Scotland’s underground power station is used to welcoming thousands of visitors a year, but not normally those of the furry kind.
One of the rarest mammals in Britain, this family of four friendly Pine Martens has made themselves at home at Cruachan, on the banks of Loch Awe near Oban.
Dubbed the Cruachan Critters, the group has been delighting tourists this summer and charming the staff of ScottishPower’s visitor centre with their gallus antics.
Cruachan’s power station lies more than half a mile below the ground with enormous turbines converting water from the nearby loch into electricity.
But it’s the above-ground “Hollow Mountain” café – and its tasty homemade treats – that has captured the attention of the cat-sized clan.
Cafe assistant Shona Mcleman said: “There have been a few sightings over the years but this family in particular seem well and truly settled in now. The adults had their babies down by the loch and run up daily to collect food for them and take it down to their den, before returning to eat more themselves.
“We do put out leftovers for them on the patio but have had to warn visitors sitting outside to be on their guard, it’s not unheard of for them to sneak up and pinch food from their plates.
“It all started because we caught them breaking into the bins to make off with the leftover jam portions, so we started leaving them out food instead. They got so gallus they were pilfering seeds from the bird table and we’ve had to put a sign up warning visitors not to leave their food unattended.
“We make sure there’s fruit and nuts on offer for them but cakes – or anything with jam – is what they come for most. They’re wee gannets.”
The plucky pine martens even tried out ScottishPower’s tour bus, hopping on board as it got ready to depart for its regular trip inside the mountain to the surprise of waiting tourists.
Ms Mcleman added: “They’ve been on the bus a few times now. The best way to get them off is with a trail of cake crumbs, that always does the trick.”
Robert Raynor, Scottish Natural Heritage mammal specialist, said: “Pine martens have made an amazing recovery in Scotland. They were once found throughout the UK, but suffered one of the most dramatic declines of any UK mammal.”
