The Lochcarron area has much to offer discerning visitors – notably its superb scenery, with all the enjoyment that affords. Well known to walkers and climbers for many years, fishermen too are now discovering it. Here, selected lochs and rivers are revealed not only as places where an angler’s skill may be tested, but also as wild and beautiful places in their own right. Written by Michael Stuart Green, Roddy Maclennan and Jonah Tosney.
RIVER CARRON
(Anglicised Gaelic, “Rocky River”)
LOCATION: Strathcarron, Wester Ross; between grid refs NG 930407 and 965445; OS Explorer 429. Approach from A890
ESTATE: River Carron Proprietors jointly, who pursue an active conservation and stocking scheme.
ACCESS:There are three beats available for permit fishing - New Kelso 1 and 2 and Attadale.Access differs for each beat. See Map p30.
PARKING: For New Kelso 1 park adjacent to the River Carron bridge on the A890 1⁄2km NW of Strathcarron station. For New Kelso 2, park by the forest gate on the A890 1⁄2km west of the Coulags Bridge at NG 948447 or at the picnic area 100m further W. For Attadale river park at the River Carron bridge, and for the tidal sea pools park at Cam Allt at the bottom of Am Màman Hill (NG 930404).
METHOD: Fly or spinner only. Please use barbless hooks.
DESCRIPTION: A typical, larger West Highland river which has seen a tremendous upturn in fortunes in recent years.
SPECIES: Salmon, sea trout and brownies.
SEASON: 11th February to 31st October
PERMITS: Available from Roddy ‘Butcher’ MacLennan (07818 032368) who will provide instructions on fishing rules and allocate beats. Catch return forms are available from Roddy or in the Fishing Hut at New Kelso (see map) where anglers can collect a keep-net. All completed forms and nets to be returned to the hut after fishing.
RIVER RULES: A strict catch and release policy operates on the Carron for both salmon and sea trout. All salmon must be put into keep-nets (from Fishing Hut) so they can be inspected and marked prior to release. Please contact Bob Kindness (07828 467552) once a salmon is safely in the keep-net.
ADVICE: For salmon: Silver Stoat’s Tail, Ally Shrimp or Cascade. For sea trout: Teal Blue & Silver, and Butcher. Single-handed rods are normally adequate, but a double-handed rod is advisable when the river is high.
ACHINTEE HILL LOCHS
Lochan Dubha (loch’an doo’a, little black loch)
LOCATION: One mile SSE of Strathcarron; OS Landranger 429, grid ref NG 947 407.
ESTATE: Attadale
PARKING: Strathcarron rail station car park or Achintee electricity sub-station (limited space).
ACCESS: Walk reference: Achintee and Two Lochs (p11). Follow the route through Achintee and up the hill path signed to Bendronaig Lodge. A deer fence and stile are reached at 190m altitude. Turn right before the fence and follow it uphill over rough ground. After a few minutes Lochan Dubha appears on the right; 45 minutes.
METHOD: No restriction but wet fly most common. DESCRIPTION A hidden, enigmatic loch with spectacular views to the north.
BOAT: None
SPECIES: Generally small, white-fleshed brown trout up to a pound and a half.
SEASON: Mid March to 1st October
PERMITS: Not required
CONTACT: The head stalker, Thomas Watson, on 01520 722308
ADVICE: Black Pennell works well throughout the season, as does Invicta towards the end. Butcher and Grouse and Claret are also worth a try.
Loch an Fheòir
(loch’an iyawr, grazing loch)
LOCATION: 2.5km SE of Strathcarron, OS Landranger 429, Grid ref NG 959 400.
ESTATE: Attadale
ACCESS: Walk reference: Achintee and Two Lochs (p11). From Achintee follow the hill path for Bendronaig Lodge and cross the deer fence at 190m altitude. Continue up the track for 1km. On rounding a hillock Loch an Fheòir and its feeder burns come into sight on the left.
PARKING: Strathcarron rail station car park or Achintee electricity sub-station (boggy, limited space).
METHOD: No restriction
DESCRIPTION: A beautiful, shallow hill loch. Boggy margins and reed-beds in places.
