Around Kinloch Rannoch
Minimum Time: 1hr
Ascent: 100ft
Difficulty Level: 1 - Easy
Paths: Small but well-formed paths, sometimes muddy, 2 stiles
Landscape: Oakwoods, large river, very large loch
Dog Friendliness: Good, but care on short stretch of B846 without pavement
Parking: Street parking in main square of Kinloch Rannoch
Public Toilets: At start, in Dunalastair Hotel
While you're there: The Queenâs View Visitor Centre at the east end of Loch Tummel has one of the finest views in Scotland - along the loch to Schiehallion. Inside, thereâs an audio-visual display.
What to look out for: Peregrine falcons nest on the crags of Craig Varr. They hunt birds as big as pigeons by diving at speeds of up to 200mph (320kph). They suffered from pesticide residues, which they absorbed from their prey. After the banning of the most harmful chemicals, their numbers are now increasing.
Where to eat and drink: The post office in Kinloch Rannochâs main street has been converted into the informal and friendly Post Taste community cafÃ© serving home-made cakes and tray bakes.
Directions:
From the north end of the bridge over the River Tummel, walk up the right-hand side of the square, past the post office. Turn right opposite a garage towards Kinloch Rannoch Primary School. Before the school, a sign, âRiverside Pathâ, points to the right. The tarred path has a small stream on its left. When it reaches the Tummel, it turns left to cross the stream by a footbridge. The path continues alongside the Tummel. Where it bends left into a housing estate, a small sign, âRiverside Pathâ, marks the smaller earth path ahead. It passes through woodland close to the river, to emerge at a roadside car park with picnic tables. Another 80yds (73m) along the road, a high gate on the opposite side is signed âHillside Pathâ. Through the gate, turn sharp left up steps to an earth track. This climbs gently through oak and beech woods, with the main road not far below. The cliffs of Craig Varr are just above. A glacier that came down out of Rannoch Moor dug the bed of Loch Rannoch as it hit more level ground. It also chopped off the end of this hill spur to give Craig Varr its steep southern slope. Large boulders, cracked off by frost, have rolled down into the wood, with one huge split rock right beside the track. Its mossy condition shows that the rockfall took place long ago, and in fact it was probably during the tail-end of the ice age. Smaller stones, dislodged in the same way, form scree above the wood. The track passes through a gate with a stile alongside. In 150yds (137m) it bends uphill; fork left here on a smaller path. This descends to a gate and footbridge just above the road, which it joins at the entrance to Kinloch Rannoch Outdoor Centre on the edge of the village. Continue along the road for a few steps, crossing the Allt Mor. If you wish to shorten this already short walk, the main square is just ahead, otherwise turn sharp right on a track with a hidden public footpath sign for Loch RannochHotel. A board with a path map is on the left. On the right is a small but striking waterfall. The strata of the schist are sloped at an angle of about 45 degrees, downwards to the right. The strands of the stream run down the strata, then across them forming a diamond pattern. Allt means stream, and Mor (sometimes Mhor, but pronounced Vore) means large. A small metal man once fished the pool below the waterfall; hopefully he may return. After an abandoned wildlife garden on the left, the route passes through a gate with a kissing gate alongside, on to a stony track. In 20yds (18m), the uphill track is signed for Craig Varr. The top of the crag is a popular viewpoint, poised 600ft (182m) above the village with sight-lines along lochs Rannoch and Tummel, but the route bears left on a path signed âLoch Rannochâ. A ruined wall runs below on the left. On the right you pass a stone arch containing a spring of clear water that flows into a stone tank. A kissing gate leads to the roadside near the Rannoch Hotel. Turn left, towards the village. Take care here as there is no pavement; walk round bends on the outside so you can be seen by drivers. Just before Kinloch Rannoch, the road bends left at what is called Drive Into Loch Corner. For motorists emerging from the village, a tempting straight leads to an open gateway with the chilly waters of Rannoch just below. At the start of the pavement, opposite the Kinloch Rannoch Medical Practice, turn right. A âPlease Shut the Gateâ notice indicates the correct gate, where a rough track leads towards the riverside, surrounded by yellow flowering broom bushes. A tall concrete weir controls the water level of Loch Rannoch here. The path leads downstream, through a detached gate patterned with the Saltire (St Andrewâs Cross) of Scotland and under birch trees. Alongside, the wide river roils and swirls in an unnatural fashion, caused by its passage through the weir. After passing under the road bridge, turn left past the derelict public toilets to the village square.
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