Mysterious Structures at Branault

It makes a walk across West Ardnamurchan's stunning landscape even more interesting if there's a purpose to it. The other day we drove to Branault to investigate the line of obviously man-made rectangular structures which we'd noticed on this Google satellite image of the area.

They run along the right bank of the Allt Mhic an t-Saoir, the stream of the carpenter's son.

From the hill immediately to the south, the structures can be clearly seen - not buildings as we had expected, but rectangular holes in the ground, located on a area of flat land close to the burn.

This picture shows the three at the southern end. What surprised us was that they are so high above the level of the burn, which has eroded a deep channel along this stretch.

The northernmost one has a concreted wall and, at the right-hand end, a section of clay piping which obviously led water out of what must have been a pond.

Bridget Cameron who lives at Branault solved the mystery for us. They are the remains of a hatchery which was built by the Ardnamurchan Estate about 70 years ago with the purpose of keeping the many lochans on the Estate well-stocked with brown trout. Even though they are well above the level of the burn, water was brought down to the uppermost, southern pond from higher upstream, and then ran from pond to pond before being returned to the burn.

Bridget Cameron has caravans to rent on a beautiful site in Branault village, contact details here.