Salmon fishing huts are an institution on the salmon rivers of Scotland. This is a short overview of some of Scotland’s most notable and our favourite fishing huts.
A Scottish salmon fishing hut is the true activity hub on all salmon beats. Furthermore all properly organised and professionally run salmon beats have one. There’s never two fishing huts that are alike either as they are all usually structured, designed & built differently. Salmon fishing huts often have real character and can instantly bring back special memories for many returning salmon fishers.
The role of the Head Ghillie
The Head Ghillie on a salmon beat usually personalises his hut. In that he makes sure the hut is clean, tidy, heated and has a source of hot water for tea & coffee and facilities for heating food for fishing guests at lunchtime. Often a salmon fishing hut will be carefully positioned on the riverbank above the known high waterline to keep the hut dry during flood. Certainly huts are usually positioned beside good salmon pools.

To begin with, I have been in hundreds of fishing huts throughout Scotland in my 20 years as a professional guide. I’ve seen the good, the bad and the ugly of fishing huts. In addition, I’ve met some amazing characters. Furthermore, I’ve sheltered from rain, told bad jokes, and lunched with guests from all over the world.
In fact, would a day salmon fishing be the same, would it not be for the ceremony of meeting fellow anglers? Also sharing stories with the ghillies and impromptu networking with fellow anglers from all walks of life. In fact, the fishing hut is a great leveller. In that, it matters not what background you are from or what job you have. Because in the fishing hut, all men and women are equal.
Why do salmon beats have fishing huts?
Firstly, a Scottish salmon fishing hut is something of an institution on salmon beats throughout Scotland
In addition, no two fishing huts are alike. In fact the resident beat ghillie will personalise his hut. For example adding coffee machines, or Bluetooth speakers or in one case a library of fishing books. Equally important to the layout of the hut how the ghillie makes you feel. With that in mind, an average fishing hut can become brilliant, if the ghillie has a good personality and high levels of service. Conversely there are some great looking huts with gruff unwelcoming ghillies.

Often a salmon fishing hut is located next to one of the most productive fishing pools on the beat. Also they are positioned on the riverbank above the known high waterline to avoid floods in high water. However the high waterlines can be underestimated. To illustrate, many fishing huts I know, bear the marks on walls, where floods have breached these rules and risen beyond expected levels.
Finally a fishing hut is a place to meet in the morning, have lunch in and gather at the end of the day. There is a great camaraderie with fellow anglers. A chance to share stories, swap ideas, network and talk about the ones that got way. In conclusion, all decent salmon fishing beats have fishing huts on their river banks. In fact, they get better and better as we (the anglers) become amore aware that salmon fishing is just about catching fish. Additionally there is an increased awareness on the need for improved customer service.
Guests from all walks of life
To begin with all men are equal in a fishing hut. As Rabbie Burns wrote “ The Rank is but a Guineas Stamp” Over the 20 years our team have been salmon fishing guides in Scotland, I have met fellow anglers from all walks of life.
Once in 2022 we had a helicopter land beside the Fishponds beat of the River Tay and some of the top business men of Kazakstan arrive. We asked if they had any special requests. They asked if we could give them platefuls of raw chillies malt whisky and cigars! A few years ago, we hosted lunch with the late Christine McVey of Fleetwood Mac, she enjoyed lunch and some fine wine, while her family fished for salmon on the River Tay at Fishponds.
Networking in fishing huts
Likewise some of the best business networking takes place in fishing nuts. Ive seen $million dollar deals agreed in principle. Furthermore, Ive seen people connect and go on to form meaningful business relationships.
Cooked lunches for Groups
Often, we use huts to prepare cooked lunches and catering for groups of guests on fishing days. Naturally fishing huts don’t have the biggest kitchens and some are better than others. However the skill lies in making the best of the space and creating a lunch with limited space and resources.
By all means, not all huts fall short. The fishing huts on the Prime beats of the Spey have kitchens, cookers, fridges and freezers, as well as vast table stop seat guests. The Hut on the Eden beat of the Deveron was one of the best I have seen. Also George was one of the friendliest and most accommodating Head Ghillies,a top bloke. We hosted a group including Cathy Beck there in 2022.
Some of the best fishing huts in Scotland(in no particular order)
- Tulchan B Beat River Spey
- The new fishing hut at Newtyle (at planning stage) River Tay
- Tulchan A beat River Spey
- Upper North Wark River Tweed
- Fishponds River Tay
- Pitchroy River Spey
- Tulchan D Beat River Spey
- Upper Farleyer River Tay
- Murthly River Tay
- Fairnilee River Tweed
- Eden Beat River Deveron
The Great Tay Flood 1993
To begin the article, one of the first fishing huts I encountered was in 2004 and is the present fishing hut at Newtyle in the village of Dunkeld. This hut was formerly a wooden hut located on a nearby curling pond and it was also at one time a cricket pavilion. It survived many floods. It has had ghillies like Martin Ritchie, John Monteith, Andy Gunn, and now at present, David Gardiner. Before then, legends like Willie the Ghillie worked there, and his hat still hangs dishevelled above the fireplace.

However, the Newtyle hut days are numbered though. Planning permission has been granted to build a new hut on the same site. Furthermore, inside this old hut, you will find marks on the walls of the various foods that nearly washed it away. Like the famous Great Tay Flood of 1993, when the river rose 21ft above its normal level. It was good to hear that the same marks on the walls will be transferred to the new hut.
Salmon fishing huts on the River Tay
As well as Newtyle, Dalguise fishing hut holds a place in my heart.

When Moray McFarlane was the ghillie here, the hut was alive with stories, laughter and drams of whisky. It was a welcoming, warm place to visit. In addition to the banter, Moray had an excellent coffee machine. It wouldn’t have looked out of place in a top restaurant. He served real coffee to the guests and this was always really appreciated.
Also there was a library of interesting fishing books and always, boxes of flies and lures to generate conversation.
River Dee Kincardine
Firstly there are many great huts on the Dee. But for me, one of the favourites in the hut at Kincardine. This is because you get privacy with guests and autonomy to come and go as you please. Kincardine is a 2 man beat. Therefore booking the two rods, gives you exclusive access to the hut. Furthermore, there is no ghillie so you can pick and choose the pols to fish according to water levels and probability of catching.

In addition to the splendid view of the River Dee, there is a stove to keep you warm. Furthermore the hut is easily accessed from the main Deeside road, and cars can be parked right next to the hut.

Salmon Fishing huts on the River Spey
Without doubt some of the finest salmon fishing huts are on the River Spey. Firstly, Tulchan estate boast some truly brilliant hut on the 4 beats. In fact, they are all so good it’s hard to pick a favourite. If you are lucky to fish the A Beat with legendary ghillie John Anderson, then as well as the superb hut, you could ask John to take you over to the Kings Hut. Interestingly, visitors to the Kings Hut include King Edward V11, who visited Tulchan regularly and Teddy Roosevelt.
However B, C and D beats all have superb huts.
