River Feshie facts for kids

The River Feshie is a big river in northeast Scotland. It's a main "tributary" (meaning it flows into) of the River Spey. The Feshie starts high up in the wild and beautiful Glenfeshie Forest.

First, the river flows towards the east. Then, it makes a sharp turn to the northwest. This happens because it "captured" the water from another stream called Geldie Burn. Imagine one river taking over the water of another! After more water joins it from the River Eidart, the Feshie flows down into a valley called Glen Feshie.

As it flows north through the wooded valley, the River Feshie often splits into many smaller streams that weave in and out, like braids. Many smaller streams, called "burns," join the Feshie. Some come steeply down from the Cairngorm mountains to the east. Another stream, the Allt Chomhraig, joins it from the left side near Balachroick. The river then goes under the B970 road at Feshiebridge. About 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles) later, the River Feshie joins the River Spey near the village of Kincraig.

Where the River Feshie Starts

The River Feshie begins its journey in the quiet, wild lands of the Glenfeshie Forest. This area is known for its beautiful scenery and natural environment.

How the River Feshie Flows

The Feshie's path is quite interesting. It doesn't just flow in one direction!

River Capture Explained

One cool thing about the Feshie is how it "captured" the Geldie Burn. This means that over a long time, the Feshie's path changed, and it started to take the water that used to flow into a different river system. It's like a river changing its mind about where it wants to go!

Braided River Sections

In some parts of Glen Feshie, the river becomes "braided." This means instead of one wide river, it splits into many smaller channels that crisscross and rejoin. It looks a bit like a woven braid from above. This often happens in flatter areas where the river carries a lot of sand and gravel.

What's in a Name?

The name of the River Feshie and the glen it flows through comes from the Gaelic language.

Meaning of Feshie

The word faith in Gaelic means 'boggy place,' which describes wet, marshy land. The word isidh means 'pasture land,' which is land used for grazing animals. So, the name "Feshie" likely means something like "boggy pasture land," which fits the area well.