I thought this site would be inaccessible without getting permission from the aluminium smelter. However, after talking to friends, it turns out there are a few tracks around the area, one of which leads up to the site. If you head down the road to the smelter, on your left is the start of a track. Just follow this! It's not as steep as you think, as it winds round the side of the hill. On the way back I followed a footpath which leads to the Ben Nevis distillery.
Just some information about the smelter. It is the UK's only aluminium smelter and uses hydro-electric power from Loch Laggan and Loch Treig to power the turbines. Loch Laggan dam can be seen beside the A86 near Roybridge. The water from Loch Laggan is conveyed through 3 miles of tunnel to Loch Treig, and from there through a further 15 miles of tunnel (5 m in diameter) before coming out of the hillside and down the penstocks into the turbines in Fort William. The village of Inverlochy, just north of Fort William town centre, was purpose built by the British Aluminium Company to house workers. In the centre is a statue representing an aluminium worker.
Nevis Radio moved transmissions here in April 2017, replacing Trislaig. Coverage down Loch Eil is good till just after the Glenfinnan area, and I find you can also hold signal up to Fort Augustus (possibly further, not checked yet!). Going south down the A82 it's not too long before 102.4 kicks in as this site is screened by intervening terrain. Heading up the A86 coverage extends to the Roybridge/Achluachrach area. In this direction reception is limited by intervening terrain and MFR from Cairn Gorm also on 96.6, which heads down Loch Laggan for a good distance.
Ofcom name this site Creag a' Chàil. |
