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'''Kinlochleven''' ({{lang-gd|Ceann Loch Lìobhann}}) is a village in [[Lochaber]], in the [[Scottish Highlands]] and lies at the eastern end of [[Loch Leven (Highlands)|Loch Leven]], a sea loch cutting into the western Scottish Highlands. To the north lie the [[Mamores]] ridge; to the south lie the mountains flanking [[Glen Coe]]. The village was formed from two previously separate small communities - Kinlochmore to the north of the River Leven in Inverness-shire and Kinlochbeg to the south of the Leven in Argyll - following the construction of an [[aluminium]] smelter and associated housing for its employees. The processing plant was powered by a [[Hydroelectricity|hydroelectric]] scheme situated in the mountains above.<ref>http://www.kinlochleven.co.uk/history.asp</ref>
'''Kinlochleven''' ({{lang-gd|Ceann Loch Lìobhann}}) is a village in [[Lochaber]], in the [[Scottish Highlands]] and lies at the eastern end of [[Loch Leven (Highlands)|Loch Leven]], a fjord like sea loch cutting into the western Scottish Highlands. To the north lie the [[Mamores]] ridge; to the south lie the mountains flanking [[Glen Coe]]. The village was formed from two previously separate small communities - Kinlochmore to the north of the River Leven in Inverness-shire and Kinlochbeg to the south of the Leven in Argyll - following the construction of an [[aluminium]] smelter and associated housing for its employees. The construction of the Blackwater Damn above Kinlochleven Leven, and the associated creation of the Aluminium Smelter featured in the famous novel [http://www.list.co.uk/article/2742-patrick-macgill-children-of-the-dead-end-1914/ Children of the Dead End] by [[Patrick_MacGill|Patrick MacGill.]] The processing plant was powered by a [[Hydroelectricity|hydroelectric]] scheme situated in the mountains above.<ref>http://www.kinlochleven.co.uk/history.asp</ref> and made Kinlochleven the first village in the world to have every house connected to electricity, coining the phrase "The Electric Village". <ref>http://visit-fortwilliam.co.uk/rio-tinto-alcan-aluminium-smelter-in-fort-william-at-rio-tinto-alcan-works</ref>


==The smelter==
==The smelter==
Aluminium manufacture ceased in Kinlochleven in the year 2000. The plant was no longer able to compete economically with much larger modern plants throughout the world. Nevertheless the hydro-electric plant that was built to provide power for the smelting process was converted into a general purpose power station connected to the National Grid.
Aluminium manufacture ceased in Kinlochleven in the year 1996. The plant was no longer able to compete economically with much larger modern plants throughout the world. Nevertheless the hydro-electric plant that was built to provide power for the smelting process was converted into a general purpose power station connected to the National Grid.


The hydro-electric scheme was constructed in 1907 for the [[British Aluminium Company]] and was designed by engineer brothers [[Patrick Meik|Patrick]] and [[Charles Meik]]. The chief assistant resident engineer on the project was a young [[William Halcrow]].<ref>http://www.kinlochleven.co.uk/</ref>
The hydro-electric scheme was constructed in 1907 for the [[British Aluminium Company]] and was designed by engineer brothers [[Patrick Meik|Patrick]] and [[Charles Meik]]. The chief assistant resident engineer on the project was a young [[William Halcrow]].<ref>http://www.kinlochleven.co.uk/</ref>

Revision as of 14:15, 5 August 2012

Kinlochleven
OS grid referenceNN186618
Council area
CountryScotland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townKinlochleven
Postcode districtPH50 4
PoliceScotland
FireScottish
AmbulanceScottish
List of places
UK
Scotland

