River Naver
The River Naver is a river 18 miles long in Sutherland, flowing due north through the county into the sea on the wild north coast of Great Britain. On its way it cuts a breathtaking valley, which with its fertile plains is known as Strathnaver. The river is famed for its salmon.
The source of the River Naver is Loch Naver, a ribbon loch in the midst of the county. The loch itself is fed by many streams, the largest of which are the River Vagastie and the River Mudale.
The Naver emerges from the eastern end of the loch, where it is joined almost at once by the Mallart River, and joined stream flows northwards into the Naver Forest, the glen deepening as it goes. The Langdale Burn and Carnachy Burn are other major tributaries of the river.
A road follows the river within its valley all the way form the lochside to the sea: The B873 road runs through the glen from Altnaharra, alongside Loch Naver, to Syre, from whence the B871 continues to a junction with the A836 a few miles south of Bettyhill. These roads together with an unclassified road running south from the east end of the Invernaver bridge through Skelpick, connect the Strathnaver Trail of historic sites.
At the bridge that carries the A836 north coast road across the river above Achina, the Naver is tidal, in an estuary which it nowhere very broad. Beyond Bettyhill it enters the sea in Torrisdale Bay.
- Main article: Strathnaver
Strathnaver or Strath Naver (Gaelic: Srath Nabhair) is the river’s fertile strath. The term has a broader use though as the name of an ancient province also known as the Mackay Country (Gaelic: Dùthaich MhicAoidh), once controlled by the Clan Mackay and extending over most of northwest Sutherland.
Natural history
The River Naver is designated a Special Area of Conservation due to its importance for Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), and freshwater pearl mussels (Margaritifera margaritifera).[1] At one time there was a significant pearl fishery on both the Naver and Mallart.[1]
Tourism
The river has long enjoyed a reputation as a productive salmon river. The area is now being marketed to non-fishermen as "Mackay Country".
Location
- Location map: 58°30’26"N, 4°12’50"W
Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about River Naver) |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 River Naver SAC, Joint Nature Conservation Committee, http://www.jncc.gov.uk/protectedsites/sacselection/sac.asp?EUCode=UK0030260