Undiscovered Scotland

 

Loch Mullardoch is a ten mile long loch at the head of Glen Cannich. Surrounded by high mountains, the loch is in places quite narrow: while at its eastern end it comes to an abrupt end at the Mullardoch Dam, completed in 1952.

The Mullardoch Dam is reached by a nine mile single track road heading west from Cannich. You can find out more about driving Scotland's single track roads from our feature page on the subject.

The road climbs steadily through beautiful countryside, and at Muchrach it crosses the River Cannich over a military-style bridge before continuing through the Glencannich Estate to Mullardoch. The area is well populated with deer and in winter they can be seen feeding quite close to the road.

Mullardoch comprises Mullardoch House, an attractive hotel originally built as a hunting lodge in 1912, and a few scattered cottages. Dominating the valley is the Mullardoch dam, completed in 1952 as part of the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board's drive to provide electricity for northern Scotland. A small power station was built near the south end of the dam, from where most water from the loch flows south through a tunnel to feed Loch Beinn a' Mheadhain in Glen Affric. From there it helps feed the huge hydro electric power station at Fasnakyle, south of Cannich.

The public road ends near the north end of the dam, from where it is possible to see the way its building transformed the valley to the west, now home to Loch Mullardoch. This extends ten miles to the west, deep into very remote and mountainous country.

The trip to Loch Mullardoch is worth making simply to enjoy the wonderful scenery and sense of remoteness. And for collectors of Scotland's highest mountains it is an essential trip: no fewer than ten Munros (separate mountains over 3,000ft high) are found in the ranges to the north and south of the loch.