BOAT: None
SPECIES: White-fleshed, wild brown trout up to two pounds.
SEASON: Mid March to 1st October
PERMITS: Not required
CONTACT: The head stalker, Thomas Watson, on 01520 722308
ADVICE: Black Pennell works well throughout the season, as does Invicta towards the end. Butcher and Grouse and Claret are also worth a try.
Loch a’ Chairn Bhàin
(loch’uh chairn vaan, loch of the white cairn)
LOCATION: 2.5 km SSE of Strathcarron, OS Landranger 429, Grid ref NG 952 398.
ESTATE: Attadale
ACCESS: Walk reference: Achintee and Two Lochs (p11). Follow the approach for Loch an Fheòir untilLoch an Fheòir is in sight and the path begins to descend slightly. At this point turn right off the path (a small burn crosses here) and climb the rough ground heading W for 200m until Loch a’ Chairn Bhàin comes into view (1hr).
PARKING: Strathcarron rail station car park or Achintee electricity sub-station (boggy, limited space).
METHOD: No restriction, usually wet fly.
BOAT: None
DESCRIPTION: A rarely visited, well hidden hill loch with a population of wild brownies. Spectacular views and shelter from a westerly wind.
SPECIES: White-fleshed, wild brown trout up to two and a half pounds.
SEASON: Mid March to 1st October
PERMITS: Not required
CONTACT: The head stalker, Thomas Watson, on 01520 722308
ADVICE: Black Pennell works well throughout the season, as does Invicta towards the end. Butcher and Grouse and Claret are also worth a try.
Loch nan Creadha
(loch nan cray’ga, loch of the crags)
LOCATION: 2.5 km SSE of Strathcarron, OS Landranger 429, Grid ref NG 964 407.
ESTATE: Attadale
ACCESS: Walk reference: Achintee and Two Lochs (p11). There are two approaches:- i) The loch can be reached from Loch an Fheòir. Following the outlet burn from its northern tip for 1/2 km NE (rough and boggy) (1–11⁄2hr from Achintee). ii) A quicker and easier direct approach follows the Achintee and Two Lochs walk in reverse, taking the path signed to Berneas along the top of Achintee crofts and across the Allt an t-Sagairt. The track climbs E on to the moor above the River Taodail. After 1km turn right at a junction by the Allt Feadan Dhughaill and climb the steep path to the N end of the loch (1hr)
PARKING: Strathcarron station or Achintee electricity sub-station.
METHOD: No restriction
DESCRIPTION: The largest of the Attadale hill lochs, Loch nan Creadha has a varied shoreline, including more sheltered areas. Plenty of fish rise at the margins on a sunny day.
BOAT: None
SPECIES: White-fleshed, wild brown trout up to two pounds and sometimes something a little larger! SEASON Mid-March to 1st October
PERMITS: Not required
CONTACT: The head stalker, Thomas Watson, on 01520 722308
ADVICE: Black Pennell works well throughout the season, as does Invicta towards the end. Butcher and Grouse and Claret are also worth a try.
ACHNASHELLACH HILL LOCHS
Loch Coire Fionnaraich
(Meaning unknown, possibly Fionn’s pasture, or Fionn’s lookout)
LOCATION: 5km north of Coulags. OS Landranger 429, Grid ref NG 945 498.
ESTATE: Achnashellach
ACCESS: Walk reference: Coulags and Maol Chean-dearg (p20). Follow the right-of-way from Coulags past Coire Fionnaraich bothy. The loch is 1km beyond the bothy lying between the two Munros, Maol Cheandearg and Sgorr Ruadh, at a height of 230m (11⁄2hr).
PARKING: Small parking area on the A890 just W of Coulags Bridge.
METHOD: No restriction
DESCRIPTION: A reasonably sized hill loch at the head of a sometimes-sheltered valley.
BOAT: None
SPECIES: Brown trout as wild as the mountains. Possibly arctic charr.
SEASON: Mid March to 1st October
PERMITS: Not required
ADVICE: On a warm day Coire Fionnaraich produces a good hatch of mayfly, so a carefully selected dry fly may bring rewards. The loch appears to sink to depth pretty quickly from the south shore, so deeper flies or lures may also prove effective.
