The road down to Kinlochhourn...problems.

[Paul Webster]

This story is on our homepage, twitter, facebook etc.

Road to remain closed until mid 2019

[gaffr]

I can see why employers of folks working in the area of the 'slide' are cautious of the consequence of further slides and for that matter the advisors to hillwalkers going into the area.

The first time that I went to the hills in the area was after a night in the bothy at A'Chuil then over Sgurr Mor, Fhuarain to get to Gairich….a very fine day out in the hills. Bothy also at Kinbreak.

As has been suggested the circuitous route in through the plantation used by the estate on an all terrain vehicle from the bridge near Poulary is a way of getting to Gairich to avoid the slide.

[Kevin29035]

Interesting to see the cause of the slide seems to have been rockfall off a crag and not just the ground moving. I wouldn't mind going in for a look...!

[gaffr]

My daughter sent another image of the 'slide' taken from the dam. The resolution of the camera taken image is not great.

When I zoomed in it would appear that the electricity cables have been joined up....minus one Pylon...would that work safely ok with a bigger distance between pylons? also there appears to be a earth moving type? vehicle on the hillside left side of image.

[iain_atkinson_1986]

Anybody ever accessed the area from the north? It looks like there are a few paths on the OS map although you basically have to go round and/or over the SGS ridge. Would make for an epic day just to get Sgurr a' Mhaoraich.

My plan come spring if the landslide can't be cleared is to park on the A87, head on to the SGS to point 902, down to Allbeithe then hit a' Mhaoraich from the east, reversing part of the WH route.

Genius or insanity? The ascent numbers would be high.

[Mal Grey]

Is it wrong that a little part of me rather likes the idea of the road being blocked permanently, creating an even more remote area than it already is!

Obviously, the reality is I hope that the community at Kinlochhourn are soon reconnected properly, must be a right pain.

[gaffr]

The Allthbeithe building now all boarded up and with a small scale hydro thing being built and also a road for the construction folks to get the machinery to the area has been built on the East side of Glen Quoich.
The building is the focus for several stalkers paths two of which are on the side of the South Glenshiel ridge.

The one to reach Gleouraich would be useful and the amazingly tortuous path up to Am Bathaich would get you to Mhaoraich. Not absolutely sure where the .902 spot height is?

The area seems to have several other small scale Hydro things above loch Quoich so the road would be needed to have access to these for maintenance perhaps.

Difficulties for the folks at the Kinlochhourn estate and at the wee accommodation place and cafe at the lochside and for less able folks, non high hill drifters, to have a fine walk out along the lochside to Barrisdale.

[Sunset tripper]

My daughter sent another image of the 'slide' taken from the dam. The resolution of the camera taken image is not great.

When I zoomed in it would appear that the electricity cables have been joined up....minus one Pylon...would that work safely ok with a bigger distance between pylons

I had a look at your picture and compared it to the map. The original pylons apart from the one that was taken out would probably not be in your picture. I think what you are seeing is temporary structures, maybe wooden poles, put in to carry the powerlines over the landslide.

[gaffr]

Thanks for that ST. When I have another look at zooming in I can see a cluster of wooden poles. I hope to get a wee look at the end of the month.
Can I ask....what is the point, apart from private gain at the public expense, of having several wee hydro schemes feeding the same water into an area with a huge loch generating largescale Hydro power?

[Sunset tripper]

The big problem with these hydro schemes and wind farms is that the main objective is to make people rich rather than provide green energy and "save the planet"
The hydro schemes are very invasive. I've been up that remote road many times and on these hills often. What a mess the new tracks make. Hopefully the scars will be repaired or blend in quickly. They are highly visible from the South Glen Shiel Ridge also.
A nice route into the area over the ridge at the west end of Glen Shiel starting at the long car park on the long straight.

[gaffr]

Since I was in the area I have a few images from the area of the rockfall/slide.
Firstly there is now a chain/padlocked gate just above Kingie and there seems to be a few folks monitoring full time what has happened. I must say that it all looks more than a little fragile on the hillside where the huge perched blocks of stone look concerning.

looking across from the dam that we reached by following an Argo trail from close to the locked gate.... a few crossings and re-crossings of the burn coming out from under the dam are needed.

The old road is either under that lot or just not there any more.

Just below where the rockfall happened there is a very large insecure block.

Looking back after having crossed the dam road.

[abs70]

This might be a stupid question - it wouldn't be my first - but is the road is walkable?

[Mal Grey]

This might be a stupid question - it wouldn't be my first - but is the road is walkable?

As I understand it, you'll have to follow the ATV track, which descends and crosses the river to avoid the whole dodgy slope, then heads up the slopes on the other side of the dam, from where you could rejoin the road.

[gaffr]

Yes, the previous replier is correct. There is no access along the road in fact, from what I could see from up near to the dam, there is part of it been completely swept away. As I found on the 25th, December a chained and locked gate barred vehicle access. There are 'guards' on duty to enforce any approach on the road which is drivable for another couple of Kls. up to where the damage is....where the folks maintaining observation of the slide are based.
I think that there are at least three estates? with folks who need to get beyond the dam to carry out their normal work hence the Argo trail up to the far side of the dam and then a crossing above the dam to reach the road to Kinloch hourn beyond all of the destruction.
The folks living down at Loch Hourn have a vehicle each side of the damage and an Argo to connect up with each vehicle by using I guess the way that we have seen.
From what I have heard the solution to all of this is months away into next summer?

[gaffr]

Progress has been made with the block/damaged road. Access is available for the off-road estate vehicles.
The swiped away tarred part of the road has still to be established. The gate across the road is still in place so I guess no passage for hillwalkers with four wheel drive motors.
This must be greatly welcomed by the folks down in Kinloch Hourn.

A temporary patch.