Skip to main content

North and South Esk Rivers

Welcome to the North Esk, South Esk, and Bervie Rivers in Angus and Aberdeenshire

The Rivers

The North Esk, South Esk and Bervie Rivers are situated in the south east of our project area, in Angus and Aberdeenshire. The Lunan Water also falls within this jurisdiction; this small river flows east through Angus and discharges into the North Sea a few miles north of Arbroath.

These are important and productive rivers for Atlantic salmon and sea trout. The River South Esk is designated a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) for Atlantic salmon and freshwater pearl mussels while Montrose Basin, the estuarine basin of the South Esk, is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Special Protection Area (SPA) and a Ramsar Site for its coastal habitats and the bird life these support. There are many other designated sites within the catchments including Rescobie and Balgavies Lochs, Loch of Kinnordy and Gannochy Gorge.

Our project partner for these catchments is the Esk Rivers and Fisheries Trust.

The Esk Rivers & Fisheries Trust

The North Esk, South Esk and Bervie Rivers

River South Esk

The River South Esk rises high above Loch Esk in the Eastern Cairngorms and passes down through Glen Clova, flowing 79 km (49 miles) south and then east through Angus. The River passes through Cortachy, Finavon, Brechin and Kinnaird before discharging into Montrose Basin and finally meeting the North Sea at Montrose. It drains a catchment of 565 km² (218 square miles) and its main tributaries include the White Water, Prosen Water, Burn of Glenmoye and Noran Water.

River North Esk

The River North Esk rises in the Eastern Cairngorms and is formed by the meeting of two major tributaries, the Water of Mark and the Water of Lee, in Glen Esk. It flows 47 km (29 miles) south east through Angus and Aberdeenshire, passing Edzell, Stracathro and Kinnaber before meeting the North Sea a few miles north of Montrose. Significant tributaries include the Tarf, West Water, Cruik, and Luther Burn. The catchment area is approximately 765 km² (295 square miles).

River Bervie

The River Bervie (also known as the Bervie Water) rises in Drumtochty Forest and takes a meandering route across southern Aberdeenshire, passing Glenbervie village and then meeting the North Sea at Inverbervie. It is a relatively short spate river around 32 km (20 miles) long and drains a catchment of 129 km² (50 square miles). After the forest headwaters, the majority of the catchment is comprised of agricultural land.

Our activities

Click the expandable sections to find out more about our plant control activities; information on American mink is listed below.

Giant hogweed is the main species we control on the North and South Esk Rivers, working in collaboration with volunteers, community groups, land owners and land managers.

On the River North Esk, the upstream source is at Stracathro, where our work begins. Giant hogweed infestations are significant; extensive input from landowners, contractors, volunteers and the project team is required to tackle the problem. Our current downstream limit is at Morphie.

On the River South Esk, the upstream source is near Cortachy. There are also infestations on the Noran Water (upstream source at Ogil) and on the Lemno Water. We are controlling from these three sources down to Brechin, our current downstream limit.

There is a small giant hogweed infestation on the Lunan Water; this is in the lower catchment around Lunan Bay and is controlled.

The River Bervie has a significant infestation of Japanese knotweed which begins at Glenbervie in the upper catchment. Control work has been limited in previous years of the project but in 2025 we will begin a programme of control in collaboration with land owners, land managers, volunteers and the local angling club. 

On the North and South Esk Rivers there are scattered patches of knotweed throughout the catchments. A more substantial infestation on the Luther Water, a tributary of the North Esk, is now under management. We believe we are controlling the full extent of the infestations on the North and South Esk, with the majority of control work undertaken by the project team as infestations are minimal.

Himalayan balsam is an extensive problem and widespread throughout the North Esk, South Esk, Bervie and Lunan catchments.

In 2025 we began to target the upstream source on the Quharity Burn, near Kirriemuir, which runs into the South Esk. This control work was done in collaboration with volunteers and community groups.

American skunk cabbage is a localised problem in the South Esk and Lunan Water catchments. It has not spread extensively along river banks; infestations are found in patches. In 2025 we identified several locations where this species is present (around Glamis, near Kirrimuir, and Balgavies) and plans are in place to begin control work in 2026.

Please notify us if you see this species in the North Esk, South Esk, Bervie or Lunan Water catchments.

Himalayan knotweed is a very localised problem near Glenogil on the Noran Water (South Esk catchment). We believe we are controlling the full extent of the infestation. Please notify us if you see this species present anywhere in the North Esk, South Esk, Bervie or Lunan Water catchments.

American mink

The Esk catchments present mixed habitats and terrain for our mink control project. There are open hills in the uplands of the Eastern Cairngorms, agricultural areas in the lowlands, and an extensive coastline which is challenging to monitor and trap.

Currently (summer 2025) we have 31 active mink rafts and traps across the Esk catchments with a network of 20 dedicated volunteers monitoring these.

We are looking to expand our network across these catchments – please get in touch if you’d like to get involved.

 

Meet your local Project Officer

Cat Cooper

Cat first started with the project as a volunteer and then in 2024 began working with us as a Seasonal Project Officer for the Esk and Tay catchments. In 2025, she took on the role of Project Officer for the Esk Rivers.

Cat co-ordinates plant control activities and oversees the mink trapping network across the River South Esk, River North Esk, River Bervie and River Lunan. If you are a landowner, land manager, community group or local organisation in this area and would like to get involved in the project, please get in touch.

07586 704932 cat@eskriversangus.uk

Volunteering opportunities

Find out more about volunteering opportunities available in the Esk River catchments. You can also visit our Volunteering page to find out about opportunities available across the project and for further details on these activities.

Sign up to volunteer

If you are interested in volunteering please complete the online registration form. Your local contact will then be in touch.

Register