The loch reflects scattered clouds, gaps of sky, sunlit mountains and an imposing modernist dam. A watchful heron stands on a rock in the shadow of the concrete cliff. Pitlochry dam is one of nine power stations in the Tummel valley hydroelectric scheme. Before it opened in 1951, only one in every 200 crofts here had electricity. A fish ladder, added two years later to help salmon swim back up to their Highland spawning grounds, is now a tourist attraction. SSE, the energy company that harnesses power generated by the dam, opened a visitor centre in 2017.
The backdrop includes the wooded hills of Highland Perthshire and the mottled peak of Ben Vrackie. There are lots of more energetic options for hiking through these landscapes, but this gentle, wooded amble from the railway station is perfect for an afternoon that ends in the pub. The walk has its share of mountain views across Loch Faskally, created by the dam, and is rich in bird and plant life, from Himalayan blue poppies in the Explorers’ Garden to carpets of wood sorrel in Faskally Forest. There’s a chance to spot red squirrels, rent a boat, and even swim in the loch.
