River Oykel

The River Oykel is a major river in northern Scotland, famous for its salmon fishing. It rises on Ben More Assynt, a few miles from Ullapool on the west coast, and flows just over 35 miles to the North Sea via the Kyle of Sutherland. The upper valley is called Glen Oykel and is mostly desolate moorland. The lower valley is known as Strath Oykel. The A837 road runs along the river for most of its length, crossing it at Oykel Bridge. The river marks the traditional boundary between Ross to the south and Sutherland to the north. It was known to the Vikings as the Ekkjal and served as a boundary between ancient Pictish provinces. The Mackays defeated the Clan MacLeod of Lewis at the Battle of Tuiteam Tarbhach in 1406 near the river’s mouth. The Oykel is designated as a Special Area of Conservation and has abundant stocks of Atlantic salmon. Visitors find a remote and rugged landscape along the river’s course. The eponymous hotel is famous among anglers, who often stay there when fishing the river. The Kyle of Sutherland, formed where the River Cassley feeds into the Oykel, adds to the scenic beauty. The river’s name may derive from a Pictish element meaning ‘lively’ or ‘ridge’. The surrounding moorland and the river’s clear waters offer a peaceful and unspoiled setting.