Community feedback is being sought on plans to divert a section of the Great Glen Way to allow a water main installation to take place.

A new water main is to be installed to connect Fort Augustus and Invermoriston. 

An open event to present detailed plans and seek feedback is being held at Fort Augustus Village Hall on Wednesday 29 August between 1pm and 7pm.


The Scottish Water work forms part of a major planned investment in the future of the public water supply for both communities, centred on a new Water Treatment Works south of Invermoriston, drawing water from Loch Ness.

The project would provide an improved water supply for both communities, with greater resilience and capacity to support future growth. 

Commenting on the plans, David Kitching of Scottish Water said: "We have already had very positive engagement with customers in Fort Augustus and Glenmoriston in the process of developing our proposals and preparing to start work on site.

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"We understand that our planned work will have a significant impact on a section of the Great Glen Way. With this in mind, we have been working closely with Forestry Commission Scotland to explore options to manage this impact as far as possible, while ensuring that everyone is safe around our work.

"We believe that the best available option is to close sections of the lower route while work is taking place, making use of established higher trails to provide a diversion. We are also seeking to plan this element of our work to take place over the time of year when numbers using the route are lowest.  

"We are keen to receive feedback from the community, local businesses and others with an interest in the Great Glen Way, both on our proposals and how we can best communicate the arrangements once they are finalised."

Project manager Kelton Bennett, of ESD, added: "Our first priority has to be the safety of the public and our team over the period when construction work is taking place. In order to install the new water main and return the route to normal on a reasonable timescale, we need to use heavy machinery and to work with extensive excavations.

"We believe that using diversions is the best option to keep everyone safe while ensuring a route remains available at all times for users of the Great Glen Way. We can further reduce the impact by planning to carry out work on a phased basis, particularly between Fort Augustus and Allt na Criche; and by aiming to complete this element of our work over the winter months as far as we can. If our proposed method is acceptable, we would aim to complete installation of the connecting water main in around six months over the winter period."

The first phase of Scottish Water's project is due to start next month in Fort Augustus with installation, via directional drilling, of a new water main crossing beneath the Caledonian Canal and the River Oich.

(CM/MH)