River Beauly

The River Beauly flows through the Scottish Highlands, beginning near Struy where the Rivers Farrar and Glass meet. It winds east for about 25 kilometres before joining the Beauly Firth close to Inverness. The river passes the village of Beauly, a place known for its historic bridge built by Thomas Telford in the early 19th century. The river plays a key role in the Affric-Beauly hydro-electric scheme, with two power stations at Aigas and Kilmorack. Each station has 20MW generators and includes fish ladders to help salmon travel upstream. The Aigas fish ladder opens to visitors in summer, offering a chance to see the river’s role in energy and wildlife. A small island called Eilean Aigas sits in the river near the Aigas power station. The railway bridge built in the 1860s still carries trains on the Far North Line. Nearby, another road bridge at Kilmorack was added in the 20th century. The river’s bridges and dams show how it has shaped travel and industry in the Highlands.