The Pipeline

At the start of the 20th Century, a group of navvies built Blackwater dam and reservoir so that they could feed the aluminium smelter in Kinlochleven. The pipeline runs from the dam down into the village, a distance of around 7.5km and a 320m drop. They also built a pipeline linking Loch Eilde Mor to Blackwater reservoir, and it was the path by this pipeline that we walked along.



To spare my dad the initial slog, we parked at Mamore Lodge and followed the track up to Loch Eilde Mor, pausing regularly to marvel at the view back along Loch Leven. Once at Loch Eilde Mor, the track continues to Luibeilt, but we branched off, following the path round to the small dam at the Southern point of the loch.

Yesterday's rain was evident as we joined the path along the pipeline. There were a few patches where we had to detour to keep our feet dry, but generally it wasn't too bad. At the point where the pipeline started to swing back round to the East, we stopped for lunch, and then took the path steeply down towards the River Leven.

Upon arrival in Kinlochleven, I left my dad in the visitor centre and slogged back up to Mamore Lodge to fetch the car.

(Technical Data: distance = 13km, ascent = 490m)