River Morar

The River Morar is a short river in the Highlands of Scotland. It begins at the western end of Loch Morar and flows west to Morar Bay, an inlet of the Sound of Sleat. The river is one of Scotland’s shortest, measuring only about half a mile from the loch to the A830 bridge. Beyond the bridge, at low tide, the river continues for another mile and a half across the sandy bay. The loch’s surface sits 14 metres above sea level, and the river drops this height before reaching the sea. The river is crossed by three bridges, including a railway viaduct built in 1897 for the West Highland Line. The viaduct has four concrete arches, the largest spanning 27 metres, and is now a listed building. Below the bridges, the river passes over the Falls of Morar, where a hydro-electric power station was built in 1948. The station was one of the first projects of the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board, led by figures like Tom Johnston and Edward MacColl. Visitors to the river find white sandy beaches at low tide, known as the Silver Sands of Morar. The river’s banks are lined with these sands, which stretch along the estuary. Near the falls, the power station is built into a cavern, with only its doorway and a retaining wall visible. A fish ladder allows salmon and trout to move upstream. The surrounding area includes the parishes of Glenelg to the north and Arisaig and Moidart to the south.