The record books for the amount of fish caught will have to be rewritten at one small estate on Lewis in the Western Isles.

While other salmon rivers around Scotland rue falling fish numbers and dwindling numbers of visitors, Garynahine, 15 miles west of Stornoway, has landed the most fish since its records began in the late 1800s.

Last year, gamekeeper Donnie Whiteford thought the haul of more than 250 was exceptional. This season he has doubled even that achievement.

"We had 258 salmon and grilse last year when the five-year average for the Garynahine River had been 116. That was my first season in charge and owner Dougie McGilvray's first year as the boss. So we hoped to land maybe 200 fish this year. We actually got 555. It's been absolutely incredible."

It had been an inauspicious start, though. A two-month drought just before the season began led to media coverage of desperate fish leaping as they were trapped in pools near the river mouth. Mr Whiteford was concerned there was too little oxygen in the water. However, before long, visitor numbers too nudged up a bit on last year and they did well on day ticket sales.

Mr Whiteford pays tribute to Mr McGilvray who, he says, has invested a lot of money on the river system with new boats, bridges and paths. He added: " I hope those who caught a fish here this season will be very proud too."