River Moriston

The River Moriston begins just below the dam at the eastern end of Loch Cluanie. Flow in the river is maintained by releasing compensation water from the loch. The A887 road from Kyle of Lochalsh to Loch Ness closely follows the course of the river for much of its length, and is on the north bank at this point. A small river, the Allt nam Peathrain, flows southwards to pass under the road and join the channel on its left bank. At Bun Loyne, a bridge carries the A87 road over the river, as it heads southwards to Glen Garry and the River Garry. Below the bridge, the River Loyne joins on the right bank. This is largely compensation water released from the dam at the eastern end of Loch Loyne. The A887 road crosses to the south bank at Ceannacroc Bridge.Ordnance Survey, 1:25000 map The road formerly crossed the old bridge, constructed by Thomas Telford in 1808-1811, and located a little further downstream. It consists of a main span of {{convert|50|ft|m}} for the river and a flood arch of {{convert|36|ft|m}}.{{HEScotland |num=LB14994 |desc=Glenmoriston, Ceannacroc Bridge (old) over River Moriston|cat=B}}

The river sweeps round in a large bend, where it is joined by the waters of the River Doe and its tributary the Allt Bhuruisgidh, both of which are dammed further upstream. The main channel continues in an east-north-easterly direction, past the hamlet of Tomchrasky on its northern bank. There is a hatchery on the right bank, and then the A887 crosses to the left bank at Torgoyle Bridge. A bridge was constructed here in 1811 by Telford, but in 1818 was destroyed by a flood. A temporary wooden bridge was put in place to maintain the route, and the present three-arched structure was completed in 1823, to the design of Joseph Mitchell, who was Telford's principal inspector. The outside two arches span {{convert|48|ft|m}} while the centre one, which is wider and higher, spans {{convert|55|ft|m}}.{{HEScotland |num=LB14996 |desc=Glenmoriston, Torgoyle Bridge over River Moriston|cat=A}} The is extensive forest on both banks of the river, which gradually widens as it becomes part of Dundreggan Reservoir. A dam impounds the water at its eastern end, and a hydro-electric power station is located on the south bank close to the dam.

The river narrows again, as it is fed with compensation water from the dam, and is joined by Allt Bhlaraidh, flowing southwards from three lochs and a reservoir, all of which are dammed. The river finally turns towards the south-east as it approached Invermoriston, the main settlement on its course. The A82 road which runs along the bank of Loch Ness used to cross the river on a two-arched bridge, with another arch on the right bank of the river and a three-arched clapper bridge in the approach on the left bank. It is in line with Telford's road built for the Commission for Highland Roads and Bridges in 1808-1811, but is thought to date from the mid-18th century.{{HEScotland |num=LB15024 |desc=Invermoriston, Old Bridge over River Moriston|cat=B}} A replacement bridge was built in 1933, slightly further downstream. It consists of a single {{convert|90|ft|m|adj=on}} concrete span with a small flood arch, and was designed by Mears and Carcus-Wilson.{{HEScotland |num=LB15025 |desc=Invermoriston, Road Bridge over River Moriston|cat=B}} Below the newer bridge is a nine-sided gazebo, perched on a rocky outcrop overlooking the river. It dates from the early 19th century.{{HEScotland |num=LB15025 |desc=Invermoriston, Gazebo. (In policies of Invermoriston House)|cat=B}} Shortly afterwards, the river discharges into Loch Ness.

