Save Loch Ness

04/06/2026

Many of us now understand that ‘Green’ ‘Clean’ energy is being pushed to meet the huge demands of AI systems.

This is not sustainable or wanted by most.

We need to look at positive counters to this trend….

A living directory of ways communities resist AI harms—and build alternatives worth fighting for.

01/06/2026

Despite bad weather forecasts, Sunday sleepiness and general ‘busyness’ a few folk gathered to ‘Hold Hands to Save Loch Ness’ this weekend.

Next time you are on the shores of Loch Ness, hold hands with whoever you are with, take a photo and share your Love of our Living Landscape with the world.

29/05/2026

Here is an updated visualisation of the Glen Earrach PSH proposals for Loch Ness. Add to that the Loch Kemp and Red John PSH proposals at Dores and Foyers, additional Wind Farms on the surrounding hills and associated infrastructure all scarring our landscape further.

And how we can protect Scotland from being destroyed by 'Net Zero'

29/05/2026

Here is an opportunity to join together as locals and visitors to show our love for our threatened Living Landscapes, which includes us!

This is not just about Loch Ness of course - people would be holding hands for all the rural places in the UK being unjustly impacted by industrialisation.

Help us Save Loch Ness and the surrounding Highlands. Join us on Su...

28/05/2026

Driving home over the Lammermuir Hills last week something wasn’t right. Roads were closed, the place was eerily quiet apart from the odd speeding corporate truck and ominous heavy lorries. There was activity around a water body high up and large cleared areas lower down.

Thoughts of more Wind Turbines, a BESS and perhaps a Data Centre being quietly pushed through came and went, before descending steeply down towards Edinburgh and looking out towards Bass Rock and Trapain Law.

And so, today it is no surprise to see this post from Action to Protect Rural Scotland about a proposed Hyper-Scale AI Data Centre in this very area. This is what is quietly happening all over rural Scotland - that includes here!

It’s time to wake up and protect our hills and water from corporate greed before it is too late.

These things can only happen if people remain silent.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1433056802200363&id=100064881692345

There's a debate in the Scottish Parliament today called 'It's Scotland's Energy' and we have news of a 600MW hyperscale AI data centre in Fife.

With 6,200MW of demand now in the planning system, it won't be Scotland's energy if these data centres get built, it will be Silicon Valley's energy

27/05/2026

Here is the third and final part of the Strathnairn Community Council objection. This time the focus is on nature loss and regeneration works, and, the cumulative impact of developments on Loch Ness, the Great Glen and the wider area.

https://savelochness.co.uk/strathnairn-community-council-objection-part-3-3/

26/05/2026

This is a wonderful move by the Strathnairn Stargazing Group.

A new planning policy aimed at influencing some lighting requirements in new developments will be considered by members of The Highland Council’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee when they meet on Thursday (28 May 2026).

Maintaining dark skies is critical when it comes to large scale energy developments. If you consider the Glen Earrach Energy proposal, this references a number of lighting requirements….which include:

- Lighting during Construction and Operation phases will be required at the Lower Control Works (shore of Loch Ness) and lit navigational buoys in Loch Ness.
- Lighting in remote locations including the Headpond (Loch nam Breac Dearga), and associated with all works compounds
- Various lighting needs at the Valve House at the Main Dam, the Valve Cavern, the GIS Switchyard, the Access Tunnels and the Power Cavern Complex.

All of the above are current dark areas with no lighting.

And then you have the Workers Camp, housing up to 1000 people (just shy of Drumnadrochit’s population). So, you can imagine the lighting needs for that camp – well you will have to, as only two plans for the workers camp exist, and no lighting plans have been submitted in the EIA. GEE hope deal with these impacts via planning conditions, post consent!

GEE do acknowledge that the need for lighting ‘would affect the perception of remoteness on the plateau and absence of human artefacts’.

A ‘Dark Skies’ planning policy means the Council could reduce light pollution across Highland, supporting environmental protection, community financial and tourism benefits and sustainable development. Please urge your local councillor to support this policy.

If passed the policy would make Highland one of the first local authorities to take light pollution into account when assessing new developments.

The Strathnairn Stargazing Group has welcomed news that Highland Council's Economy and Infrastructure Committee is to consider a draft Dark Skies plann ...

26/05/2026

25/05/2026

Rivers Ness, Lochy, Nevis & Spey collectively cover 16,652 km (all in the Top 25 list of Britain’s Largest River Systems). These catchments sit side by side and are all threatened by escalating proposals for industrialisation….

22/05/2026

The second part of the Strathnairn Community Council objection is now available: https://savelochness.co.uk/strathnairn-community-council-objection-part-2-3/

This part focuses on:

- Concealing & misleading information to reduce landscape & visual impact assessment
- Wildness & special landscape areas of the great glen & surrounds
- Acoustic & visual impact for users of Meall Fuar-mhondaidh
- Significant & adverse effect to Loch Ness & community / business / tourism

Some important areas covered and excellent points made by Strathnairn Community Council.