Easy Hike to Loch Sloy Dam + FREE Travel Guide

When I was approaching the dam I had to stop for a few minutes to appreciate the scale of the man made and the natural. So impressive this is.

I always thought that the electricity is some sort of 'magic'- just press the switch and the light is on or off - clearly, I haven't paid any attention to physics classes at school. But at least the lack of attention then makes me so excited today when I saw the hydropower station for the first time. It's incredible that the site is open to the public so people like me can learn something new, discover how the 'magic' works and at the same time explore the magnificent Scottish landscapes. Now, whenever I charge my phone I appreciate this 'magical' moment a little more.

HOW TO GET HERE

Firstly, you need to get to Inveruglas, which is an hour away from the centre of Glasgow and an easy to reach by public transport.

BY COACH: If you're planning to travel by coach from Glasgow, then look out for numbers 914, 915, 916 towards Fort William by CityLink - all of them will get you to Iveruglas/ Loch Sloy Power Station (tickets can be bought from the driver) it's around £15-£20 both ways. It's important to know that the buses don't stick to their time schedules, and can arrive earlier. So never plan to leave on the last scheduled coach- you have grat chance missing it.

BY CAR: If you're travelling by car from Glasgow or Glasgow Airport head to A82 via M8

LOCH SLOY DAM

The Loch Sloy Dam was built in 1945 by 2000 men (some were German prisoners). It is 56m high and 357m long and it’s still the largest conventional hydroelectric power plant in the UK. Its water runs in the tunnels cut through mountain Ben Vorlich, to power the station located below. The Loch Sloy Power Station is located across the road from Inveruglas Visitor Centre.

THE PATH

The path starts in Inveruglas- a pretty stop on the lake with the coffee shop, the viewing platform, and the Power Station, just follow the sign "Loch Sloy & Hills" from the car park, it is pretty straightforward and easy to find. No special skills needed for this hike as you just follow the road all the way to the Loch Sloy Dam. The hike took us around 4 hours, but we're slow walkers and we're making regular stops for taking pictures. On a way back we continued with the same path and it's a beautiful walk as the views unfold in front of you in a completely different way..