Take a look at the map of the north-west, and you will see an apparently endless choice of hill lochs - dozens around Scourie, for example. And that's before you note the rivers and the larger lochs of north of the Great Glen. There is also good fishing on the lochs and the Caledonian Canal in the Great Glen itself , while to the south the Lochaber area has famous names including Lochy, Spean, Roy, and Lochs Shiel and Eilt - and so on, to the lochs and rivers of Ardgour, Morvern and Ardnamurchan.

Permits are, in most places, excellent value. Many accommodation providers will be happy to advise and arrange a permit. Daily, weekly or season permits are usually available locally, perhaps from the estate office, village shop, tourist information centre or other local businesses. On major rivers such as the Spey, though many beats are private, there are usually association or club waters available for the visiting angler. Boat hire on appropriate waters is usually easy to arrange. A variety of operators will also arrange fishing holidays or angling as part of a multi-activity package.

With so much game angling, it is easy to overlook the choice for sea anglers - from Scrabster or Thurso (with just the chance of a halibut, perhaps) to the softer bed of the inner Moray Firth in the east or Skye or Gairloch in the west.

You can also search our database for fishing companies in the Highlands.