Discover exceptional salmon fishing holidays in Scotland, home to some of the most prestigious salmon rivers in the world. From exclusive beats and luxury accommodation to expert local guides, we offer unforgettable experiences in spectacular Highland landscapes.
When it comes to booking a salmon fishing holiday in Scotland, the options are truly infinite. One of the major advantages of salmon fishing in Scotland is that the fishing season itself is so long. The season extends from mid-January through to the end of November, allowing the visiting angler to fish for salmon in Scotland eleven months of the year. Fresh hard fighting salmon are caught from Scottish rivers each month of the fishing season, so there is a good chance of catching a fish regardless of the time of year.
There are also so many wonderful prolific rivers to choose from, which vary greatly in size and character. Many of these rivers are set in beautiful and tranquil locations, where you can feel at one with nature, whilst casting your line. Often during your day’s salmon fishing, you will not see another human being, instead having red or roe deer grazing close by, and Golden Eagles soaring high overhead for company.
If you enjoy salmon fishing on smaller rivers, then the Scottish Highlands is the place for you. The Scottish Highlands offers the visiting anglers a myriad of smaller rivers to explore, which are set on spectacular, remote and rugged, scenic backdrops. These rivers can yield high numbers of salmon during the late spring and summer months. Prolific rivers in the Scottish Highlands include the Navar, Thurso, Helmsdale and Oykel amongst many others. Often when the water is low on these rivers, only a single handed or switch rod is required. The waters of these rivers can be quite clear, so using stealth tactics can pay rich dividends.
If you prefer fishing on larger rivers during your salmon fishing holiday, you are also spoiled for choice, as there are many to choose from. Rivers like the Dee, the Spey and the Tweed are much larger in size compared to many of their Highland counterparts, offering the visiting angler quite a different challenge and angling experience. The River Tay in Perthshire, is also another large river, being the longest in Scotland. It has a reputation for producing big fish. Each year fish of over thirty pounds are regularly caught from this river. The River Tay produces decent numbers of fish throughout the season which makes it a very popular choice with holidaying salmon fishers.
As Scotland is a relatively small country, it is possible to experience salmon fishing on two or three different rivers during your holiday. This gives you a taste of what it is like to fish in different locations and also experience more of the wonderful scenery the country has to offer.
Another great advantage of fishing in Scotland is that the facilities for salmon anglers is second to none. Almost all the beats (stretches of water) are private. This means that only a certain number of anglers can fish a particular stretch of water at any one time. This ensures that anglers have plenty of space to fish and also have a wide variety of pools to choose from throughout the day. Most of the salmon fishing beats in Scotland have excellent fishing lodges located by the river for anglers to use, as well as having a ghillie. The ghillie is there to help and give advice to anglers that are fishing the beat, and often their expert guidance can make the difference between success and failure.
Away from the riverbank, there is a wide range of accommodation options for visiting anglers, to suit all budgets and tastes. There are some fantastic Bed & Breakfast and Guest House lodgings to choose from. Alternatively, if you prefer larger five-star hotels there are no shortage of these establishments either. Many anglers prefer to stay in self-catering lodges or chalets. Many of these are located close to the riverbank, offering spectacular views of the stunning countryside. In Scotland the accommodation options are truly endless.
The food and drink on offer in Scotland is first class. As we all know, the dining options on offer can often make or break a holiday. It is just as well then that there is no shortage of delicious eateries in Scotland. There are numerous excellent restaurants to choose from, as well as wonderful artisan delicatessens which sell Scottish cheese, cold meats and, of course, our famous haggis. There is also no shortage of our world famous Scottish whisky. There are a multitude of distilleries producing delicious malts, each with their own distinct flavour. There is no better way to celebrate catching a hard-fighting Scottish salmon than with a fine Scottish malt at the end of the day.
Salmon fishing is just one of the many activities Scotland has to offer. Scotland is the perfect destination if you wish to pursue other interests along with salmon fishing during your holiday, or even if there are non-fishers in your party. The scenery across the country is to die for, and there are many sight-seeing tours on offer. Some of the scenery in the Scottish Highlands is in a class of its own. There are also an abundance of white sandy beaches to explore, as well as the famous Loch Ness. If you are passionate about history, Scotland has an infinite number of Castles to visit. For visitors that enjoy more active pastimes, Scotland caters perfectly for those who love mountain biking and skiing and is also home to a number of Championship Golf Courses. For game sport enthusiasts, Scotland boasts some of the best Red Deer stalking in the world. If you are visiting Scotland as part of family holiday, there will be no shortage of things for everyone to do, away from the riverbank.
It is easy to see why people travel to Scotland, from all over the world, for their salmon fishing holiday. A wide array of rivers to choose from, spectacular scenery, excellent facilities for anglers, private beats, great accommodation options and a multitude of other activities are just a few of things that make a salmon fishing holiday in Scotland one experience that you will never forget.