Rivers & lochs

composite image of a small river with waterfalls and a broad river running through mountains
Scotland has over 100 rivers of varying sizes and over 500 fresh and saltwater lochs.

In addition to 'river', various other terms are used in different parts of the country to indicate the relative size of water courses such as 'water' (as in Ettrick Water in the Borders), 'burn' (as in Coy Burn, a small tributory of the Dee in Aberdeenshire), 'allt' or 'uisge' (Gaelic terms, as in Allt Dearg Mòr and Coir' uisg on Skye).

The term 'loch' is Gaelic for lake and is used throughout the country; there is in fact only one 'lake' in Scotland - the Lake of Menteith in Stirlingshire.

The ten longest rivers in Scotland are:

  1. River Tay
  2. River Spey
  3. River Clyde
  4. River Tweed
  5. River Dee
  6. River Don
  7. River Forth
  8. River Findhorn
  9. River Deveron
  10. River Annan (49 miles/ 79 km)


The ten largest freshwater lochs in Scotland by area are:

  1. Loch Lomond
  2. Loch Ness
  3. Loch Awe/Etive
  4. Loch Maree
  5. Loch Morar
  6. Loch Tay
  7. Loch Shin
  8. Loch Shiel
  9. Loch Rannoch
  10. Loch Ericht (7.2 miles²/ 18.7 km²)