This is a strenuous 6 hour walk (round trip)to one of the strangest sites of Scotland’s industrial history. The Blackwater Dam provided generating power for the aluminium smelting works in nearby Kinlochleven. On the moor beneath the dam lie the graves of men. They died for power. Hydro-power. That power died too when the aluminium plant closed in 2000
The cache is situated near the graves of navvies who worked on the construction of the dam. Some died through blast injuries, some died in the unforgiving snow as they returned one night over the hill from Kingshouse near Glencoe. One man’s name is not known.It is possible to complete the cache in a loop, however, it may prove difficult to cross the dam if the gates are locked, so you may have to return the way you came. So I suggest that you start on the West Highland Way side of the loop, so that if you can pick up the cache before you see if you can cross the dam.
Park at N56 42.815 W004 57.551 and pick up the West Highland Way at N56 42.768 W004 57.314 Follow this all the way to the top of the pipes at N56 42.058 W00004 56.365Leave the WHW at N56 42.040 W004 56.305 and follow the access road.
At N56 41.886 W004 54.516 you have a choice of surface. You can continue along the access road or take to the concrete covered aqueduct. The aqueduct has a character and charm of its own and at times you feel that you are following some secret, forgotten walkway. Millions of gallons of water slip silently beneath your feet, so from time to time you will see signs reminding you that you use this structure at your own risk. The choice is yours, but at N56 42.168 W004 53.158 you must leave the aqueduct and return to the road so that you can turn off at N56 42.018 W004 52.402 and visit the graves and pick up the cache.
Pay a visit to the grave yard and see if you can find the empty grave that lies between the grave yard and the outcrop of rocks that hide the cache. Take care, should you try to stand, or worse, lie in the empty grave, you will find that your irreverence has a cost.
After picking up the cache return to the road and head for N56 41.866 W004 51.955. If the gates are open you can cross and pick up the Ciaran Path which will eventually bring you out at N56 42.811 W004 57.317. Head for the bridge at N56 42.768 W004 57.271 and back to the car park.
Mountain bike fans will love this cache. Look at www.glencoescotland.com/mountainbike_routes for information.
There are many co-ordinates to take from this page. To grab them go to http://boulter.com/gps/grabber/