River Earn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids River Earn |
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The River Earn viewed from Forteviot bridge.
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| Other name(s) | Scottish Gaelic: Uisge Èireann |
| Country | Scotland |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | St Fillans Loch Earn, Perth and Kinross, Scotland 99 m (325 ft) 56°23′27″N 4°06′44″W / 56.3907°N 4.1122°W |
| River mouth | Firth of Tay, North Sea Between Perth and Newburgh, Fife, Scotland 0 m (0 ft) 56°21′N 3°19′W / 56.350°N 3.317°W |
| Length | 74 km (46 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries |
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The River Earn (which is called Uisge Èireann in Scottish Gaelic) is a river in Scotland. It starts at Loch Earn near St Fillans and flows east through an area called Strathearn. The river then turns south before joining the larger River Tay close to Abernethy.
The River Earn is about 74 kilometers (46 miles) long. As it flows, it passes by towns like Comrie, Crieff, and Bridge of Earn. Near Crieff, another small river called the Pow of Inchaffray joins it. The Earn flows quite quickly and has many shallow areas. The land around the river is mostly flat and can sometimes flood.
Long ago, a Roman army camp called Strageath was located near the River Earn. This camp was part of a chain of camps the Romans used when they were exploring and trying to take over the northern parts of Britain. Other important Roman camps in this area included Ardoch, Stracathro, and Battledykes.
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Fun Activities on the River Earn
The River Earn is a great place for outdoor activities, especially walking. Many parts of the riverbanks are easy to get to.
Enjoying Walks Along the River
One of the most popular walking paths is called Lady Mary's Walk. This path follows the north bank of the river near Crieff. It's a lovely way to see the river and the surrounding nature.
Fishing for Salmon and Trout
Fishing is a popular activity on many parts of the River Earn. The river is part of a larger area managed by the Tay District Salmon Fisheries Board. This group helps protect and manage fish like Atlantic salmon and brown trout in all the rivers that flow into the Tay.
If you want to fish, you usually need to get a permit from the landowners for each part of the river. There's also a group called the River Earn Improvement Association. This group is made up of people who own fishing rights and local fishing clubs. They work together to help increase the number of fish in the river. For example, they have bought the rights to stop commercial fishing with nets on the Earn, which helps more salmon get upstream to lay their eggs. By 2005, all commercial net fishing had stopped on the River Earn.
Exploring the River Earn National Scenic Area
A special part of the River Earn, between Comrie and St Fillans, is part of a National Scenic Area (NSA). Scotland has 40 such areas. They are chosen because they have incredibly beautiful scenery that needs to be protected. This means there are rules about what kind of buildings or developments can be built there.
The River Earn NSA covers about 3,108 hectares (about 7,680 acres), all within the area of Perth and Kinross.
When this area was first chosen as a National Scenic Area in 1978, experts described it as a place where the wild, rugged highlands meet the gentler lowlands. This mix creates a very unique and beautiful landscape. The hills have rocky parts and are covered with heather, ferns, and grass, or planted with trees. The valley feels cozy and enclosed, even though the hills aren't super tall.
The area also shows a strong human touch, with well-kept farms and woodlands. Large groups of trees add a lot to the beauty, fitting in well with the natural shape of the land. You can see many beautiful broadleaf trees in woodlands, parks, and along hedges. The river itself changes from fast-flowing to calm, sometimes passing through open meadows and sometimes through areas lined with alder trees. Most of the buildings in the area look traditional and fit perfectly with the natural surroundings, creating a very peaceful and balanced landscape.
