A Day Trip to Loch Rannoch and Rannoch Station
We love featuring local walks and other outdoor activities, but we also know that not every day of a Scottish summer is going to be dry and sunny, not everyone has the same levels of mobility, and some of the farther reaches are Perthshire are not within walking distance! So, in any of these circumstances, a drive through beautiful scenery starts looking like a good option, and it’s hard to beat Loch Rannoch and Rannoch Station.
Whichever way you get to Rannoch (either from the direction of Aberfeldy or Pitlochry), the scenery on the way is pretty spectacular. Choose the picturesque Schiehallion road or go through Tummel Bridge and enjoy the views over Loch Tummel. The really impressive thing about Rannoch, though, is the variety of scenery you drive through once you arrive.
Dropping down into Kinloch Rannoch presents you with an amazing vista down Loch Rannoch (unless it’s raining, when you may not be able to see very far down it at all!). Make sure you also stop to check out the waterfall cascading down the Craig Varr side of the village, browse the Shed Gallery, enjoy a coffee in the little cafe and perhaps have a wander on the beach. Yes, Rannoch has some wonderful beaches!
Once you’re ready to continue, you can choose to go down either the south shore or the north shore of the loch. Don’t worry too much over this decision—you can always come back the other way.
The north side is mostly notable for some lovely sandy beaches, with amazing views of Schiehallion, and rolling green farmland. The south side is less open at first, starting with leafy birch woodlands and merging into a much darker, evergreen woodland which is in fact the Black Wood of Rannoch, a Site of Special Scientific Interest and Forest Nature Reserve. Further along the road the trees are replaced with open hillsides and mountain views. Look out for the Hygge House here, and also the little hamlet of Finnart, which has some very charming cottages.
At the head of the loch, you can begin the wild and wonderful drive down to Rannoch Station. The burn down the side of the road here is a good indication of things to come, beautiful but untamed, with massive boulders and tumbled water. As you go, look out for the small dam, and also the ‘frog stone’. You’ll know it when you see it! A bit further along is a small loch, most notable for the stunning backdrop of the Glencoe hills behind.
When you finally get to the station, you’ll want to get out and have a wander around, stretch your legs, possibly see a train and maybe pay a visit to the Rannoch Station Tearoom if they have space for you— it’s usually very busy over the summer months. Alternatively, you may want to bring a picnic. Just be aware that the Rannoch midges and cleggs (horseflies) are of a special, extremely fierce variety, or at least they feel like it, so plan ahead with insect repellent and covered up limbs.
Now, unless you’re taking the train, your only option is to turn around and go back again, but it does mean you get to admire the spectacular scenery from the other direction. And of course, once you get back to the loch, you can go down the other side of it and enjoy whatever you missed on the way up.
The whole drive should take you a couple of hours, not counting any stops you might make. The real beauty of it is the variety of scenery you’ll get to experience, from spectacular waterfalls, to leafy woodlands, to mountain peaks, to wild and empty moorland, to sandy beaches, to mysterious forests. It’s all at Rannoch.
