Loch Faskally

Loch Faskally is a man-made reservoir in Perth and Kinross, 2.5 kilometres northwest of Pitlochry. It lies between steeply wooded hills and stretches about 3.2 kilometres in length. The loch narrows to around 700 metres wide at its narrowest point. The Pitlochry Dam, built between 1947 and 1950, holds back the water as part of the Tummel Hydro-Electric Power Scheme. The dam includes a salmon fish ladder that allows about 5,400 salmon to pass upstream each year. The loch attracts anglers with its strong population of brown trout and occasional salmon. The water holds trout weighing between one and five pounds, with a record 7-pound fish caught in 2001. Salmon and sea trout move through the loch on their way up the Tummel and Garry rivers. In 2001, 54 salmon were caught, the largest weighing 14½ pounds, though fish up to 28 pounds have been recorded. Summer grilse arrive in June, and pike are also present, with some specimens over 30 pounds. Visitors can walk along the loch’s shores or enjoy views of the surrounding wooded hills. The dam and fish ladder draw many visitors interested in its engineering and wildlife. Anglers fish from the banks or boats, hoping to land one of the larger trout or salmon. The area offers peaceful scenery and the chance to see salmon moving upstream. The loch remains a quiet spot despite its popularity with both anglers and sightseers.