The Anonymous Widower

On The Bonnie, Bonnie Banks o’ Loch Lomon’

I couldn’t resist using the first line of one of the most famous Scottish traditional songs, as the title of this post.

But a very significant power station project, is to be undertaken in the area.

These are the opening few sentences of the Wikipedia entry for the Loch Sloy Hydro-Electric Scheme.

The Loch Sloy Hydro-Electric Scheme is a hydro-electric facility situated between Loch Sloy and Inveruglas on the west bank of Loch Lomond in Scotland. It is also within the Arrochar Alps. The site was originally suggested as the location of a huge pumped-storage scheme in 1936 by Edward MacColl, but this was rejected as being uneconomic. After the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board was created in 1943, it became the first of their proposed schemes.

This Google Map shows Loch Lomond and Loch Sloy.

Note.

1. Loch Sloy is in the North-West corner of the map.
2. Loch Lomond is on the Eastern side of the map.
3. The red arrow indicates the main buildings of the LochSloy Hydro-Electric Power Station.
4. Loch Sloy is eight-hundred feet above Loch Lomond.
5. The total generating capacity of the power station is 152.5 MW.

The facility is operated by Scottish and Southern Energy, and is normally in standby mode, ready to generate electricity to meet sudden peaks in demand. It can reach full capacity within 5 minutes from a standing start.

This second Google Map shows the power station to a larger scale.

Note.

1. Loch Sloy is to the North-West of the North-West corner of the map.
2. Loch Lomond is on the Eastern side of the map.
3. The red arrow indicates the main buildings of the Loch Sloy Hydro-Electric Power Station.
4. The four pipes carry water from Loch Sloy to the actual power station.
5. The single-track West Highland Line crosses over the four pipes at their South-Eastern end.

The design of Loch Sloy Hydro-Electric Power Station is typical of many hydro-electric stations all over the world.

This third map is an OpenRailwayMap of the area.

Note.

1. Loch Sloy is on the Western side of the map.
2. Loch Lomond is on the Eastern side of the map.
3. The yellow track is the single-track West Highland Line between Glasgow and Mallaig via Fort William
4. The blue arrow indicates Ardlui station.

The railway goes close to the power station.

A Platinum Celebration for Sloy Power Station!

The title of this section is the same as this must-read web page on the SSE web site, which dates from 2020.

July 24, 2026 - Posted by AnonW | Design, Energy, Energy Storage, Environment, Transport/Travel | Ardlui Station, Fort William Station, Glasgow, Loch Sloy Hydro-Electric Scheme, Loch Sloy Pumped Hydro, Pumped Storage Hydroelectricity, Scotland, SSE, West Highland Line