The Garry-Moriston hydro-electric scheme was one of several constructed by the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board, a public body formed in 1943 to promote water power in the Highlands. They used profits from similar schemes in the southern Highlands to fund remote schemes such as this, in order to stimulate economic regeneration of the area.{{sfn |NoSHEB | 1982 |p=2}}{{HEScotland |num=LB51704 |desc=Great Glen hydro electric scheme, Quoich Dam and intake gatehouse towers|cat=B}} The catchment for the River Moriston, which includes Loch Loyne and Loch Cluanie, is {{convert|158|sqmi|km2}}. Loch Loyne is impounded by a dam, which is {{convert|1800|ft|m}} long and {{convert|72|ft|m}} high. Most of the water released from the loch passes along a tunnel and into Loch Cluanie. A small amount of electricity is generated by an induction generator in the pipeline.{{sfn |NoSHEB |1982 |p=3}} The dam is a mass gravity dam, and construction was completed in 1956.{{cite web |url=https://www.sserenewables.com/hydro/great-glen/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220616191546/https://www.sserenewables.com/hydro/great-glen/ |archive-date=16 June 2022 |url-status=live |title=Great Glen Hydro Scheme |publisher=SSE Renewables}} The loch covers an area of {{convert|2.43|sqmi|km2}}, the surface level is {{convert|748|ft|m}} above Ordnance datum (AOD), and it is relatively shallow.{{cite web |url=https://eip.ceh.ac.uk/apps/lakes/detail.html?wbid=20754 |title=Loch Loyne Water Body ID 20754 |publisher=UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology}} The Cluanie dam is also a mass gravity dam, {{convert|2215|ft|m}} long and {{convert|133|ft|m}} high. Compensation water for the River Moriston flows through a small power station located at the base of the dam. Both the Loyne dam and the Cluanie dam were built using ground blast furnace slag, which replaced 70 percent of the cement which would otherwise have been used, reducing the amount of Portland cement used by {{convert|40000|long ton|tonne}}. The project was the first time that this technique had been used in Britain.{{sfn |NoSHEB |1982 |p=3}} Loch Cluanie is much deeper than Loch Loyne. It covers an area of {{convert|4.04|sqmi|ha|sigfig=4}} and its surface level is {{convert|705|ft|m}} AOD,{{cite web |url=https://eip.ceh.ac.uk/apps/lakes/detail.html?wbid=20573 |title=Loch Cluanie Water Body ID 20573 |publisher=UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology}} which is {{convert|96|ft|m}} higher than it was prior to construction of the dam.{{sfn |NoSHEB |1982 |p=3}}

From Loch Cluanie, water is fed to a power station at Ceannacroc through a tunnel and pressure shaft. The power station was built underground and was one of the first underground stations to be constructed in the country,{{sfn |NoSHEB |1982 |p=3}} when it was completed in 1956. This arrangement provides a head of {{convert|300|ft|m|sigfig=1}} and the station can generate 20 MW. There is also a smaller generator in the station, which can discharge compensation water to the river when the full capacity of the station is not required. In addition to the main supply from Loch Cluanie, water from the upper reaches of the River Doe and its tributaries is captured and fed into a branch tunnel, where it can either be used by the turbine directly, or can be fed into Loch Cluanie for later use.{{sfn |NoSHEB |1982 |p=3}}

File:Sleeping torrent - geograph.org.uk - 1218570.jpg

A dam was built across the River Moriston some {{convert|9|mi|km}} downstream of the Loch Cluanie dam in 1957, to form Dundreggan Reservoir.{{sfn |NoSHEB |1982 |p=3}} It is a mass gravity dam {{convert|460|ft|m}} long by {{convert|59|ft|m}} high, and creates a headpond for Glenmoriston power station which is {{convert|300|ft|m}} below the ground, and is fed by a vertical shaft. Once the water has passed through the two 18 MW turbines, it flows into the mouth of the River Moriston through a tailrace tunnel which is {{convert|20|ft|m}} in diameter and around {{convert|4|mi|km}} long. The level of the reservoir is controlled by automatic sector gates. Compensation water for the river is discharged through another small power station, built into the dam. When the dam was constructed, a Borland type fish pass was included, to allow fish to move upstream beyond the structure.{{sfn |NoSHEB |1982 |p=3}}

