6 Dams to Explore in Scotland

Checkout places to visit in Scotland

Scotland

Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom, covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Mainland Scotland has a 96 mile (154 km) border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, the North Sea to the northeast, and the Irish Sea to the south. Scotland includes more than 790 islands.

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Dams to Explore in Scotland

Carron Dams

Carron Dam is a partially drained reservoir with wetland, rich fen and deciduous woodland. Specialised plants such as gypsywort, remote sedge and water-plantain thrive in the wetlands, which is one of the largest in the area. Water voles and water rails may also be glimpsed along the banks.

Cruachan Dam

A majestic marvel of the modern engineering in a breathtaking location on the slopes of Ben Cruachan. The buttress-style dam is 316 metres long and 46 meters high at its tallest point. The reservoir contained behind the dam can store more than 10 million cubic metres of water. It is one of only four pumped storage power stations in the UK, and is capable of providing a black start capability to the National Grid.

Dams to Darnley Country Park

Dams to Darnley Country Park is a green oasis in the southside of Glasgow. Stretching from the busy M77 motorway and the suburban town of Barrhead, Dams to Darnley offers a variety of landscapes and trails for a walk in Glasgow. it is one of the newest country parks in Scotland.

Gartmorn Dam

Gartmorn Dam lies between Alloa and Coalsnaughton in rural Clackmannanshire. The area has a rich industrial past but today it is a haven for nature and wildlife. It forms part of the Alloa Waterworks system and is associated with Derby hydraulic engineer George Sorocold for the works he carried out after 1710 to increase the reservoir's holding capacity.

Pitlochry Dam

Situated within picturesque Pitlochry Power Station, the Centre features interactive exhibits tracing the history of hydro generation in Scotland from its origins in the 1940s to its current £250m refurbishment programme. There are also opportunities for kids to design their own power station and find out how to help the environment by saving energy. Something we should all learn more about!

Pitlochry Fish Ladder

The Pitlochry fish ladder is a fish ladder next to the Pitlochry Power Station, near Pitlochry, Perth and Kinross, Scotland, which allows salmon to travel upstream during the breeding season. The ladder was specially constructed to enable salmon to by-pass the dam and make their way upstream to Loch Faskally above. The ladder is 310 metres long and consists of 34 chambers, linked together by tunnels that the salmon can swim through. It enables around 5,000 salmon to return to their spawning grou

Map of Dams to explore in Scotland