Loch Coire Làir
LOCATION: 3km north-west of Achnashellach train station. OS Landranger 429, Grid ref NG 975 505.
ESTATE: Achnashellach
ACCESS: Walk reference: The Coulin Circuit (p22). Follow the Coulin Circuit walk into Coire Lair, turning left at the crossroads just above Achnashellach station and gaining the stalkers’ path, which climbs into Coire Lair. The loch is close under the cliffs of Sgorr Ruadh at 370m altitude, 1km beyond the path junction where the Coulin Circuit turns to the right (11⁄2hr).
PARKING: At the layby on the A890 opposite the access road to Achnashellach station.
METHOD: No restriction; usually wet fly
DESCRIPTION: A smallish hill loch in one of the Highland’s most beautiful settings. This is mainly a charr loch, although brown trout may be present too. BOAT None
SPECIES: Arctic charr, possibly brown trout. The charr are of conservation interest, so please notify Peter Minting of Wester Ross Fisheries Trust of any catches: peter.minting@inverness.uhi.ac.uk or 01520 722882
SEASON: Mid March to 1st October
PERMITS: Not required
ADVICE: Probably buzzers; best fished into the deeper water on the southern shore, and hard to cast in a strong wind.
COULDORAN ESTATE LOCHS
Loch Coultrie
(Scots: loch cool’ tri)
LOCATION: 14 miles N of Lochcarron, within the Wester Ross national scenic area; OS Explorer 428, grid ref NG 855 461.
PARKING: A small space cut into the west side of the road, 1.3 miles (2.1km) N of the Couldoran road end.
ACCESS: By a rough path that leaves the A896 at grid ref. NG 851 459 approximately. Path heads ESE for 500m on right bank of the burn.
METHOD: Fly fishing only.
DESCRIPTION: Only about 1km long and less than 500m at its widest. A burn connects with Loch an Lòin (see below).
BOAT: None
SPECIES: Small, brown “breakfast” trout; loch also accessed by salmon.
SEASON: Mid March to 1st October
PERMITS: Required. Contact: Roddy MacLennan on 07818 032368. To help with restocking and management programmes, catch record forms are issued with the permits. These should be returned to Roddy MacLennan; alternatively, catches can be phoned in.
Loch an Lòin
(Gaelic: loch an lawn, reedy loch)
LOCATION: 13 miles N of Lochcarron, just to the E of A896, within the Wester Ross national scenic area; OS Explorer 428, grid ref NG 853 448.
ACCESS: Turn off A896 at grid ref. NG 852 447 on to an unmarked private road and follow it round edge of loch, past a small house. Please do not attempt to drive across the bridge.
PARKING: Cars should be left on the grass to the S of the burn at N end of loch, i.e. before reaching the bridge.
METHOD: Fly fishing only.
DESCRIPTION: A loch of no great depth that becomes very reedy after July; a burn connects with L. Coultrie (above)
BOAT: None
SPECIES: Small, brown “breakfast” trout; loch also accessed by salmon.
SEASON: Mid March to 1st October
PERMITS: Required. Contact: Roddy MacLennan on 07818 032368. To help with restocking and management programmes, catch record forms are issued with the permits. These should be returned to Roddy MacLennan; alternatively, catches can be phoned in.
SEA FISHING
Loch Carron and its environs provide a wealth of sea fishing opportunities. Popular spots include the shore around North Strome and even the jetty in Lochcarron. No permits are required, and tackle is available from both the garage and the Spar shop. Care should be taken when fishing from the shore as the waters can be deep and currents strong. The loch holds an array of fish and a lucky fisherman may hope to catch mackerel, cod, pollock, ling, and dogfish. A variety of other creatures may lurk in the depths. It is hoped that sea fishing trips may become available from Shieldaig in the near future. Sea fishing, by boat, is also available further up the coast in Gairloch and Ullapool.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Information on the River Carron, its fish stocks, recovery and research can be found at www.rivercarron.org.uk
Wester Ross Fisheries Trust carry out fisheries and conservation work throughout Wester Ross www.wrft.org.uk