Site Records

Achanalt Power Station

OS Grid Ref: NH 30875 61973
Date opened: 1962
Date closed : Operational

Not every Scottish hydro station is large, even by Scottish standards... Achanalt is a tiny run-off-river station - part of the Conon Scheme, situated very close to Grudie Bridge power station. It consists of a wier across the River Bran, an intake gatehouse, a short (200M) headrace tunnel, and a small (3MW capacity / 20M head) power station nestled into the gorge at the Falls of Bran:

Achanalt wier is a modest structure, but forms a graceful curve, locally known as the 'Horseshoe Falls' for obvious reasons:

A small intake gatehouse stands immediately next to the wier, on the North bank:

Proceeding to the far end of the above gatehouse, past the red/white striped tape, a deep pit is revealed. This is normally full of water of course, but on this occasion it was dewatered for maintenance. Looking upstream - back towards the gatehouse - we can see the scaffolding around the (closed gate):

Turning round and looking down the downstream end of the pit, we can see the short slope shaft which takes the water down to the tunnel, the mouth of which is just discernable at the bottom of the shaft (which features helpful climbing steps!):

Achanalt power station is the usual Hydro Board construction, substantial stone, and wood doors. Hides out of view from the road, down by the falls of Bran. The tunnel takes the water into the rear of the power station (which is built up hard against the rock), and discharged back into the River Bran:

I haven't been inside Achanalt since I was a boy, but it hasn't changed much from what I can see through the window:

Words and images © 2005 Michael J. Ross