Great Glen Way diversion set to open
A diversion to the Great Glen Way, required to accommodate work on the Coire Glas hydro pumped storage scheme, will open to the public on Monday 8 August.
The six-kilometre diversion will redirect Great Glen Way users from the current path, which traces the shore of Loch Lochy and traverses the lower site of the Coire Glas works, and link with a forest path higher up the hillside. The new path offers panoramic views across the loch.
Construction of the new path, which incorporates several new viewpoints and information panels, was conducted entirely by Highland-based firms. The project was designed and project managed by Inverness-based Phil Thompson Ltd, construction management services; civil engineering works were carried out by HiTrak Ltd and the information boards were produced by MacDonald Orr Design of Arisaig.
Andrew Smith, Development and Consents Manager for SSE Renewables on the Coire Glas project, said: “The Great Glen Way diversion is a key part of the overall delivery of our Coire Glas project. It presented some particular challenges, in terms of blending a new path into the steep lochside terrain. We turned to firms with expertise of delivering projects in the local area to make sure the project could be delivered on time and to a high standard.
“Now that the diversion is completed, we are thrilled with the result and confident it will prove popular with Great Glen Way users.”
Phil Thompson, of Phil Thompson Ltd, who oversaw the construction project, said: “Constructing the diversion path over the course of a Scottish winter was not without its challenges but we are happy with the result. The old route follows the line of the loch and is a very nice path. The new route is higher up and offers a bit more variety and, hopefully, perhaps a chance to see a bit more scenery and wildlife.”
Mark Hedderwick, of HiTrak Ltd, said: “As a local company we always welcome an opportunity to work on a project that give us a chance to showcase the high quality of craftmanship available in the area. We worked with local stonemasons to create rest and shelter areas at various points along the path which will hopefully become a welcome feature on this section of the path.”
The existing Great Glen Way route will remain open until the start of exploratory works in October, to allow route users to access the wild camping site at Glas Dhoire Bay.
Coire Glas is a pumped hydro storage facility which would be the first scheme of its kind to be constructed in the United Kingdom for more than 30 years. SSE Renewables is currently conducting early assessment work at the site, to the north of Loch Lochy, which will determine whether construction can proceed as planned. An extensive programme of exploratory works is required before a final decision to invest in construction can be taken. The exploratory works are scheduled to begin in October 2022.