| Loch Cluanie - Dam (picture by Peter Watts) |  |
Loch Cluanie - Dam
Photographer Description of Loch Cluanie - Dam
This panoramic photograph was taken from the middle of the Cluanie Dam at the eastern end of Loch Cluanie. The western end of the loch is obscured by the famous Cluanie Curtain, a bank of rainfall that moves east up the loch but rarely gets as far as the dam. Looking east down Glen Moriston the weather is much better. This phenomenon is unfortunate for hill walkers who like to climb the South Glen Shiel Ridge.Loch Cluanie - Dam - Further Information
Panorama of Loch Cluanie (Scottish Gaelic: Loch Cluanaidh) in the Scottish Highlands taken from the dam at the eastern end of the loch. The dam that formed Loch Cluanie was built in 1950's as part of the Glenmoriston hydroelectric project implemented by the the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board. The Cluanie dam is 675m (2214 feet) long and over 40m (131 feet) high. Water is discharged into the River Moriston which continues to flow east along Glen Moriston finally emptying into the southern part Loch Ness at Invermoriston.Loch Cluanie is well known for the Cluanie curtain, which can be seen in this panoramic photograph. This is a raincloud which proceeds up the loch from the west, but rarely extends the full length of the loch. The waters from this cloud help both fill the streams to the Cluanie River which flows into the loch, and also the River Shiel which flows back east down the Glen Shiel waterfall through Glen Shiel towards Loch Duich. In early 2007 there was so much rain that the waters topped the dam, causing some concern for the local area.
Along the southern edge of the loch is the South Glen Shiel Ridge (also known as the South Cluanie Ridge) which contains a number of Munro hills and makes this place very popular with walkers. The ridge separates Loch Cluanie from Loch Loyne. For more information about the Munros in this area, please see the Glen Shiel panorama.
There are a couple of hotels in the area, and the Cluanie Inn is a popular starting point with hill walkers. Loch Cluanie is also well known for pike fishing, and no permit is required to go pike fishing here.
Travel and Getting There
The A87 runs along Loch Cluanie. This road runs from Invergarry past Loch Garry and Loch Loyne barore coming to Loch Cluanie. It then continues west to Kyle of Lochalsh and on into the Isle of Skye. An alternative route is to take the A887 from Invermoriston along Glen Moriston. This is the route favoured by those coming from Inverness.
