A River Runs Through It

The beginning of something special.

Your first day on A River Runs Through It is deliberately gentle. After arriving in the Aberfeldy or Kenmore area, you’ll have the afternoon and evening to get your first taste of the River Tay.

This part of the Tay is classic brown trout water — clear, powerful, and full of character. The beats around Kenmore (where the river leaves Loch Tay) and downstream towards Aberfeldy offer a lovely mix of pocket water, glides, and deeper holding lies.

The pace on Day 1 is relaxed. This is your chance to tune in to the river, work out how the fish are responding, and begin to understand the water you’ll be fishing for the next few days. Many anglers find that the first day is as much about observation as it is about catching fish.

You’ll stay locally tonight, giving you a proper rest before the first full day on the water tomorrow. This unhurried start is one of the real luxuries of the Fortnight version.

A second full day on the river.

Today you’ll fish a different beat on the River Tay from yesterday. This could mean moving upstream or downstream, or simply fishing a different section of the same general area. The Tay is a big river, and even within a few miles there can be significant changes in character.

Some beats are faster and more broken, rewarding anglers who can read the water well and present their flies accurately. Others have long, smooth glides where a more delicate approach is required.

This second day on the river is when many anglers really start to feel they’re getting to know the water. You’ll begin to recognise the lies, understand how the fish are behaving, and refine your techniques accordingly.

The unhurried nature of the Fortnight really starts to show on days like this. There’s no pressure to move on quickly — just time to fish, observe, and enjoy being on one of Scotland’s greatest rivers.

You’ll stay in the same general area again tonight.

A full day on the loch.

After two days on the river, today brings a change of pace and scenery as you spend the day on Loch Tay. The loch is vast and beautiful, and it holds excellent stocks of wild brown trout.

Boat fishing is the classic and most effective way to fish Loch Tay. You’ll have the option of hiring a boat or fishing with a local boatman (highly recommended for your first time on the loch). Drifting with the wind, fishing traditional wet flies or nymphs, is the time-honoured method here.

Loch Tay can produce some very good fish, and the setting is second to none. The combination of the dramatic mountain scenery and the chance of a strong, hard-fighting brown trout makes for a memorable day.

This is a proper, unhurried day on the water — exactly what the Fortnight version is designed for.

You’ll stay locally again tonight, either back in Kenmore or slightly further along the loch.

A very special day.

Today you’ll travel west to Killin and the famous Falls of Dochart. The falls themselves are spectacular — a powerful series of cascades right in the middle of the village. Below them, the River Dochart calms into a series of beautiful pools and runs that hold excellent brown trout.

The fishing here is more intimate and technical than on the main River Tay. The water is faster in places and the trout are known for being strong, hard-fighting fish. Traditional wet flies and dry flies both work well, depending on conditions.

This is one of the most atmospheric days of the entire tour. There’s something very special about fishing in the shadow of the falls and then wandering into Killin in the evening for a meal and a pint.

You’ll stay in Killin tonight. This gives you the option of fishing the Dochart again in the morning if conditions are particularly good, or moving on to the next beat.

A proper day off from fishing.

Today is your relaxed travel day as you move from the Aberfeldy/Kenmore area over to the Rannoch region. There’s no fishing today — this is purely about the journey and enjoying the change of scenery.

A typical chilled itinerary might look something like this:

• Morning: Leave at a civilised time and head west.
• Stop 1: The Hermitage near Dunkeld – a beautiful short woodland walk with the famous folly and waterfall. Very peaceful and atmospheric.
• Lunch: Somewhere nice around Pitlochry or Blair Atholl (a good café or pub with outdoor seating if the weather is kind).
• Stop 2 (optional): Queen’s View on Loch Tummel – one of the most famous and beautiful viewpoints in Perthshire. An easy, rewarding stop.
• Afternoon: Continue through the Pass of Killiecrankie and on towards Kinloch Rannoch, arriving in the Rannoch area in the mid to late afternoon.

This is a genuinely relaxed day. You’ll have time to enjoy the landscape, have a proper lunch, and arrive at your new base feeling refreshed rather than rushed.

You’ll stay in the Rannoch area for the final three nights of the trip.

A change of character.

After the relaxed travel day, today you begin fishing in the Upper River Tummel area. This is a very different river from the main River Tay — smaller, more intimate, and with a wilder, more remote feel.

The Upper Tummel (above Loch Tummel) offers excellent brown trout fishing in beautiful surroundings. The water is often faster and more broken than the lower Tay, and the trout are known for being strong, hard-fighting fish.

This is a lovely contrast to the previous days. The fishing feels more personal, and the scenery has a wilder, more Highland quality. Many anglers find that the Upper Tummel is one of the highlights of the entire Fortnight.

You’ll stay in the Rannoch area again tonight.

A full day on one of Scotland’s most beautiful lochs.

Today you’ll spend the day on Loch Rannoch. This is a large, scenic, and relatively remote loch that holds excellent stocks of wild brown trout. The setting is spectacular, with mountains rising steeply on both sides.

Boat fishing is the most effective and enjoyable way to fish Loch Rannoch. You’ll have the option of hiring a boat locally or fishing with a boatman if you prefer.

The loch can fish well throughout the day, but early mornings and evenings are often the most productive. Traditional wet flies and nymphs are the classic methods here.

This is a proper, peaceful day on the water in a very special part of Scotland. The combination of the remote location, the quality of the fishing, and the stunning scenery makes Loch Rannoch one of the highlights of the Fortnight.

You’ll stay in the Rannoch area again tonight.

Your penultimate day.

Today you have a choice for your last proper day on the water. You can either fish the River Gaur — a remote and wild tributary that flows into Loch Rannoch — or return to Loch Rannoch for another day.

The River Gaur offers excellent brown trout fishing in a truly unspoilt, remote setting. The river is smaller and more intimate than the main River Tay, and the fishing has a real sense of adventure. Many anglers consider this one of the most memorable days of the entire trip.

Whether you choose the river or the loch, this is a proper, wild day in a very special part of Scotland.

You’ll stay in the Rannoch area again tonight.

Your final day.

Today is a travel day as you head back to Edinburgh. The drive from the Rannoch area takes approximately 2 hours 45 minutes, depending on traffic and stops.

To arrive in Edinburgh by 5pm, you should aim to leave your accommodation in the Rannoch area by around 2pm. This gives you a relaxed morning to pack up, have breakfast, and perhaps take a final short walk or cup of coffee with a view of the loch or mountains.

The journey itself is scenic, taking you back through the Perthshire Highlands and eventually down the A9 towards Edinburgh.

End of the 9-Day Fortnight itinerary.

This version now gives you a proper 3-day block of fishing in the more remote Rannoch area (Days 6–8), following your preferred balance of 4 days on the Tay system and 3 days further west.