The River Orchy is located in Dalmally

Dalmally

Dalmally is a village in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It is located near the A85 road and is served by Dalmally railway station....

, Argyll

Argyll

Argyll , archaically Argyle , is a region of western Scotland corresponding with most of the part of ancient Dál Riata that was located on the island of Great Britain, and in a historical context can be used to mean the entire western coast between the Mull of Kintyre and Cape Wrath...

, Scotland. It rises in the Black Mount Forest, passes through Loch Tulla

Loch Tulla

Loch Tulla is a small loch at near Bridge of Orchy and Glen Coe in Scotland and in the central highlands. It contains salmon some of which are bred locally....

 and Glen Orchy

Glen Orchy

Glen Orchy is a long glen in Argyll and Bute in Scotland. It runs south-westerly from the Bridge of Orchy to Inverlochy following the River Orchy...

 before reaching Loch Awe

Loch Awe

Loch Awe is a large body of water in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It has also given its name to a village on its banks, variously known as Loch Awe, or Lochawe. There are islands within the loch such as Innis Chonnell and Inishail.- The loch :It is the third largest freshwater loch in Scotland with...

. There are falls and islands within the river. Salmon are abundant.

Geography

The Orchy rises in the Black Mount Forest, and after a run of 10 miles (16.1 km), in which it receives the waters of several large burns, it expands into Loch Tulla

Loch Tulla

Loch Tulla is a small loch at near Bridge of Orchy and Glen Coe in Scotland and in the central highlands. It contains salmon some of which are bred locally....

. Between Loch Tulla and Loch Awe

Loch Awe

Loch Awe is a large body of water in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It has also given its name to a village on its banks, variously known as Loch Awe, or Lochawe. There are islands within the loch such as Innis Chonnell and Inishail.- The loch :It is the third largest freshwater loch in Scotland with...

, the river runs for 18 miles (29 km). It passes through Glen Orchy

Glen Orchy

Glen Orchy is a long glen in Argyll and Bute in Scotland. It runs south-westerly from the Bridge of Orchy to Inverlochy following the River Orchy...

 in a narrow channel. At Dalmally Vale, the river spreads into wide shallows, accumulating on banks. There are islands within the river including a large wooded one approximately a mile above Inverlochy Castle

Inverlochy Castle

Inverlochy Castle is a ruined, 13th-century castle near Fort William, Scotland. The site of two battles, the castle remains largely unchanged since its construction. It is now in the care of Historic Scotland.-History:...

; another one, Eilean a Phortaire, just below Dalmally Bridge, which is also wooded; and immediately below the latter lies a shingle island. A this point, the Orchy flows through a cultivated strath, approximately 0.5 mile (0.80467 km) in width half a mile wide. Shingle island is separated from the fields by the 6 feet (1.8 m) drop of the bank. The river merges with the waters of Loch Awe at Kilchurn Castle

Kilchurn Castle

Kilchurn Castle is a ruined 15th century structure on the northeastern end of Loch Awe, in Argyll and Bute, Scotland.It was the ancestral home of the Campbells of Glen Orchy, who later became the Earls of Breadalbane also known as the Breadalbane family branch, of the Clan Campbell. The earliest...

. Glenorchy Parish Church

Glenorchy Parish Church

Glenorchy Parish Church is a congregation of the Church of Scotland in the village of Dalmally, Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It is the parish church of the parish of Glenorchy and Inishail. The church is also known as Glenorchy Kirk, and was historically known as the Church of Dysart...

, the well of Saint Conan

Mochonna

Saint Mochonna , also known as Saint Conan, was the bishop of the Isle of Man and an Irish missionary.Mochonna is not to be confused with St. Conindrius, who is said to have been a disciple of St. Patrick, and to have lived to be a very advanced age Saint Mochonna (7th century – January, 684), also...

, and the burial place of the Macgregors.are located on an islet formed by the river.

The falls of the Orchy are 7 miles (11.3 km) from Dalmally Hotel, and are about 20 feet (6.1 m) in height, forming almost a sheer drop. On the right bank, a salmon stair or ladder has formed in the rock, going round the falls, enabling salmon to ascend. Above these falls, the river changes, and its bed becomes more rocky. In the 5 miles (8 km) of the river above the falls, there are many angling streams and pools. Above the Bridge of Orchy

Bridge of Orchy

Bridge of Orchy is a landmark hamlet in Argyll, Scotland.Dating back to 1751, it includes a notable tourist hotel. Located at the head of Glen Orchy, it is on the A82 road, has a railway station and is on the West Highland Way long distance path. Nearby prominent peaks include the munros Beinn...

, the river water is in several places shallow and stony. The two best pools in the Deer Forest water above the Bridge of Orchy are those known as the Island Pool and the Elbow Pool. Garnetiferous schistose rocks have been found on the river banks.

History

The river's course changed in the mid 19th century. Prior to that, the river banks were protected, and the Orchy ran through Dalmally Vale through a narrow channel. As of 1884, the fields on the northern river bank extended farther south; and shingle island was a narrow strip of gravel with a small stream. When the banks were no longer protected, a large curve was cut away into the island, causing the river to extend farther and farther into the banks. Around 1900, a rough breakwater was built, diverting the current, and slowing the wear on the banks. The diverted current swept the gravel to either side of the island and into the bay to the south causing it to fill with gravel.

Flora and fauna

Salix decipiens has been identified on one of the river's islands. Wildlife includes salmon and otter, as well as golden eagle, short-eared owl.