Lawers Dam
Dam (20th Century), Reservoir (20th Century)
Site Name Lawers Dam
Classification Dam (20th Century), Reservoir (20th Century)
Alternative Name(s) Lochan Na Lairige; Breadalbane Hydroelectric Scheme
Canmore ID 103355
Site Number NN63NW 28
NGR NN 59970 39160
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/103355
- Council Perth And Kinross
- Parish Kenmore (Perth And Kinross)
- Former Region Tayside
- Former District Perth And Kinross
- Former County Perthshire
NN63NW 28 5997 3916.
NN 6014 3918
Lochan na Lairige (Reservoir) [NAT]
Dam [NAT] (at NN 6015 3919)
OS 1:10,000 map, 1981.
Extends onto mapsheet NN53NE.
Information from RCAHMS (RM) 12 June 1996
Lawers Dam was constructed in 1951-6 as part of the Breadalbane Hydro-Electric Scheme. The dam is of massive buttress type, and measures 344m in length and 42m in height. It has been constructed across the S end of Lochan na Lairige, whose water level has been raised by 27m. The reservoir is fed by a system of tunnels and aqueducts from a 45sq km catchment area, and from it the water drops 415m to the Finlarig power station on Loch Tay.
Payne 1988; G M Ford 2000.
The remains of an aerial cableway stretching across the hillside to the SW of the dam, used to transport stone during its construction, are described under NN53NE 39. See also NN54SE 7 for further construction debris at the N end of the reservoir.
Information from RCAHMS (SDB) 8 January 2008
Field Visit (2010)
Lawers dam is a large buttress dam which contains Lochan na Lairgie. Additional water flows into the dam from an extensive series of catchments spreading behind Ben Lawers. The dam is of similar design to Giorra dam (see separate item) with twin control towers flanking a central fixed spillway. One tower contains a gate to control the dispersal valve the other the tunnel intake leading to Finlarig power station (see separate item). Lawers dam is a large buttress dam located in a prominent position on the flanks of Ben Lawers. The dam is of relatively standard construction and is of a type characteristic of the design of dams throughout the Breadalbane Scheme. PL Payne, 1988, 24; E Wood, 2002, 50.
Note (25 October 2023)
The Breadalbane hydroelectric scheme
Construction took place between 1951 and 1961 in two sections north and south of Loch Tay respectively. Dams were built at the east ends of Loch an Daimh, Loch Lyon, Loch na Lairige and Stronuich Reservoir, supplying Cashlie, Lubreoch, Finlarig and Lochay power stations respectively in the northern section. Water collection is by a considerable group of aqueducts and tunnels in the area of the River Lyon and the River Lochay and their tributaries. Finlarig power station is noted for operation at a head of 1348 feet, the highest of any of the schemes. It produces 30MW from a Pelton turbine-driven alternator, the larges of its type in Britain.
The southern section has dams on Loch Breaclaich and Loch Lednock. These Lochs are interconnected by a tunnel, with a power station at the entry to Loch Lednock. The latter discharges via a tunnel to St Fillans power station at the east end of Loch Earn, which in turn supplies Dalchonzie power station, which outflows into the River Earn. Aqueducts and further channels collect water from the surrounding area. The total output from this hydroelectric scheme is 120MW.
Information from NRHE catalogue item number WP007424, compiled by George Walker in 2005.
