River Tummel

The River Tummel rises at Stob Ghabbar in the Grampians and flows east for 93 kilometres to join the Tay near Logierait. Its waters power the Tummel hydro-electric scheme operated by SSE, while the river itself is part of the Tay Special Area of Conservation. The Tummel supports salmon, otters and three species of lamprey, making it important for wildlife. The river’s course includes Dunalastair Water, a reservoir formed by a weir, and Loch Tummel, which was lengthened to eleven kilometres when Clunie Dam raised the water level in the mid-20th century. Near the loch’s eastern end stands Queen’s View, made famous by Queen Victoria in 1866 though named earlier for Queen Isabel. The surrounding scenery is celebrated for its beauty. Visitors find Kinloch Rannoch at the river’s start, Dunalastair’s wooded slopes, the rocky Pass of Tummel, and the village of Pitlochry downstream. Faskally House sits on the left bank, and Ballinluig marks the river’s final stretch before the Tay. The old name Dubhag lingers in the upper reaches.