# Wick River > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Wick_River > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Wick_River.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wick_River > Source revision: 1320363678 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|River in Highland (Council Area), Scotland}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{more citations needed|date=November 2025}} {{Infobox river | name = Wick River | native_name = | name_other = | name_etymology = | nickname = | image = File:The Wick River - geograph.org.uk - 951715.jpg | image_size = | image_caption = The Wick River in [Wick](/source/Wick%2C_Caithness). | image_alt = | map = | map_size = | map_caption = | map_alt = | pushpin_map = | pushpin_map_size = | pushpin_map_caption= | pushpin_map_alt = | subdivision_type1 = | subdivision_name1 = | subdivision_type2 = | subdivision_name2 = | subdivision_type3 = | subdivision_name3 = | subdivision_type4 = | subdivision_name4 = | subdivision_type5 = | subdivision_name5 = | length = | width_min = | width_avg = | width_max = | depth_min = | depth_avg = | depth_max = | discharge1_location= | discharge1_min = | discharge1_avg = | discharge1_max = | source1 = | source1_location = | source1_coordinates= {{coord|58|27|50|n|03|18|11|w|}} | source1_elevation = | mouth = | mouth_location = Bay of Wick | mouth_coordinates = {{coord|58|26|32|n|03|05|18|w|format=dms|region:GB_type:river|display=inline,title}} | mouth_elevation = | progression = | river_system = | basin_size = | basin_landmarks = | basin_population = | tributaries_left = | tributaries_right = | waterbodies = | waterfalls = | bridges = | ports = | custom_label = | custom_data = | extra = }} '''Wick River''', known also as '''River Wick''', is a river in [Caithness](/source/Caithness) in [Highland](/source/Highland_(council_area)), [Scotland](/source/Scotland). It has its source at the confluence of [Scouthal Burn](/source/Scouthal_Burn) and [Strath Burn](/source/Strath_Burn%2C_Wick_River) near Achingale Mill at the northern end of Bardarclay Moss ({{gbmapping|ND 24070 53578}}) in the [Flow Country](/source/Flow_Country). The [river](/source/river) [estuary](/source/estuary) ({{gbmappingsmall|ND 36571 50934}}), is in the [North Sea](/source/North_Sea) [bay of Wick](/source/bay_of_Wick) ({{gbmappingsmall|ND378505}}) and is straddled by the town of [Wick](/source/Wick%2C_Caithness). The river flows for {{convert|10|mi}} south-eastwards and empties into Wick Bay.{{cite book |last1=Munro |first1=David M. |last2=Gittings |first2=Bruce |last3=Munro |first3=David |title=Scotland: an encyclopedia of places & landscape |date=2006 |publisher=Collins |location=Glasgow |isbn=9780004724669 |page=485}} The [river basin](/source/drainage_basin) includes [Loch Watten](/source/Loch_Watten) and Loch Tofingall ({{gbmappingsmall|ND190522}}) to the west of the estuary, and Loch Hempriggs and the Loch of Yarrows ({{gbmappingsmall|ND309438}}) to the south/southwest. ==Tributaries== Viewed upstream from the estuary, the river and its tributaries can be listed as follows: * Wick River ** Burn of Newton *** Loch Hempriggs **** Burn of Thrumster ***** Loch of Yarrows ** Burn of Gillock ** [Achairn Burn](/source/Achairn_Burn) ***[Alt Beag-airighe](/source/Alt_Beag-airighe) ***[Camster Loch](/source/Camster_Loch) *** Toftgunn [headwaters](/source/Source_(river_or_stream)) ** [Loch Burn, Watten](/source/Loch_Burn%2C_Watten) *** [Loch Watten](/source/Loch_Watten) ** [Scouthal Burn](/source/Scouthal_Burn) *** Burn of Acharole **** Loch Burn (Toftingall) ***** Loch of Toftingall ** [Strath Burn](/source/Strath_Burn%2C_Wick_River) *** Kensary Burn *** Camster Burn, known also as Rowens Burn ==Estuary== The Wick River [estuary](/source/estuary) ranges from the vicinity of [Wick Harbour](/source/Wick_Harbour) ({{gbmappingsmall|ND370508}}) to an area about 2.5 kilometres inland ({{gbmappingsmall|ND346517}}). On both sides of the estuary, areas of Wick are built on artificial [embankment](/source/Dike_(construction)) which have narrowed the river channel, or have fixed a channel where otherwise the area would be more that of [tidal](/source/tide) [beach](/source/beach). ==Bridges== The river is spanned by one railway, three roads and two footbridges. In order from the sea, they are: * Within Wick ({{gbmappingsmall|ND365509}}), the Harbour Bridge spans the river at its mouth, to link Wick town centre with Wick Harbour and [Pulteneytown](/source/Pulteneytown). It stands instead of the earlier Service Bridge. * Also in Wick ({{gbmappingsmall|ND363509}}), the river is spanned by the main road linking [John o' Groats](/source/John_o'_Groats) with [Latheron](/source/Latheron) and Inverness (the [A99](/source/A99_road_(Great_Britain))-[A9](/source/A9_road_(Great_Britain))). The bridge here is known as the Bridge of Wick and it carries an extension of Wick’s Bridge Street. * Around 500 metres west of the Bridge of Wick ({{gbmappingsmall|ND358510}}), a footbridge spans the river via an [island](/source/island) in the river, and this serves as a link between recreational [meadow](/source/meadow)s on the north and south banks. * About halfway between the footbridge and the railway bridge there is another footbridge. * Around 300 metres east of Mary Ford ({{gbmappingsmall|ND328523}}), the river is crossed by the railway which links the burgh of Wick with the burgh of [Thurso](/source/Thurso) and the [city](/source/city) of [Inverness](/source/Inverness). * In [Watten](/source/Watten%2C_Highland) ({{gbmappingsmall|ND244543}}), the river is crossed by the main highway, A882, linking Wick with Thurso, known as Achingale Bridge. == References == {{Reflist}} == External links == {{oscoor gbx|ND 36571 50934}} {{Commons category|Wick River}} {{Portal bar|Scotland|Rivers}} {{Authority control}} Category:Rivers of Highland (council area) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Wick River](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wick_River) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wick_River?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.