Underground power station near Lochawe, Argyll & Bute
★★★
Argyll’s highest hill, Ben Cruachan, hides a big secret. Its lower slopes feature a large reservoir and are criss-crossed by power lines. These are the clues for what lies underground: a huge, hydroelectric “pumped storage” power station opened in the 1960s at a cost of £25 million. Scottish Power have christened it the Hollow Mountain and offer minibus tours deep into the rock, revealing a cavernous turbine hall where falling water is converted into electricity. Photos are prohibited once the bus enters the long access tunnel so a tour is really the only way to see what’s inside.
Location
O.S. Grid Reference: NN 078268
GPS coordinates: 56.394472,-5.116173
Falls of Cruachan |
Bus stops at Power Station
Car park
Key info
Weekdays
Tours £7.50 adult / £2.50 child – advance booking probably compulsory. Some discounts for public transport users. Visitor centre: free
