Kinlochleven guide

Find Businesses and Services in Kinlochleven, Scotland

The village was dominated by an aluminium processing plant, powered by a hydroelectric scheme situated in the mountains above.

The hydroelectric scheme was constructed in 1907 for the British Aluminium Company (later merged with Alcan) and was designed by engineer brothers Patrick and Charles Meik. Chief assistant resident engineer on the project was a young William Halcrow.

The scheme involved the construction of a gravity dam over 914 m long (the longest in the Highlands) and 27 m high, creating the Blackwater Reservoir. It was built at an elevation of over 305 m in rugged and almost inaccessible terrain, and involved the construction of some 6 km of concrete aqueduct and nearly 13 km of steel pipe. It has been described as the last major creation of the traditional 'navvy' whose activities in the construction of canals and railways left an indelible mark on the British countryside.

During the Second World War Corporal James Hendry, a Canadian serviceman, won the George Cross for the heroism he displayed during a fire and subsequent explosion at a powder house used for building of the tunnel which brings water to the plant.

In 1991, the village (according to Annual Census returns) had just over 1000 inhabitants in some 420 households. It has a post office and a handful of hotels and hostels popular with walkers following the West Highland Way. A building, which was formerly a coke bunker for carbon production for the Reduction Works, has now (2004) been transformed into a local ale brewery and a major mountain activity centre, known as the Ice Factor, and includes the world's highest indoor ice-climbing facility, the UK's highest indoor articulated rock climbing wall and bouldering facility.

 


Latest Tweets featuring Kinlochleven

  • SnowBarMick

    Kinda left 3 of my team behind in Kinlochleven. Although I am a bit jealous. What a day!

    Yesterday, 23:13

  • OldDrfish

    RT @paul_steele: Scotland - Kinlochleven, Loch Leven by Jonas Lang http://t.co/Az93jbzG #travel #photography

    Yesterday, 21:05

  • AndydeyDey

    @ScotVetRes Guys planning to get to Kinlochleven by midnight at end of day 2 - 82 miles. Impressive stuff. Then final dash to glory to FW.

    Yesterday, 18:18

  • KezzaStewart

    Scotland - Kinlochleven, Loch Leven by Jonas Lang http://t.co/JvBkls33 @BeverleyBrimm is this where we are trekking?? :D

    Yesterday, 13:34

  • GlasSydney

    Stunning shot of my beautiful homeland via “@paul_steele Scotland-Kinlochleven, Loch Leven by Jonas Lang http://t.co/x3AnGyua #photography”

    Yesterday, 12:17

  • SnowBarMick

    Heading up to Ice Factor in Kinlochleven for the day.

    Yesterday, 10:27

  • BB164

    RT @paul_steele: Scotland - Kinlochleven, Loch Leven by Jonas Lang http://t.co/Az93jbzG #travel #photography

    Yesterday, 09:07

  • mudmapapp

    RT @paul_steele: Scotland - Kinlochleven, Loch Leven by Jonas Lang http://t.co/Az93jbzG #travel #photography

    Yesterday, 09:07

  • GOVManslaughter

    RT @paul_steele: Scotland - Kinlochleven, Loch Leven by Jonas Lang http://t.co/Az93jbzG #travel #photography

    Yesterday, 09:06

  • paul_steele

    Scotland - Kinlochleven, Loch Leven by Jonas Lang http://t.co/Az93jbzG #travel #photography

    Yesterday, 09:06

  • lakesmartin

    #Scotland kinlochLeven mamore hotel on mountainside http://t.co/OO0AGJh0

    May 28th, 21:25

  • papashango81

    @GlasgowLight yous are doing well kinlochleven already. Next few miles will be a canter ha ha

    May 28th, 14:32

  • GlasgowLight

    @papashango81 At Kinlochleven. Fuckin baked. 9 miles to go. #WHW #FighterJet

    May 28th, 14:27

  • JamBowman

    @EdwardBrockett kinlochleven like pretty much a hour away from where I go snowboarding

    May 28th, 01:02

  • FRS_RSS

    #HIFRS ≈ 1 acre of heath on fire. Crews used 1 hosereel jet, beaters & knapsack tanks to extinguish.: #Kinlochleven http://t.co/TyEdFsFC

    May 27th, 13:21

Featured Businesses and Services in Kinlochleven

Other Businesses and Services in Kinlochleven

Do you have, or know of, a company or business that operates in Kinlochleven?

Click here to register and add the company!