Pitlochry Dam Visitor Centre
5 minute walk from Pitlochry station · Stirling, Central and Fife · Free entry
Pitlochry Dam Visitor Centre is a renewable energy visitor centre and educational site established in 2017. The building overlooks the River Tummel and Loch Faskally, situated adjacent to a power station and a concrete dam. It is operated by SSE and features exhibitions on hydro-electricity history, a deli cafe, and shopping. For those hosting events, the centre provides meeting rooms that accommodate up to 50 guests.
The fish ladder system was completed in 1951 and installed in 1952 as the first of its type. This feature allows salmon to travel upstream, and guests can view live digital feeds of the activity following the closure of the observation tank for safety in 2019. Visitors can learn about renewable energy history and watch these live web feeds within the centre.
Edward MacColl served as the engineering lead and inaugural Chief Executive of the Hydro Board during the development of these schemes. The fish ladder was designed by biologist John Berry to meet the requirements of a 1943 Act of Parliament. This legislation mandated the preservation of fish stocks, providing the historical context for the construction of the hydro-electric fish preservation infrastructure.
Visitor information
- Place type
- Engineering landmark
- Good for
- Industrial heritage, Lochs, rivers & waterfalls, Science & discovery, Wildlife
- Characteristics
- 20th-century, Lakeside, Riverside
- Admission
- Free
- Facilities
- Café, Visitor centre
- Region
- Stirling, Central and Fife
Stations within walking distance
- Pitlochry station — 5 min walk, 0.4 km
Other places near Pitlochry
- Bealach Route and Killiecrankie, Pitlochry — 1 min walk from the station
- Loch Faskally and the salmon ladder, Pitlochry — 3 min walk from the station
- Pitlochry to Blair Atholl — 3 min walk from the station
- Clunie walk, Pitlochry — 3 min walk from the station
- Black Spout and Edradour, Pitlochry — 5 min walk from the station
- Pitlochry Church of Scotland — 6 min walk from the station