Kinlochleven (Template:Lang-gd) is a village in Lochaber, in the Scottish Highlands and lies at the eastern end of Loch Leven, a fjord like sea loch cutting into the western Scottish Highlands. To the north lie the Mamores ridge; to the south lie the mountains flanking Glen Coe. The village was formed from two previously separate small communities - Kinlochmore to the north of the River Leven in Inverness-shire and Kinlochbeg to the south of the Leven in Argyll - following the construction of an aluminium smelter and associated housing for its employees. The construction of the Blackwater Damn above Kinlochleven Leven, and the associated creation of the Aluminium Smelter featured in the famous novel Children of the Dead End by Patrick MacGill. The processing plant was powered by a hydroelectric scheme situated in the mountains above.[1] and made Kinlochleven the first village in the world to have every house connected to electricity, coining the phrase "The Electric Village". [2]

The smelter

Aluminium manufacture ceased in Kinlochleven in the year 1996. The plant was no longer able to compete economically with much larger modern plants throughout the world. Nevertheless the hydro-electric plant that was built to provide power for the smelting process was converted into a general purpose power station connected to the National Grid.

The hydro-electric scheme was constructed in 1907 for the British Aluminium Company and was designed by engineer brothers Patrick and Charles Meik. The chief assistant resident engineer on the project was a young William Halcrow.[3] The scheme involved the construction of a gravity dam over 914m long (the longest in the Highlands) and 27m high, creating the Blackwater Reservoir. It was built at an elevation of over 305m in rugged and almost inaccessible terrain, and involved the construction of some 6km of concrete aqueduct and nearly 13km of steel pipe. It has been described as the last major creation of the traditional 'navvy' whose activities in the construction of canals and railways left an indelible mark on the British countryside.

The British Aluminium Company was merged in 1982 with the Canadian company Alcan to form British Alcan. In November 2007, it was absorbed into the Rio Tinto empire as Rio Tinto Alcan.

In its early days the aluminium reduction plant employed some 700 people. Although producing some of the highest grade aluminium, its small size in comparison to modern US smelters led to its closure in 2000. The revamping of the power station saw the transfer of its output to the Lochaber smelter at Fort William.

Tourism

Kinlochleven is the penultimate stop on the West Highland Way and an important tourism destination in the Highlands of Scotland.

The village is at the head of the beautiful fjord like Loch Leven [4] and is surrounded on 3 sides by steep mountains.

With Glencoe 7 miles to the south and Ben Nevis 14 miles to the North, the village sits in the middle of the Outdoor Capital of the UK [5] and is a mecca for outdoor pursuit enthusiasts. [6]

There are 10 Munro Mountains (mountains over 3,000 ft) - Munros in the Mammore Mountains above Kinlochleven with Binnein Mor being the highest. [7]. Indeed, the area around and above Kinlochleven contains more wild mountain land than all of the mountain national parks in England and Wales combined [8] [9][10]. There is a significant network of mountain biking and hiking trails[11], The West Highland Way and the world famous[12] Ice Factor National Ice Climbing Centre, one of the top 5 visitor attractions in the highlands [13].

Kinlochleven was visited by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and His Royal Highness Prince Philip, who on the 5th June 2005 formally opened the Ice Factor and marked Kinlochleven's evolution from its past dependence on the aluminium industry, to its new status of being a valuable contributor to the Scottish tourism and leisure sector.[14]

The West Highland Way attracts over 85,000 walkers each year[15] and plays a vital role in the Kinlochleven economy. An economic impact assessment of Mountaineering confirms the value to the highlands to be £163.7m each year[16] and because of this there has been continued support to expand the existing long distance hiking and biking trails. This has seen new developments, such as the Great Glen Way and the Stevenson Trail which follows the route of Alan Breck Stewart and Jamie Balfour as they flee the pursuing redcoats in the world famous Kidnapped novel. [17]

There are a range of accommdation options including Hotels, Guest Houses, Bed & Breakfast, Bunkhouses and Campsites within the village. [18], a village store, banking and post office facilities.

===Ice Factor The National Ice Climbing Centre=== [19]

[[File:http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=ICE+FACTOR+KINLOCHLEVEN&um=1&hl=en&client=safari&sa=N&rls=en&biw=829&bih=790&tbm=isch&tbnid=HI77kGzkzaJHWM:&imgrefurl=http://www.ice-factor.co.uk/&docid=1dlqGK8eciRj-M&imgurl=http://www.ice-factor.co.uk/images/diagram.jpg&w=940&h=640&ei=mmIeUOCRC-KA0AXZwICICA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=401&vpy=158&dur=684&hovh=185&hovw=272&tx=161&ty=143&sig=102317180775522716028&page=2&tbnh=125&tbnw=166&start=17&ndsp=20&ved=1t:429,r:10,s:17,i:162]] A major mountain activity centre, the Ice Factor [1], opened to the public in 2003[20]. [[File:http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=ICE+FACTOR+KINLOCHLEVEN&um=1&hl=en&client=safari&sa=N&rls=en&biw=829&bih=790&tbm=isch&tbnid=u9JPEgiJQwi-QM:&imgrefurl=http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/kinlochleven/icefactor/index.html&docid=L-rbtpWtBaJlUM&imgurl=http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/kinlochleven/icefactor/images/icewall.jpg&w=225&h=300&ei=wWIeUPa8MOPO0QWfnYDYBA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=610&vpy=82&dur=954&hovh=240&hovw=180&tx=93&ty=165&sig=102317180775522716028&page=3&tbnh=154&tbnw=110&start=37&ndsp=21&ved=1t:429,r:8,s:37,i:221]] Ice Factor includes the biggest indoor ice climbing wall in the world [21], the , the UK's highest indoor articulated rock climbing wall [22] and a competition bouldering wall voted the best in the UK [23].

The Ice Factor caters to climbers and adventure seekers of all ages and ability, from complete beginner to some of the world's top climbers[24]. In 2010 a new Giant Outdoor Aerial Adventure Course. was added to the 4 Star Visit Scotland Centre[25]

Customers to Ice Factor can practise, train and learn every conceivable mountaineering skill. There are lessons throughout the day on Rock Climbing, Ice Climbing, Abseiling, Giant Swing and Aerial Adventure Course. Throughout the year Ice Factor offers bespoke guided days on the local mountains of Glencoe and Ben Nevis, with each winter running a series of specialist Winter Skills and Winter Mountaineering Courses. [26]

Ice Factor is an important staging post on the West Highland Way and consequently provides a range of facilities for foot weary walkers. These include the cosy Chillers Bothan Bar and sauna and steam room.

To meet the needs of local campsites, walkers, mountaineers and visiting families, there is a dedicated mountaineers' cafe and shop stocking a wide range of tourims gifts, grafts, mountaineering and camping equipment.

The Ice Factor plays a major role in the local economy injecting over £4m per annum into the fragile local area. [27] [28] and played a key role in the decontamination of the village after the withdrawal of Alcan Aluminium Production [29]

Owing to its contribution to the social, fiscal and green economy Ice Factor has secured a plethora of awards in its short history, including Vist Scotland Thistle Awards for Tourism Excellence [30], Green Apple Award as Best Environmental Busines Europe [31]

River Leven Ales

A smaller part of the former coke bunker - for carbon production - for the aluminium reduction works, was transformed in 2002 into Atlas Brewery which, together with Orkney Brewery, was taken over in 2006 to form Sinclair Brewery Ltd. Atlas was closed in July 2010 and its production transferred to Orkney.

The micro brewery re-opend in 2011 by Harry Heskey (former head brewer for Atlas) and now provides River Leven Ales to a growing customer base.

There is a visitor centre in the village, "The Aluminium Story", that tells the story of the creation of the village to serve an aluminium smelting facility. It also contains the local post office and has an ATM (cash machine) outside.

There is a hostel, microlodge facility and campsite close to the river. It has approximately eight microlodges comprising a mixture of two and four berth accommodation. There are toilets, washing facilities, showers and dishwashing facilities. The hostel building, extensively refurbished, was previously used as the research and testing facility for British Aluminium. It is located on Lab road.

Recent regeneration

The Kinlochleven Community Trust, a partnership consisting of the local community, (Rio Tinto) Alcan, Lochaber Enterprise, Highland Council and Scottish Natural Heritage, supported by other agencies in Scotland and the European Union and chaired by Highland Councillor Drew McFarlane-Slack led the economic revival of the village. To date environmental improvements, new business pavilions, extensive path works and decontamination works have contributed to successful stability and growth in the village and its surrounding area.

In 1991, the village (according to annual census returns) had just over 1000 inhabitants in some 420 households. It has a post office and a handful of hotels and hostels popular with walkers following the West Highland Way as well as guest houses and bed-and-breakfast establishments.

The biggest recent development was the creation of a new state of the art 21st Century High School[32] -Kinlochleven High School, which opened in August 2008.

The current secondary school roll sits at 152 with a staff of 19.1 FTE. The school headmaster is John McGilp[33], who has been instrumental in creating a strong sense of competitiveness and good citizenship amongst the pupils, seeing a number of awards in sport and academia[34]

There is a local library that is shared with the local school. It has books, local information and computer internet access.[35]

References

  1. ^ http://www.kinlochleven.co.uk/history.asp
  2. ^ http://visit-fortwilliam.co.uk/rio-tinto-alcan-aluminium-smelter-in-fort-william-at-rio-tinto-alcan-works
  3. ^ http://www.kinlochleven.co.uk/
  4. ^ http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-17025288.html
  5. ^ http://www.outdoorcapital.co.uk/see-and-do/bike-round-loch-leven-p182601
  6. ^ http://www.outdoorcapital.co.uk/see-and-do/bike-round-loch-leven-p182601
  7. ^ http://munro-madness.com/region/the-mamores
  8. ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_parks_of_England_and_Wales
  9. ^ http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/fortwilliam/binneinmor.shtml
  10. ^ http://www.glencoescotland.com/p/v/mountain-biking/the-blackwater/
  11. ^ http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/fortwilliam/glencoe.shtml
  12. ^ http://www.outdoorcapital.co.uk/see-and-do/wildlife-and-landscape/the-ice-factor-p173531
  13. ^ http://www.business7.co.uk/features/incubator/2011/01/20/incubator-jamie-smith-106408-22863194/
  14. ^ http://herald.vlex.co.uk/vid/queen-visits-kinlochleven-66044818
  15. ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Highland_Way
  16. ^ http://scottishaffairs.org/backiss/pdfs/sa31/SA31_Wightman%20_and_Higgins.pdf
  17. ^ http://www.stevensonway.org.uk/
  18. ^ http://www.ice-factor.co.uk/aboutus/accommodation.php
  19. ^ http://www.outdoorsmagic.com/search/articles/mountaineering-council-of-scotland/author/dave-mycroft/1
  20. ^ https://www.scottishclimbs.com/wiki/The_Ice_Factor,_Kinlochleven
  21. ^ http://dsc.discovery.com/adventure/climb-a-66-foot-wall-of-ice-without-going-outside.html
  22. ^ http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/kinlochleven/icefactor/index.html
  23. ^ http://www.ice-factor.co.uk/aboutus/experts.php
  24. ^ https://www.scottishclimbs.com/wiki/The_Ice_Factor,_Kinlochleven
  25. ^ http://www.visitscotland.com/info/see-do/the-ice-factor-ltd-p263341
  26. ^ http://www.mountainfestival.co.uk/workshops/ice-factor/
  27. ^ http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/528165
  28. ^ http://www.actionsportseurope.com/retailzone/ice-factor-secures-one-million-pound-equity-to-fund-franchise-ar397
  29. ^ https://www.scottishclimbs.com/wiki/The_Ice_Factor,_Kinlochleven
  30. ^ http://www.visitscotland.com/info/see-do/the-ice-factor-ltd-p263341
  31. ^ http://srdsociety.wetpaint.com/page/Kinlochleven+-+November+2009
  32. ^ http://www.highland.gov.uk/learninghere/schools/schoollist/kinlochleven/
  33. ^ http://www.kinlochlevenhigh.highland.sch.uk/newsletter/April2010.pdf
  34. ^ http://www.goodschoolsguide.co.uk/schools/126716/kinlochleven-high-school
  35. ^ http://www.highland.gov.uk/leisureandtourism/libraries/yourlocallibrary/kinlochlevenlib.htm
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