Moray & Speyside
The Moray & Speyside region is characterised by a rich blend of coastal, lowland, and highland geography. Its northern border is the long sandy coastline of the Moray Firth, while inland areas transition to rolling farmland and forested hills.
For the purposes of the HiFly site, this region begins to the east of the Ness catchment and includes the River Nairn and extends along this coastline to Spey Bay about 50 miles to the east.
To the south, the region reaches into the Monadhliath and Cairngorm mountain ranges, bringing mountainous terrain and glens, that are the headwaters for the Findhorn & Spey rivers.
Between the mountains and the coast, the underlying metamorphic and sedimentary geology has produced a landscape of gentler hills and broad river valleys, shaped more by river erosion and human land use than by glacial activity, that dominates western and central Highland geography.
North of the Cairngorms, there are fewer deep valleys and a scarcity of natural lochs and therefore less opportunities for trout fishing. Frustratingly for trout anglers, of the few lochs present, most seem to be located on Highland estates, with the fishing preciously guarded for their guests.
One outcome of this however, is that numerous good quality stocked trout fisheries have appeared to fill this void including Dunlichity, Geddes, Achnagour, Rothiemurchus, Mill of Kellas, Wardend and Glen of Rothes.
In contrast to the lack of trout lochs, Moray & Speyside’s rivers are central to its natural landscape and cultural heritage, and are also integral to tourism and easily accessed.
Whisky production and salmon fishing are both deeply rooted elements of the region’s identity & tradition.
Speyside is globally celebrated as the heart of Scotch whisky production; home to more than half of Scotland’s malt whisky distilleries. The Spey catchment provides the soft, pure water essential for whisky-making, and its valleys offer fertile farmland for barley production.
Distilleries from Glenfiddich to Macallan draw thousands of visitors each year. This heritage is not only economic but cultural, shaping both local identity and international reputation.
The River Spey (the birthplace of Spey casting) and the River Findhorn are internationally renowned for their Atlantic salmon fishing, and visiting anglers are extremely important to sustaining local communities.
The Findhorn, widely regarded as the most beautiful river in the Highlands, rises in the Monadhliath mountains and runs for about 60 miles north-east through 2 gorge sections to the coast at Forres. Its beats include Drynachan, Lethen, Glenferness, Logie, Darnaway and Altyre.
The Spey, is Scotland’s second-longest river and one of the fastest-flowing, pouring into the Moray Firth near Fochabers. Famous beats such as Tulchan, Ballindalloch, Knockando, Laggan, Carron, Arndilly, Delfur, Orton, Gordon Castle & Brae Water attract anglers from across the globe.
Banner and all Findhorn & Spey slide show images © Ian Neale/Speycaster
There are also the smaller Nairn and Lossie rivers. The Nairn catchment although more than 30 miles in length, has only one significant natural loch, so it is very much a spate river. The Lossie is another spate river, originating on the north slope of Carn Kitty, an isolated upland area between the Findhorn’s Divie tributary & the Spey catchment, and flowing to the sea at Lossiemouth.
A unique characteristic of this area of the Highlands, is the amount of salmon fishing available to visitors, due in part, to the length of both main rivers, and the number of beats.
Although many beats are syndicated or let through the prime months on a weekly basis, there are also some top private beats offering day tickets. Additionally, there is a considerable amount of water controlled by angling clubs, and amongst them some of the very best 'association water' in the country.
More Intel for Moray & Speyside (HiFly Fishing members only)
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