The Pitlochry fish ladder sits beside the hydroelectric dam that backs up the River Tummel into Loch Faskally. The dam was built in the early 1950s as part of a large hydroelectric scheme, and the fish ladder was constructed alongside it to allow the salmon and sea trout that run the Tummel to continue to their spawning grounds upstream. It remains one of the most visited fish ladders in Britain.
The best time to visit is late summer and autumn (August to October), when the salmon run is at its peak. On busy days, dozens of fish are visible through the observation window at any one time, holding in the calmer water of each pool before pushing on to the next. The effort they put into fighting upstream — shouldering through the current with complete intensity — is remarkable to watch close up.
The visitor centre beside the ladder has displays on the Tummel hydroelectric scheme and the lifecycle of the Atlantic salmon, including information on the conservation challenges facing the species (numbers have fallen dramatically since the mid-twentieth century). Entry to the fish ladder observation chamber is free.