Kentallen: An Easter 1966 view of the delightfully situated Kentallen station on the Ballachulish branch, overlooking Loch Linnhe with the mountains of Morvern beyond. In its latter years Kentallen was served by just four trains a day in each direction. The station site is now occupied by a hotel and caravan park.
Frank Spaven Collection (Courtesy David Spaven) //1966
This was a two platform station alongside a pier from which interconnecting steamers operated. The main station building was on the southbound platform and still stands in much extended form. There was a smaller shelter on the northbound platform. (The building at Duror shows a less altered version of how the main station building looked.)
There was a goods yard at the north end, on the east side of the line. The signal box opened with the line and closed with it.
The station closed in 1966.
Since closure the station has become the Holly Tree Hotel . Many period features are retained, many related documents are displayed inside and the early art deco influences on the architecture can still be seen.
The southern portion of the platforms have wooden lodges built over the infilled trackbed, some platform edges can be found. Loading banks can be found in the car park. The pier survives, in cut back form.
To the south of the station site, and across the road, are railway cottages and the former water tank.
Nearby stations Ballachulish Ferry Duror Ballachulish (Glencoe) Creagan Appin Barcaldine Halt Fort William [1st] Fort William Corpach Loch Eil Outward Bound Locheilside Banavie Banavie Pier Benderloch Ach-na-Cloich | Ardsheal Quarry Siding Ardsheal Quarry Lag-na-Ha Quarry Lag-na-Ha Quarry Lag-na-Ha Quarry Siding Auchindarroch Siding Ballachulish Bridge Tourist/other Kentallen Pier Ballachulish Pier Ballachulish House Beinn a^Bheithir - Sgorr Dhonuill South Ballachulish Slip North Ballachulish Slip Sgorr Dearg Corran Lighthouse |
Location names in dark blue are on the same original line. |
/ /1901 | Ballachulish Branch (Callander and Oban Railway) Pier at Leitir Mhor authorised. (This was Kentallen Pier alongside Kentallen station.) |
24/08/1903 | Ballachulish Branch (Callander and Oban Railway) Line opened to passengers and goods. Stations opened at Benderloch, Creagan, Appin, Duror, Kentallen, Ballachulish Ferry, Ballachulish. For the opening Connel Ferry and Oban stations were rebuilt. Two large bridges were required Connel Ferry Bridge and Creagan Viaduct. |
26/03/1966 | Ballachulish Branch (Callander and Oban Railway) Line closed completely between Connel Ferry and Ballachulish (Glencoe). North Connel, Benderloch, Barcaldine Halt, Creagan, Appin, Duror, Kentallen, Ballachulish Ferry, Ballachulish (Glencoe) closed. |