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The “Queen of salmon rivers” has the highest number of fly-catches of any British river. Autumn brings the greatest run, but purists say the quality of the smaller spring run is better. Beats are £30–£600 per rod per day. The Borders Tourist Office produce an excellent free guide Fishing in the Scottish Borders .

You can catch salmon here, but this well-stocked loch is best known for its trout (rainbow and brown). Fish from the bank or from a boat every day of the week during the season. There are B&Bs and a caravan park nearby, and The Halfway House Hotel – (01383) 731661 – is especially welcoming to anglers.

The Tay is justly famed for its game fishing, and there’s plenty of it in this long river. The cost varies greatly: in the Dunkeld area alone, for example, it can range from £20 to £150 a rod per day. Brown trout fishing can be as little as £3 per day in its marginally shorter season.

Some swear they’d never fish anywhere else. The Findhorn is a majestic river, flowing from the Monadhliath mountains through wild moorland, forest and farmland to one of the prettiest of all estuaries. As with all Scottish rivers, the fishing is weather-dependent, but in a good year its bag of salmon, grilse and sea trout can rank among the best.

Scotland’s second longest river is its fastest flowing and can claim the most consistently beautiful scenery from end to end. Local village fishing associations offer relatively cheap day tickets, while private beats with the best reputations, such as Tulchan, command high prices.

Many of the fine fishing rivers in this area, such as the Shin, Oykel, Brora and Naver have occasional opportunities – easier for trout than salmon – for visiting fishermen (try Park House Sporting (01549) 402208) but are largely leased by syndicates. The River Helmsdale, however, has a first-class reputation and an association that offers day permits for salmon, sea and brown trout.

Superlative trout fishing in scenery to match. Walk into the hills with lunch and tackle, and find your own secluded loch from a choice of over fifty.

With its tidal races, the Pentland Firth can be a wild stretch of water. It is a favoured haunt of fish such as cod, pollok, coal-fish, ling, mackerel and wrasse, all of which are regularly caught. The British records for halibut and portbeagle shark were set off Scrabster, but these species are rarely hooked now.

With almost as much fresh water as land, North Uist is one of Scotland’s hallowed trout fishing areas. Each season sees superb specimens caught from both bank and boat. Ghillies (guides-cum-gamekeepers) are available to show you the best spots and to advise on bait.

Of the seven major lochs, Harray is the most renowned. Brownies (brown trout) are abundant, and there’s every chance of a sea trout or even a salmon. Wading is recommended early in the season but a boat (which can be hired easily) is preferable in summer.