrylinn Water (also known as Kilmory Water)
Benlister Burn
Glenashdale Burn (also known as Allt Delphin)
Skye and the Inner Hebrides
Islay
There are numerous watercourses on
Islay , many of which though short are termed 'rivers'. They are listed anticlockwise from
Port Askaig .
Doodilmore River
Gortanaoid River
Saligo River
River Drolsay
River Sorn
River Laggan
Machrie River
Kintra River
Kilbride River
Ardilistry River
Kintour River
Claggain River
Jura
There are numerous watercourses on
Jura , some of which though short are termed 'rivers'. They are listed anticlockwise from
Feolin Ferry .
Corran River
Lussan River
Shian River
Glenbatrick River
Mull
Beach River, Isle of Mull
There are numerous watercourses on
Mull , some of which though short are termed 'rivers'.They are listed anticlockwise from
Tobermory .
Tobermory River
River Bellart
River Bà (Glencannel River flows into
Loch Bà )
Scarisdale River
Coladoir River
Leidle River
Beach River
Lussa River
Scallastle River
River Forsa
Aros River
Ledmore River (Ls)
Allt an Lon Biolaireich (Rs)
Rùm
There are a number of watercourses on
Rùm , some of which are named as 'rivers'. They are listed anticlockwise from
Kinloch .
Kinloch River
Kilmory River
Abhainn Rangail
Dibidil River
Isle of Skye
Listed anticlockwise around the coast from
Kyleakin . Many small watercourses, which would in other areas be named as 'burn' or 'allt', bear the name 'river' in
Skye .
Broadford River
River Sligachan
Allt Dearg Mòr
Varragill River
River Leasgeary
River Chracaig
Lealt River
Stenscholl River (upper reaches known as Kilmartin River)
River Brogaig
Kilmaluag River
River Rha
River Conon
River Hinnisdal
River Romesdal
River Haultin
River Snizort
Lòn an Eireannaich (R)
Abhainn an Acha-leathain
River Tora
Treaslane River
Bay River
River Horneval
Osdale River
Hamara River
Lorgill River
Dibidal River
Roskhill River
Caroy River
River Ose
Amar River
Sumardale River
River Drynoch
Viskigill Burn
River Talisker
Eynort River
River Brittle
Scavaig River
Abhainn Camas Fhionnairigh
Ord River
Kylerhea River
Outer Hebrides
Lewis
Abhainn Ghriais
Abhainn Lacasdail
Abhainn Ghrioda (Greeta River or River Creed)
Abhainn Arnoil
Abhainn Bharabhais
Orkney
Mill Dam
wetlands ,
Shapinsay
Mainland
Shetland
Mainland
Burn of Weisdale
Burn of Sandwater/Burn of Pettawater
Listing by length
Various measurements are provided for the lengths of Scottish rivers. The table below distinguishes between the river alone and the river plus tidal waters, which many sources use. In all cases the distance is for the longest distance through the catchment area not just the distance of that portion of it which the named river covers excluding upstream tributaries.
River
River Length
[1]
River + Estuary Length
[1]
Notes
[1]
River Tay
155 kilometres (96 mi)
185 kilometres (115 mi)
The Tay-
Tummel -Gaur from its source, Coirean Lochan by
Stob Ghabhar , to a line from Budden Ness to Tentsmuir Point.
River Spey
168.6 kilometres (104.8 mi)
168.6 kilometres (104.8 mi)
The Spey is the longest stretch of river in Scotland bearing the same name throughout, though that does include
Loch Insh .
River Clyde
158 kilometres (98 mi)
168.4 kilometres (104.6 mi)
The river length is measured to
Dumbarton Rock , the estuary to the
Firth of Clyde at Ardmore Point.
River Tweed
162 kilometres (101 mi)
162 kilometres (101 mi)
The lower reaches of the Tweed are in England.
River Dee, Aberdeenshire
143 kilometres (89 mi)
143 kilometres (89 mi)
River Forth
113 kilometres (70 mi)
136 kilometres (85 mi)
The river is measured to the
Kincardine Bridge , the estuary to easternmost point of
Inchgarvie by the
Forth Bridge .
River Don
135 kilometres (84 mi)
135 kilometres (84 mi)
River Ness
109 kilometres (68 mi)
109 kilometres (68 mi)
The Ness-Oich-Garry. No account is taken of the
Inverness Firth .
River Findhorn
103 kilometres (64 mi)
103 kilometres (64 mi)
River Nith
101 kilometres (63 mi)
101 kilometres (63 mi)
At low tide, the sea recedes to such an extent that the length of the river is extended by 13 kilometres (8.1 mi).
River Deveron
100 kilometres (62 mi)
100 kilometres (62 mi)
River Beauly
82 kilometres (51 mi)
94 kilometres (58 mi)
The Beauly-Glass-Affric with the estuary measured to the
Kessock Bridge .
River Dee, Galloway
88 kilometres (55 mi)
88 kilometres (55 mi)
The Dee-Ken-Water of Deuch. At low tide, the length is extended by 2.9 km.
River Conon
70 kilometres (43 mi)
88 kilometres (55 mi)
The estuary is measured to Invergordon Harbour/ Newhall Point.
River Lochy
87 kilometres (54 mi)
87 kilometres (54 mi)
The Lochy-Spean to
Loch Linnhe at mouth of the
River Nevis .
River South Esk, Angus
85 kilometres (53 mi)
85 kilometres (53 mi)
River Annan
78 kilometres (48 mi)
78 kilometres (48 mi)
Listing by area of catchment
The major rivers of Scotland, in order of catchment,
[2] are:
River Tay c. 2,000 square miles (5,200 km2 )
River Tweed 1,500 square miles (3,900 km2 )
River Spey 1,097 square miles (2,840 km2 )
Note: Imperial figures from quoted source; and metric figures less certain.
Shared names
A number of Scottish rivers have identical or very similar names which can be a source of confusion. These are some of the main ones. The symbol '>' is used here to signify 'tributary of':
Ale
Allan
Almond
Avon
Ba
River Bà (Mull); River Bà (Rannoch Moor)
Bannock Burn
Barr
Black Burn
Black Burn – commonly occurring including Lossie, Tweed, Water of Luce
Black Water
Calder
Carron
Conon
Dee
Dibidal, Dibidil
Dibidal River (Skye); Dibidil River (Rùm)
Dorback
Douglas
Eden
Elrick
Elrick Burn (Don); Elrick Burn (Findhorn)
Enrick, Endrick
Esk, North Esk, South Esk
Gala
Garry
Glass
Glenmore
Glenmore River; Glenmore River
Isla
Kilmory
Kilmory River (Rùm); Kilmory Water
Kinglas, Kinglass
Kinglas Water; River Kinglass
Kinloch
Kinloch River (Rùm); Kinloch River; Kinloch River
Ledmore
Ledmore River (Kirkaig); Ledmore River (Mull)
Leven
Lochy, Lochay
Lunan
Lyne
Machrie
Machrie River (Islay); Machrie Water (Arran)
Meggat, Megget
Mor (This is merely a Gaelic adjective meaning "large" or "great")
Abhainn Mór (Arran); Abhainn Mor (Kirkaig)
Shiel
Tarf, Tarff
See also
Sovereign states States with limited recognition Dependencies and other entities