Loch Mullardoch

Hole Mullardoch is a pent-up lake in the Scottish Highlands. It lies in the almost uninhabited Glen Cannich about 12 km to the west of the village of Cannich.

The lake was originally much smaller and was dammed along with the subsequent hole Lungard west as part of the Affric - Beauly hydro- electric power scheme. Since the late 1940s the state North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board ( NOSHEB ) began with the development and utilization of hydropower in Glen Affric and Glen Cannich the. Prior to further plans of a private electricity company in the years 1929 and 1941 had been rejected by the House of Commons. In Affric - Beauly hydro- electric power scheme the lakes Loch Beinn a ' Mheadhoin and hole Mullardoch were construction of dams and embankments dammed in both valleys and passed the water through tunnels to the power plant Fasnakyle. Since Glen Cannich was largely uninhabited since the Highland Clearances, the raising of the water level of Loch Mullardoch only a few hunting cabins, lodges and small settlement Lungard fell victim. The dam was completed in 1951, 1952 reached the limit of its water storage level.

The dam of Loch Mullardoch is the largest Scottish dam in terms of volume. The dam is 727 meters long, the maximum height is 49 meters. Its volume amounts to 218.660 cubic meters. Over a 5.6 km long tunnel, the water is fed into the hole Beinn a ' Mheadhoin, from there the power plant Fasnakyle. Directly on the dam hole Mullardoch also is a smaller power plant.

Glen Cannich and hole Mullardoch are a popular destination for hikers and climbers. North and south of the hole are ten Munros, including the highest mountain north of the Great Glen, the Càrn Eige. Below the dam is Mullardoch House, a converted into a hotel in former hunting lodge. Glencannich Forest and Forest Fasnakyle serve as hunting grounds for hunting red deer and grouse.