| River Nevis | |
|---|---|
 | |
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| Location | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | Tom an Eite |
| • coordinates | 56°46′55″N4°53′13″W / 56.782°N 4.887°W /56.782; -4.887 |
| • elevation | 370 m (1,210 ft) |
| Mouth | |
• location | Loch Linnhe |
• coordinates | 56°49′30″N5°06′04″W / 56.825°N 5.101°W /56.825; -5.101 |
• elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
TheRiver Nevis flows from the mountains east ofBen Nevis to its mouth near the town ofFort William inScotland.
The river rises in theMamores mountain range approximately halfway between Ben Nevis andLoch Treig,[1] 370m above sea level.[2] In its upper reaches it is known asWater of Nevis, becoming River Nevis at the bridge nearAchriabhach. It is partly fed by theSteall Waterfall, one of the highest waterfalls in Scotland.[3] The river flows throughGlen Nevis and on to the town of Fort William[4] where it is crossed by the Nevis Bridge on theA82 road. Its mouth is at the sea loch ofLoch Linnhe where it meets the sea within theestuary of the River Lochy.
The river shares its name with an amateur football team playing in the Glasgow Colleges Football Association.[5]
During theBattle of Inverlochy (1645) many ofArgyll's men were drowned as they tried to cross the river while fleeing from the Royalist forces.[6] The river and Loch Linnhe were important natural defences considered in the construction of Fort William in the late 17th century.[6]
The river has asalmon population which was threatened in the 1990s but has improved since. The river and itsglen are tourist destinations for fishing, walking, cycling, canoeing and climbing,[7][8] and are regarded as among the most scenic destinations in the country.[9]A two-mile (three-kilometre) race down the River Nevis has been run in the summer since 1973. Competitors use floating aids such asLiLos to navigate the river. The race can take from 20 minutes to 2 hours dependent upon water flow. After a hiatus of several years, the race was run again from 2008 to the present.[10]
Several guidebooks document walkingtrails along the river, including the northern end of theWest Highland Way. Upstream the river's depth varies widely dependent upon seasonal rainfall and snowmelt, and at Steall Meadows the river can be waded on foot at certain times; a three-wiresimple suspension bridge is provided for when the flow does not permit this.[11]
For canoeists the upper reaches of the river at Scimitar Gorge, when swollen by heavy rainfall, are designated aGrade 5 stretch, demanding a very high level of concentration and skill and described by the Scottish Canoe Association as a "maelstrom of water".[12]
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