River Gaur

The River Gaur rises in the heart of the Scottish Highlands, flowing from Loch Laidon near Rannoch Station. It cuts eastward across the vast Rannoch Moor, a landscape of bogs and heather stretching for kilometres. After just two and a half kilometres the river widens into Loch Eigheach, a small loch where the water slows before rushing on. Near the Bridge of Gaur it finally reaches Loch Rannoch after about eleven kilometres. Anglers come here for brown trout and sea trout that thrive in the cold, clear waters. The river’s steady flow and deep pools make it a reliable spot for fly fishing in summer. In the same season rafting companies run guided trips on the Gaur, using its moderate rapids to give beginners a taste of white water. Visitors walk the quiet tracks beside the river or take the road to the Bridge of Gaur for views over the water. The surrounding moorland is quiet except for the cry of curlews and the occasional splash of a rising trout. At dusk the light lingers on the hills, turning the lochs to sheets of burnished metal.