The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Pitlochry dam visitor centre nears completion
construction: The £4m visitor attraction is to open early next year
Construction work on a new £4 million visitor attraction in Highland Perthshire is nearing completion, ready to open early next year.
Work began last year at the visitor centre and 60-seat cafe at Pitlochry dam and power station, which is expected to draw 88,000 people every year.
Situated on the banks of the River Tummel, the year-round, free to enter, centre will host an exhibition outlining the history of hydro electricity showcasing the social, environmental and engineering impacts of bringing power to the Highlands.
The visitor centre will provide employment for up to 11 core staff supplemented by six seasonal staff during peak season, with advertising for these roles expected to get under way soon.
SSE head of heritage, Gillian O’Reilly, said: “We are excited the Pitlochry dam visitor centre will welcome its first visitors early next year.
“The construction phase of the project has progressed smoothly and it’s great to see the building take shape.
“It will be a major tourist and economic boost for Pitlochry and the surrounding area.
“We hope to employ the majority of our team locally and are optimistic we will attract first-class candidates from the Pitlochry area.
“We will start off with a core team of visitor and catering assistants and will grow the team to meet visitor demand.
“We have recently welcomed new centre manager Lisa Daniels, formerly of Historic Environment Scotland (HES), to the project.”
The cafe, which has covered outside seating, has views over Pitlochry dam and the River Garry.
The centre will also have a multipurpose room which will be used as an education centre for organised visits or to host meetings and small conferences for up to 70 delegates.
Situated at the end of the Tummel valley, the picturesque Pitlochry dam is already a major tourist attraction, with an estimated 500,000 visitors crossing it each year.
It also boasts a popular fish ladder and the scenic beauty of Loch Faskally.
SSE recently converted the former visitor centre in Pitlochry into a corporate archive, open to the general public by appointment.