Rannoch and Tummel   |
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Rannoch | Tummel | Munros | Cycle Routes | Practicalities |
OS Landranger Sheet 51 |
Rannoch Moor |
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Rannoch Moor! The name alone strikes a chill into the heart of many a traveller, lost, disorientated and in fear of his life. It doesn't take too much investigation to unearth accounts of the missing, found days and weeks later drowned or frozen. Of course, today's traveller whizzes along the A82 in a warm and comfortable coccoon and barely notices. Or they potter along the B846 to the station on a sunny day, have coffee and cake in the cafe, before returning to their warm holiday abode! Walkers on the West Highland Way get more of a feeling for the moor whilst walking upon the cobbled and beaten track of the old military road. Rail travellers gaze from the window of the miserable DMU that passes as a 'train' in this country, blissfully unaware of the rigours and effort that went into building a railway line in such inhospitable terrain. |
Attraction |
Location |
Parking |
Parking Charges |
Admission |
Loch Rannoch |
B846 |
Car Park and various lay-bys |
Free |
N/A |
Loch Rannoch is large and famous for its ferrox trout - trout of unusually large size - and is unique for having three distinct species of Arctic Charr, one pelagic and two benthic. It is surrounded by gently sloping hills and this makes the loch much more approachable than many - Loch Tay, for example, whose shores are generally steep and wooded. The main B846 runs along the northern shore and a secondary road takes the southern shore. As a result there are many beaches and grassy areas where the car party can pull in and tarry a while. Get the blanket out, the picnic and the coffee and biscuits and then run screaming when the midges spot you and decide to have their own feast! |
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Creag Varr |
Kinloch Rannoch |
In village |
Free |
N/A |
An imposing crag but nowhere near as difficult to scale as at first might seem. You have a choice of routes - the landrover track to the rear of the garage or the Hillside Path a little to the east of the village. The former is a bit utilitarian, the latter more verdant. They join at a gate with an adjacent style from where you head off across a boggy section and through the bracken to attain the cairn and viewpoint. Splendid views of Schiehallion, Loch Rannoch, Dunalastair Water and, in the distance, Loch Tummel. |
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Beach and War Memorial |
South of the village |
Car Park |
Free |
N/A |
Beach with a splendid view straight down the loch towards Glen Coe |
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The Clan Trail |
Various locations, signposted |
N/A Just don't block access |
N/A |
N/A |
Discover the clans who inhabited the area. There were seven of them and plaques at various locations will tell you about them and their doings. These doings were often unpleasant and you might regret it |
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Carie |
South Rannoch road |
Car Park |
Free |
N/A |
Walks - through to Glen Lyon if you fancy. But be prepared to walk back again as it's a long way round by road. Unless your other half is very tolerant and won't get lost |
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Historical Note - Dall House: Rannoch School arose from the threatened eviction of Altyre School from its premises in Gordonstoun, Moray. Three teachers took up the challenge of relocating and in 1957 they purchased Dall House from the Forestry Commission. They succeeded in setting up an Independent Boarding School, expending a good deal of blood, sweat and tears in the process. It opened in 1959 and was a great success, the curriculum designed to build character through activities - camping, climbing, swimming, sailing... Alas attitudes change and parents became less willing to despatch their darling progeny to such remote locations - or possibly to have them 'characterised'. Obesity, diabetes and RSI is far preferable! It closed in 2002 and is now a private house |
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Black Wood of Rannoch |
South Shore west of Dall Estate |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
A large area of ancient, primeval Caledonian forest, now in the care of the Forestry Commission |
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Eilean nam Faoileag |
Loch Rannoch |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Very prominent towards the western end of the loch, you may be wondering what it is. It is an artificial island, crannog, designed to be a place of refuge. The MacGregors used it for illicit purposes until vengeance was meted upon them. Apparently there is a secret underwater causeway that zig-zags it way to the island thereby avoiding the deeper water on either side. I have yet to verify this! |
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Historical Note - Rannoch Barracks: Not open to the public, as it is now a private house, but formerly used by soldiers employed to keep the peace following the failure of the '45 rising. Just in case you were wondering why someone should call their home 'The Barracks' |
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Rannoch Station |
B846 - at the far end |
Car Park |
Free |
N/A |
A railway station (yes, railway station - we don't have train stations in the UK. Indeed we don't have many trains but that's another story.) at the end of the road and in splendid isolation. Yet, amazingly it would seem, there are direct services north to Fort William and Mallaig, and south to Glasgow and London. But why would you want to go to such smelly and polluted places (those in the south, I mean) when you can sit on the platform, in the middle of nowhere, with a coffee and a hunk of cake...? And whilst doing so, ponder on the thousands of navvies employed in building the railway. Their suffering and hardship. The fact that the trackbed in places is 'floating' on bog, and that in others alternatives were required because it was just too wet. The longest viaduct on the line is just to the north of Rannoch Station and, in turn, just south of the Cruach snowshed - a cutting with a roof to prevent it filling with snow. The railway was built for the North British Railway and opened in 1894 |
