Where to see wild Atlantic salmon
One of the most amazing and inspiring sights in nature is that of adult wild Atlantic salmon returning to freshwater from the sea and leaping up waterfalls, weirs and fish passes on their way home to spawn. Indeed, this is how it earned its Latin name, coined by the Romans as they encountered it on their conquests through Northern Europe: Salmo salar, ‘salmon the leaper’.
There are records of salmon leaping at least 12 feet in their determination to ascend waterfalls. Those who have seen these prodigious feats will know how the fish almost seems to fly rather than jump. A leaping fish in two elements, air and water!
Some of the obstacles over which the fish leap are natural and some are manmade. Removing these manmade obstacles to migration is an important action that can be taken to allow wild Atlantic salmon to travel upstream more easily.
Below is a list of well-known locations in the UK where you may see wild Atlantic salmon leaping, particularly in late summer and autumn following rain, with fish generally most active in their attempts early in the morning and in the evening.
1. Otley Weir, West Yorkshire – River Wharfe
2. Blackwater Falls, Perthshire – River Blackwater
3. Cenarth Falls, Ceredigion – River Teifi
4. Larbert Weir, Stirlingshire – River Carron
5. Rocks of Solitude, Edzell, Angus – River North Esk
6. Hexham Weir, Northumberland – River Tyne
7. Falls of Shin, Sutherland – River Shin
8. Pitlochry Dam and Salmon Ladder, Perthshire – River Tummel
9. Philiphaugh Salmon Viewing Centre, near Selkirk, Scottish Borders – River Ettrick
10. Lydford Gorge, Devon – River Lyd
11. Falls of Braan, The Hermitage, Dunkeld, Perthshire – River Braan
12. Falls of Feugh, Banchory, Kindcardineshire – Water of Feugh, River Dee
13. Glen Tanar Estate, Aboyne, Aberdeenshire – River Dee
14. Buchanty Spout, Easter Glenalmond, by Crieff, Perthshire – River Almond
15. Linn of Tummel, by Pitlochry, Perthshire – Rivers Garry and Tummel
16. Cargill’s Leap, Blairgowrie, Perthshire – River Ericht
17. Stainforth Foss, Yorkshire – River Ribble