A third power station on the River Moriston system was constructed in 1962. The Livishie station generates 15 MW, and a head of {{convert|850|ft|m|sigfig=3}} is provided by the Bhlaraidh Reservoir. This acts as a headpool, but its water is supplemented by supplies from Loch a Chrathaich, Loch Laith and Loch ma Stac, all of which have had their capacity increased by the construction of small dams. Transfer from these lochs is controlled remotely from Glenmoriston power station. In addition, a system of aqueducts collects water from streams flowing into the Moriston downstream of Dundreggan Reservoir, and feeds some of their flow into Bhlaraidh Reservoir.{{sfn |NoSHEB |1982 |p=4}} Power generated by the stations is fed to Auchterewe, near Fort William, by overhead transmission lines, where there is a switching station and control centre. From Auchterewe, 132 kV lines distribute the power in several directions. Those over the Corrieyarrick Pass are very exposed, reaching a height of {{convert|2507|ft|m}} AOD, and high frequency pulses are injected into the lines to enable faults to be located.{{sfn |NoSHEB |1982 |pp=4-5}}

The construction of the hydro-electric stations has brought some benefits to the area, which are wider than just providing electricity to remote communities. The dam at Dundreggan was built at a location where there had previously been a waterfall,{{sfn |Jepsen |Hurst-Brown |2020 |p=123}} which made the migration of salmon up the river impossible. However, a Borland fish pass, which works in a similar way to a navigation lock, was constructed at the site, and unlike the neighbouring River Garry, where salmon stocks have suffered serious decline, salmon have established themselves on the river, and the population is stable or increasing.{{sfn |Jepsen |Hurst-Brown |2020 |p=132}}

While the hydro-electric schemes were being constructed in both Glen Moriston and Glen Garry, the roads running through the glens were upgraded.{{sfn |NoSHEB |1982 |p=5}} The main route from Invergarry to Kyle of Lochalsh formerly ran along Glen Garry to the hamlet of Tomdoun, turned northwards to cross Loch Loyne at a narrow point near the centre of the present loch, and continued to the north-west to the Cluanie Inn, at the western end of the present Loch Cluanie. When the level of Loch Loyne was raised, the crossing point was submerged, and a new A87 road was constructed, turning northwards from the old road near the eastern end of Loch Garry, running along part of the shore of Loch Loyne, and crossing over the River Loyne beyond the eastern end of the loch, to join the A887 Invermoriston to Kyle of Lochalsh road at Bun Loyne.{{cite web |url=https://canmore.org.uk/site/106621/loch-loyne-bridge |title=Loch Loyne Bridge |publisher=Canmore}} An original bridge became visible in 2012 due to low levels of rainfall, and corresponding low levels in the loch.{{cite news |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/13077733.historic-isles-road-re-emerges-loch-drought/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001141453/https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/13077733.historic-isles-road-re-emerges-loch-drought/ |archive-date=1 October 2022 |url-status=live |title=Historic isles road re-emerges from loch after drought |newspaper=The Herald |date=20 October 2012}}

{{Refbegin}}

• {{cite web

|url=https://amber.international/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/D4.2-Report-of-Case-Studies-Demonstrating-the-Effects-of-Barrier-Removal-Mitigation-and-Installation.pdf

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126161119/https://amber.international/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/D4.2-Report-of-Case-Studies-Demonstrating-the-Effects-of-Barrier-Removal-Mitigation-and-Installation.pdf

|archive-date=26 January 2022 |url-status=live

|editor-first1=Niels |editor-last1=Jepsen

|editor-first2=Victoria |editor-last2=Hurst-Brown

|title=Report of Case Studies Demonstrating the Effects of Barrier Removal, Mitigation and Installation

|publisher=Amber International

|date=19 May 2020

}}

• {{cite web

|url=http://www.glenmoriston.org.uk/Glenmoriston/Miscellaneous/Hydro%20Scheme%20Booklet.pdf

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220824164443/http://www.glenmoriston.org.uk/Glenmoriston/Miscellaneous/Hydro%20Scheme%20Booklet.pdf

|archive-date=24 August 2022 |url-status=live

|last=NoSHEB

|title=Garry - Moriston

|publisher=North of Scotland Hydro Electric Board

|year=1982

}}

{{Refend}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category-inline|River Moriston}}

{{Energy in Scotland}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Moriston}}

Moriston

Category:Hydroelectric power stations in Scotland

Category:Underground power stations