The pretty Victorian village of Kinloch Rannoch can be found at the eastern end of Loch Rannoch in Highland Perthshire.
The village is idyllically amidst breathaking scenery, and is a great place for cycles, walks and other outdoor activities. In Kinloch Rannoch you can find a range of amenities, including a general store, a café in the square, a gallery, a gift shop and public EV chargers.
Cycling and Walking
The road around Loch Rannoch is used as part of the famous Etape Caledonia, a closed road 80-mile cycling event held each May. However, for leisure cyclists the road around the Loch Rannoch is an easy cycle ride round an attractive loch, past sandy beaches, rolling hills and lush forests. There are forest trails you can take from the nearby village of Carie, too.
If walking is your thing, there is a great choice of walks for all abilities, from gentle strolls to more challenging marches. For the more energetic, the Rannoch Marathon is held in October. Guided walks are also available led by local people - see information on the village notice boards and the local website.
Climbing
Schiehallion, the magnificent cone-shaped mountain that dominates the glen, is known as being one of the easiest Scottish Munros to climb. The main mountain path is constructed and managed by the John Muir Trust, and the ascent takes hikers between 4 and 6 hours to complete. From the top, the views stretch on for miles, and you can see across Rannoch Moor to the peaks of Glen Coe.
What’s around Kinloch Rannoch
Rannoch Station, one of the remotest railway stations in Britain, is 18 miles west of Kinloch Rannoch village. There’s a tea room in the station (open March to October) and a hotel nearby which is not open to non-residents at lunchtime but offers evening meals for non-residents by advance booking only. Cycling to Rannoch Station will involve a bit of a climb. You can't go any further than that as the road comes to a stop at the station. However, you can take a train on the West Highland Line to Corrour, the next stop north, and walk or cycle back.
Fans of the hit TV series Outlander might be surprised to know that Dunalastair Estate near Kinloch Rannoch was used as a filming location. The estate is an excellent spot for watching wildlife, including migratory birds, ospreys and red squirrels. At certain times of year there are opportunities for country sports, such as deer stalking and shooting.
The Rannoch area has a turbulent history of cattle thieving, and many hangings were carried out by government troops as they attempted to gain control of the lawless clans. Of the cattle rustlers the Macgregors were the fiercest, stealing cattle from miles around and driving them into Rannoch. Follow the Clan Trail around the loch to discover more about the clans – you can pick up a leaflet in the local store.
The Black Wood of Rannoch is one of the remaining areas of the original Caledonian Pine Forest that once covered much of Scotland and is one of the many Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in the area. The wood is slowly being extended by removing the non-native trees and allowing regeneration.
For more local information: