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Glentarken Tunnel [Beich Intake]

Glen Beich, N of Loch Earn, St Fillans, Perthshire.

Tunnel / Aqueduct, Hydro electric scheme.

Diversion tunnel for St Fillans Power Station, part of the Breadalbane Hydro Scheme. 8'-6" diameter tunnel, invert only lined. The mouth of the tunnel is probably beside a dam structure seen at [NN 6393 2990], supplemented by an aqueduct that collects water at another dam (along the Beich Burn) at [63487 29852]. The outfall point is immediately adjacent to the Surge Shaft for St Fillans Power Station, rising at [NN 69437 25286] before cascading down the shaft after a few metres.

"The North Lochearn catchment tunnel has a small place in history; in 1956, in this tunnel, was established a new world record for the greatest advance in a single week - 557ft." [The Corestore]

See 'St Fillans Power Station [Access Portal]' for main registry entry.

Alternate Names: Glen Beich - St Fillans Tunnel, North Lochearn Catchment Tunnel

Notes: A series of other intakes are located along the numerous burns that flow down the escarpment to the N of Loch Earn, marked on the OS map. A number of these are above the elevation of the main Glentarken tunnel and must therefore be side inlets/tunnels.

Intake locations include: Glentarken Burn [NN 65259 28809], Allt Eas Domhain [6621 2810], Allt na Creige Ruaidhe [6621 2810], Tarken un-named tributary [6728 2691], & Allt an Fhionn [6846 2622].

Given length / VR approx. Name of 'Glentarken Tunnel' shown on SSE general layout map.

Hydrographic Feeds: Beich Burn, Glentarken Burn, Allt Eas Domhain, Allt na Creige Ruaidhe, Allt an Fhionn

Hydrographic Resurgences: St Fillans Power Station Surge Shaft