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The
River Tay
The River
Tay is the longest river in Scotland. From its source in Ben
Lui (3708 ft.), a mountain on the borders of Perthshire and
Argyllshire, it pursues a mainly north-easterly direction to
Logierait, where it curves to the south by east as far as Dunkeld;
there its course turns to the south-east to the mouth of the
Isla, where it bends towards the south by west to the vicinity
of Scone. From this point it makes a sharp descent to the south
by east beyond the county town, when it sweeps southeast to
near Newburgh in. Fifeshire, where it again faces the north-east
as far as Broughty Ferry, whence it flows straight eastwards
into the North Sea, off Buddon Ness in Forfarshire, after a
total run of 117 miles.
During the
first 11 miles it is known as the Fillan and discharges into
Loch Dochart. From the lake it emerges as the Dochart, which
enters Loch Tay at Killin. Flowing through the loch, it issues
at Kenmore under its proper name of Tay. From hence to the sea
its course measures 78 1/2 miles., from which we may deduct
25 miles as the length of the Firth of Tay, leaving 53 1/2 m.
as the length of the stream between Kenmore and the mouth of
the Earn. Its principal affluents on the right are the Bran,
Almond and Earn, and on the left the Lyon, Tummel and Isla.
Along with its tributaries, therefore, it drains all Perthshire
and portions of Forfarshire and Argyllshire, having a catchment
basin of 2400 sq. m. In many parts the current is impetuous,
and in flood has occasionally wrought much havoc, certain of
the inundations being historically important. Its mean discharge
of water every minute is estimated to amount to 273,000 cubic
ft., a larger outpour than that of any other river in the United
Kingdom.
Vessels
make Dundee at all stages of the tide, and the estuary is navigable
to Newburgh by vessels of 500 tons, and as far as Perth by ships
of 200 tons. The navigation, however, is seriously obstructed
by shifting sandbanks. The estuary varies in width from 1/2
mile to fully 3 miles. its mouth. The principal points on the
river are Crianlarich on the Fillan (with stations on the West
Highland and Callander to Oban railways), Luib and Killin on
the Dochart, Kenmore, Aberfeldy, Dunkeld, Birnam, Stanley, Scone,
Perth and, on the north shore of the firth, Errol, Dundee, Broughty
Ferry and Monifieth, and, on the south shore, Newburgh, Newport
and Tayport. It is bridged at Kenmore, Aberfeldy, Logierait,
Dunkeld, Caputh and Perth (3).
The
first railway viaduct across the firth at Dundee was nearly
two miles long and had been in use for some eighteen months
from the date of its opening in 1877. During the night of the
28th of December 1879, however, while a great gale was at the
height of its fury, the passing of a train over the central
section gave purchase to the tempest and that portion of the
structure was blown down along with the train and the unfortunate
travellers. Some 75 to 90 persons are supposed to have perished.
The second bridges of somewhat lower height, 2 miles and 73
yds. in length, was erected 60 ft. higher up stream and opened
in 1887. The Tay is famous for salmon, the annual catch in the
river and estuary being the most valuable in Scotland. There
are hatcheries for the artificial breeding of salmon, the fish
being liberated from the ponds about the age of three years.
In respect of riparian scenery the Tay as a whole is the most
beautiful river in Scotland, the stretch between Logierait and
Cargill, particularly the reaches above and below Dunkeld, being
universally admired.
Return
To Perthshire History
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