Sporting
Salmon fishing
The estate owns the whole of the River Kinloch, from Loch an Dherue to the low tide mark on the Kyle of Tongue and most of the catchment area is within the boundary of the estate and there are 50 pools.
The river has been much improved over the years, principally due to the creation of a dam and improved passage at the Big Falls, which has made it easier for the salmon to reach the upper water, which is ideal spawning ground. In addition, new pools have been created and Icelandic Ova were introduced over a period of years in the 1950’s. None of this would have been possible without the great advantage of controlling the whole river. An experiment to strip fish from the river and grow-on the ova in the Estate hatchery has been successful and over 6,000 fry have been released each autumn for the last nine years, including 2001.
Salmon are caught as early as March, but mostly in July, August and September, particularly if the earlier months have been dry. It is a typical Highland spate river, fast flowing over a rocky bed, and is excellent fly water. The lower end is well tree-ed in places, but as it goes up onto the hill towards Loch an Dherue, it becomes more open. The average weight of fish caught on the river is about 6lbs and the heaviest fish ever caught was 16lbs. The heaviest fish caught recently were over 13lbs in 1995, 13.5lbs in 1997, 12.5lbs in both 1998 and 1999 and 12lbs in 2000 (the heaviest in 2001 was 9.5lbs). The best year in the last twenty recorded over 100 salmon caught. N.B. Tenants must bring their own rods, reels, lines, flies, nets and waders (hardly needed).
Trout
The numerous hill lochs, especially Loch an Dherue and Loch Meadie, provide outstanding brown trout fishing from May to September with some large fish being caught. Double-figure bags per day are a common feature of the game records. New access roads have made it much easier to reach a number of well-stocked hill lochs. There are excellent boats on the principal lochs, which can be furnished with electric or petrol engines for trolling.
Sea fishing
With direct access to the North Atlantic, there are opportunities to fish either in the Kyle with rod and line or with hand lines for mackerel, from a dinghy with an outboard engine on the open sea (which the Estate will make available, if conditions permit). The Estate also owns a new very fast and sea-worthy 28-foot boat, which may be used by tenants when the river is unfishable and at the discretion of Mr Hugh Montgomery. He, or a boatman provided by the Estate, will take parties out (if the weather at sea is suitable) at no extra cost, but tenants are specifically requested to pay for their petrol. It is usually possible to catch 20 or many more mackerel per outing (the boat carries a Satellite positioner and fish-finder), with amazingly little effort! Knowledgeable tenants may wish to bring their own sea-fishing tackle to add value and scope to their enjoyment and potential catches.
Stalking
Kinloch also offers exciting stalking and a number of days on the hill can be offered to tenants in August, September and October. Furthermore the neighbouring estates of Hope and Ben Loyal are under the same ownership allowing guests to stalk across the three different estates with diverse terrain and challenges.
Kinloch will also appeal to non-sporting members of the party. The Estate is an oasis of tranquility and is located in one of the most beautiful, remote and unspoilt parts of Scotland with magnificent beaches and hillwalking
