South & East Sutherland

Four of the region’s most famous salmon rivers (the Oykel, Cassley, Shin & Carron) drain from the west coast mountains to the Dornoch Firth via the Kyle of Sutherland estuary. Their combined catches are on a par with the 'Big 4' Scottish salmon rivers; the Spey, Dee, Tay and Tweed. The Fleet is also at the head of a smaller sea inlet, but further north the coastline becomes more rugged and the main salmon rivers, the Brora and the Helmsdale, discharge directly to the open sea. The Kyle of Sutherland Angling Association (KoSAA) and Brora and Helmsdale angling clubs all offer visitor permits for salmon and sea trout fishing.
The area south of Lairg and Golspie is the least remote part of Sutherland, but nevertheless, there is a variety of trout fishing on offer here to satisfy the most discerning fly fishers as well as family holidaymakers. The best and most easily accessed of the trout lochs in this area lie in a broad belt running north-south from Beannach, about 4 miles north of Lairg, past Loch Craggie (the pick of these lochs), down to Loch Migdale at Bonar Bridge, so it means a short diversion inland from the NC500 route, but well worth a visit. Many of these lochs benefit from a mayfly hatch in June and July.

The local angling clubs (Lairg, Kyle of Sutherland and Dornoch) have boats on most of these lochs, offering permits from local outlets. The exception is Loch Migdale, which is privately managed.

There are also additional trout lochs in the hills along the coast from Dornoch to Brora, closer to the NC500. The lochs at the head of the Helmsdale system, to the north and west of Kinbrace are grouped within the North Sutherland area on this website.