Pitlochry

Many thanks to The Milton of Fonab Caravan Park in Pitlochry for facilitating this camera's location and capitally funding its installation. Milton of Fonab is a quiet, family run, Caravan Park on the south side of Pitlochry next to the River Tummel. The River Tummel, a significant tributary of the Tay, gracefully winds its way along a picturesque 58-mile path, starting from Loch Rannoch and culminating at the River Tay in Perthshire. Its journey takes it through the charming town of Pitlochry. The upper reaches of the river serve as the ultimate destination for salmon as they navigate upstream from their Atlantic feeding grounds. Notably, these resilient fish encounter the salmon ladder at Pitlochry Dam, located in close proximity to our camera position. Pitlochry is predominantly a Victorian town, owing its prominence as a tourist destination to Queen Victoria's visit in 1842 and the subsequent introduction of the railway in 1863. To this day, it remains a favored tourist resort, renowned for its scenic beauty and serving as a hub for hillwalking enthusiasts, with majestic mountains like Ben Vrackie and Schiehallion adorning its surroundings.Pitlochry holds historical significance as one of the pioneering sites for hydroelectric power generation. The proposal for the Pitlochry Dam emerged in 1947 under the auspices of the newly established Hydro Electric Board. The task of designing the dam fell to Harold Tarbolton, who unfortunately passed away shortly after completing the plans. Architect T. H. Eley subsequently took over the project, which was constructed by Sir Alexander Gibb and Partners. Notably, the scheme displayed early recognition of ecological considerations by incorporating the ingenious Pitlochry fish ladder, a mechanism designed to facilitate the passage of spawning salmon beyond the dam, thereby safeguarding their natural lifecycle.