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River terraces below the railway bridge on the River Findhorn at Tomatin near the A9 crossing.The River Findhorn is one of several northeastward flowing rivers. To the north lies the River Nairn in Drummossie Muir. To the south lies the Spey in Strath Spey. All three rivers are crossed by the A9 south of Inverness. The crossing of the Findhorn, and its striking river terraces has been accomplished at high level by both a spectacular railway bridge and the modern road bridge. The Findhorn has its headwaters in the Monadhliath Mountains close to the peaks of Carn na Laraiche Maoile, Scaraman Nam Fiadh and Carn Ban. The upper course is known as the River Eskin. No major settlements have been attracted to this fast-flowing highland river even as it gets close to the sea and flows over lower lying and flatter countryside. Even at Forres, the A96 bridges the river to the west of the town. The estuary of the Findhorn has been influenced by the westward migration of sediment along the coast. Indeed, the position of the river has changed dramatically as the river has sought a number of exits to the sea. At one time the Findhorn was deflected westward of its present position and flowed into the now silted Buckie Loch. In 1702 a large storm breached the spit that was deflecting the Findhorn and producing a new river mouth much in the present position. |
