A small visitor centre on the scenic banks of Loch Awe is all that hints at the feat that is Cruachan Power Station, but step inside it, and you embark on a journey into another world beyond.

Cruachan, which celebrated its 50^th anniversary in 2015, remains one of the country’s most remarkable engineering achievements. It combines a dam and reservoir high above the mountain with a pumped storage power station deep within the hollowed-out rock beneath it.

During times when there is a surplus of electricity, water is gradually pumped from the loch to the reservoir on the mountainside, then, when demand is at its peak, Cruachan roars to life, as water is released, plummeting through the mountain to power the turbines below.

A visit to Cruachan’s heart is much more than a science lesson – it’s an opportunity to experience a setting that is unique.

From the dark and eerie humidity of the mile-long entrance tunnel, to the station’s hub, the vast cavern of the turbine hall, every element here is on a scale so grand that it feels cinematic – an observer could be forgiven for thinking that they were on the set of a science-fiction film.

And what better antidote to time spent underground, than to be dazzled by the daylight at the centre’s café. Decorated with photographs of the excavations and tunnel workers of the past, it boasts spectacular views across Loch Awe, and the chance to encounter some of the wonderful local wildlife, which can include osprey and eagles.

The service is friendly, and the food reasonably priced and locally sourced – the soups are particularly tasty. Scones, baked fresh on the premises each morning, are another highlight.

The attached free exhibition (with activities for children including the chance to dress up as an engineer) is well worth a look.

While it’s unlikely that there will be leftovers, if you do leave a few crumbs on your plate, the staff will recycle them on the bird tables outside, where you can watch as a lovely array of garden birds – and maybe even the resident pine marten – pop by to pick up a quick snack of their own.

Cruachan is open from February to December. For opening times go to www.visitcruachan.co.uk