EHG6421 - Walkover survey - proposed Glen Earrach Pumped Storage Hydro Scheme

Cultural heritage site visits were undertaken by AECOM in 2024 to the areas likey to be affected by a proposed pumped storage hydro-electric scheme at Glen Earrach above Loch Ness. This included visits to all areas of works including the headpond and lower control works, the temporary and permanent access tracks, and other above ground Infrastructure, as well as the temporary workers accommodation and temporary and permanent construction compounds. Visits were also made to heritage assets outside the proposed development site to assess their setting. Weather conditions were mixed during the survey with snow around the Headpond area, although this reduced in the area of the proposed temporary workers accommodation and access track works in the River Coiltie area. While the snow may have masked some ephemeral features near the headpond, it effectively flattened vegetation such as heather, and would have therefore made other earthwork features visible. The survey recorded one new asset in the upper areas of the proposed development site, this being an area of relict peat cutting beds located on the Allt Coire an Ruighe (AECOM010). A number of assets were also visited to examine the potential for the proposed development to result in impacts through change to their setting. These included the two forts on Dùn Deardail (SM11884), as well as various listed buildings around Foyers where ZTV data had suggested elements of the proposed development (mainly the tailpond works) would be visible. Cherry Island Crannog (SM9762) at the southwestern end of Loch Ness was also viewed from the shore to examine its current state, while Urquhart Castle could not be visited as it was closed to the public. A second site visit was undertaken in March 2025 to visit Urquhart Castle. This included an examination of the scheduled area on the edge of Loch Ness to examine the potential for impacts on archaeological remains resulting from changes to water levels in Loch Ness. <1>