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Around Loch Rannoch

An easy cycle round an attractive loch, sandy beaches, forests, choice of eating places.

Schiehallion, the mountain that overlooks the loch was the subject of a famous experiment by Maskeleyne, the Astronomer Royal. The intention was to determine the mass of the Earth by observing the deflection of a pendelum caused by the mass of the mountain itself. Schiehallion was considered suitable because of its isolated position and large size. 

The Rannoch Area has a turbulent history of cattle thieving and many local highlanders were hung by government troops as they attempted to gain control of the lawless clans. Of these the Macgregors were the fiercest, stealing cattle from miles around and driving them into Rannoch.

The Black Wood of Rannoch is one of the remaining areas of the original Caledonian Pine Forest that once covered the whole of Scotland. It is a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The wood is slowly being extended by removing the Non-Native trees in the periphery and allowing regeneration.

This is an easy cycle round a typical highland loch. The hills are at the west end and these are quite slight. There are sandy beaches on the north shore at the west end of the loch and the beach just south of Kinloch Rannoch is very attractive with distant views of the mountains the other side of Rannoch Moor. There's quite a lot of natural Scots Pine forest in the vicinity of Loch Rannoch. You actually cycle through the Black Wood of Rannoch while going round the loch but there are more pine woods on the hills to the south, forest trails lead up from Carie and you can bike some of these.

There's a food shop in Kinloch Rannoch, and the Dunalistair Hotel in the square has tables outside where you can take your meal or drinks. For an up-date on the latest situation regarding accommodation and facilities in the area see www.rannoch.net. Rannoch Station, the remotest railway station in Britain, is four miles further west, there's a tea room in the station and a hotel nearby which also does bar food. Cycling to it will involve a bit of a climb, you can't go any further than that unless you take a train on the West Highland Line (to Glasgow or Fort William).

Another possible option for refreshments is Talladh-A-Bheithe Lodge on the north shore of the Loch. This establishment is run by a German family and offers excellent home baking, or for that matter full meals and accommodation.

Features:

• B&Bs / Hotels Nearby
• Camping Nearby
• Circular Route
• Half Day Ride
• Route By Loch
• Route For Young Children
• Route With Bar Meals

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