Montrose Harbour is the focal area of industrial activity in the River South Esk catchment today.

This historically important port can be traced back to the 12th century. In more recent years the port has developed as an offshore support facility. It currently supports both oil-related and commercial shipping, including handling and exporting pulp, paper, timber and grain as well as providing significant storage facilities; thus, Montrose Port is one of the busiest in Scotland.

In the 1800s, water-driven mills could be found along the length of the River South Esk, from the flax mills of Montrose to the grain mill at Milton of Clova. Other mills in the catchment produced timber, wool, corn and cloth. Most of these mills have now gone, greatly reducing the pressure they undoubtedly had on the River South Esk.

Today, renewable or ‘green’ energy is high on Scotland’s agenda. Within the River South Esk catchment hydro-electric schemes have been built in Glen Clova, on Rottal Estate (450 kW) and Clova Estate (222 kW) and at the top of Glen Prosen (99 kW). The hydro scheme on Rottal Estate supplies enough energy to the national grid to power approximately 500 houses!   A further hydro scheme has been built on Southesk Estate (100 kW), at Kinnaird on the main stem of the River South Esk. Kinnaird weir was built in Victorian times to divert and supply water to water mills on either side of the river.