We reached a major milestone on Thursday 16 October by welcoming our millionth visitor to Pitlochry Dam Visitor Centre.
First opened on 30 January 2017, we hoped to draw 88,000 visitors per year but welcomed 125,000 visitors in our first year alone. We've since welcomed an average of 110,000 guests annually.
The one millionth visitor milestone landed as local couple Niel and Margo Haggart arrived, who are regular visitors to our café. They were presented with a prize including a VIP Tummel Scheme Tour and lunch for 2 in the café. Other visitors to the centre enjoyed some sweet treats to celebrate with them.
Visitors to our centre learn about such figures as Tom Johnston whose foresight unleashed the hydro revolution that still powers homes today. They can also hear the stories of the Hydro Boys and Tunnel Tigers who lived – and sadly in some cases died – building the schemes.
Pitlochry’s ‘fish ladder’ was integral to the design for the hydroelectricity scheme in the early 1950s. Thousands still visit the dam today to see the salmon swim to their breeding grounds upriver and now everyone can learn the secrets of that incredible journey.
Gillian O'Reilly, SSE Head of Heritage, said: “We’re so proud to welcome our millionth visitor to Pitlochry Dam Visitor Centre. The irony is that when plans for the hydro scheme at Pitlochry were first unveiled some critics feared it could lead to the ‘ruination of tourism’. In fact, the opposite has proven true. People the world over are fascinated by hydro heritage and all that comes with it.
“My thanks to our outstanding team at the visitor centre whose hard work since 2017 ensures we get consistently good reviews from customers and helped us win a Gold Standard Green Tourism Award. We look forward to sharing our heritage and hospitality with thousands of future visitors.”
Vicki Miller, VisitScotland Chief Executive, said: “Pitlochry Dam Visitor Centre has been an excellent addition to Perthshire’s tourism offering, bringing to life the inspiring stories of early industry workers and the history of hydroelectricity in the north of Scotland.
“To have welcomed a million visitors in such a short time is a fantastic achievement. These visitors, whether here for a day or longer all help contribute to our valuable visitor economy, supporting jobs and communities right across Perthshire.”
One of the key objectives when opening the centre was to bring the past to life in a compelling way. A project was launched to capture the memories of early industry workers and their fascinating memories of hydro working conditions which now feature as videos in the centre.
You can also soak up the glory of the River Tummel as it tumbles past the fully working Pitlochry Hydro Station as well as looking out for leaping salmon on their way upriver.