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Historical Note - Rannoch Lodge: Not open to the public but included here for historical interest, given its long line of illustrious visitors. Andrew Carnegie, Cecil Rhodes (he of Rhodesia now Zimbabwe), Elizabeth Taylor, Winston Churchill... |
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Schiehallion |
Schiehallion Road |
Car Park |
Pay & Display |
N/A |
Schiehallion gets its own entry. It is more than just another mountain. Sidh Chaillean is the mountain that can be seen from everywhere. It is distinctive. It is a singleton. It is unmistakable. From certain angles it displays a remarkable symmetry of shape. Ask a wee bairn to draw a mountain and Schiehallion, as seen from Loch Rannoch, is what you will get. This symmetry made it a perfect candidate for weighing the earth. If this interests you, do some research on the astronomer royal Sir Nevil Maskelyne and his invention of contour lines. It is a fascinating story |
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Dunalastair House |
Dunalastair Water |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
The gaunt and derelict remains of the Clan Donachaidh family home. On the north side of the eponymous water, between it and the B846. You'll need an OS map to investigate. Pedestrians are allowed, vehicles and drones not! |
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Lime Kiln |
Tomphubil |
Car park |
Free |
N/A |
Lime kiln and information board telling you about lime production and its uses. This is just over the summit of the road from Tummel Bridge to Aberfeldy (B846) |
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Loch Kinardochy |
Schiehallion road |
Car park |
Free |
N/A |
Loch Kinardochy is the body of water at the top of the hill, near the lime kiln. Good for angling, although a licence is required. This presumably also allows use of the green rowing boats |
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Geographical Centre of Scotland |
Dun Coillich B846 dir Aberfeldy |
Car park |
Free |
N/A |
Should you enter the car park at Dun Coillich and read the notice board a map attached thereupon will tell you that you are very close to the centre of Scotland, the precise location being on the eastern side of the eponymous hill. What it does not define is the basis for this claim; a number of locations make the same claim! The summit of Schiehallion, a point on the A9 north of Dalwhinnie, amongst others. Now I don't really like repeating unsubstianted claims so in attempt to understand the basis of this claim I did some calculations. Based on the following extremities: I found the midpoint between each pair and lo! I there I was on the side on Dun Coillich. There are, of course, other methods of calculation which I suppose are equally valid. Does one include some or all of the islands? Is Skye still an island with its bridge? I am happy that this claim does have some credentials that I can verify. A point just north of Calvine claims to be the furthest from the sea but that's another thing. |
Attraction |
Location |
Parking |
Parking Charges |
Admission |
Aqueduct |
Tummel Bridge |
Roadside |
N/A |
N/A |
Part of the Tummel hydro scheme, this rather large leat brings water to the power station. You might be disappointed. The word aquaduct somehow conjures images of multi-arched, magnificent structures carrying water high above the valley floor. This is just a river with a concrete wall. Nevertheless it makes for a very pleasant walk. It is accompanied by a parallel road which is ideal for ambling and cycling |
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Allean - Walks and Picnic Area |
B8019 |
Car park |
Free |
N/A |
A Forestry Commission car park and picnic area. There are splendid views of Schiehallion and pleasant way-marked walks in the woods above. The toilets are of the 'long drop' type. Everything disappears into the abyss and a bit of sawdust helps contain seepage. They are more usually described as 'green' or 'environmentally friendly' |
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Queen's View |
B8019 |
Car Park |
P&D |
Admission charges apply |
Very beautiful, although it is no longer exactly the same as viewed by Queen Vic and her Albert. The hydro scheme has raised the water level of Loch Tummel by a few metres. Nevertheless it is a splendid view looking towards Schiehallion and is likely very similar. Sadly a public view has been turned into a commercial opportunity. But then again the road is not blocked by cars and coaches whilst the occupants enjoy the view |
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Garry Bridge - Bungee Jumping and Walks to Linn of Tummel |
B8019 |
Car Park |
Free |
N/A |
Throw yourself from a bridge! Although please inform the good folks at the Killiecrankie Visitor Centre first. They'll weigh you to ensure the rope is short enough and strong enough, and extract some dosh from you. If that all sounds too exciting, there are some delightful riverside walks around the confluence of the Rivers Garry and Tummel, at the top end of Loch Faskally. Waterfalls, viewpoints and a monument commemorating the visit of Her Majesty in MDCCCXLIV |
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Linn of Tummel - From the Other Side |
Foss Road, Clunie Dam |
ex Car Park |
Used to be free! |
N/A |
Where the Rivers Tummel and Garry meet. Entry is via a rather grandiose archway. Drive down the hill to find... that the large, grassy car park has been gated and padlocked! Is that mean-spirited of SSE or a reaction to the actions of the selfish and irresponsible? So there is nowhere to park but it is still a pleasant place to walk |