Gairlochy

Gairlochy (Scottish Gaelic: Geàrr Lòchaidh) is a clachan, or hamlet, of population approx. 100.[1] It lies on the southern shores of Loch Lochy, a large freshwater loch in the district of Lochaber in the North West Highlands of Scotland. Gairlochy is surrounded by several other small crofting settlements, the largest of which is Achnacarry. Also close by is Highbridge, the site of the first skirmish of the 1745 Jacobite uprising.

The Gairlochy swing bridge opening

Gairlochy
Gairlochy
Location within the Lochaber area
Population100 
LanguageEnglish, Scottish Gaelic
OS grid referenceNN1752084268
Council area
Lieutenancy area
CountryScotland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townFort William
Postcode districtPH34 4
Dialling code01397 712
PoliceScotland
FireScottish
AmbulanceScottish
UK Parliament
  • Ross, Skye and Lochaber
Scottish Parliament
  • Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber

Between 1803 and 1822, the Caledonian Canal was built, passing through Gairlochy, over the original site of the River Lochy. Two locks were built for access onto Lochy Lochy, but only one, the Upper Lock, is still in use. At the lower lock an end pivoted swingbridge and lock keepers' house is provided to carry the B8005 road and Great Glen Way over the canal.

Completed in 1896, the Invergarry and Fort Augustus Railway passed through the clachan, with a small island-platform station, called Gairlochy Station,[2] in nearby Mucomir, the current site of a caravan park and hydro-electric power station.

References
  1. "Gazetteer for Scotland". Scottish-places.info. 18 September 2003. Retrieved 26 June 2010.
  2. "Invergarry and Fort Augustus Railway". www.railbrit.co.uk. Retrieved 26 June 2010.
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