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Around Kinloch Rannoch

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Our view

"A wander round field paths, riversides and through a craggy wood."

Walk directions

Walk up the right-hand side of the main street back towards Pitlochry. Turn right opposite a garage, towards Kinloch Rannoch Primary School. Before the school, a sign, ‘Craig Varr Path’, 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 ‘Riverside Path’ sign marks the earth path ahead. It passes through woodland close to the river, to emerge at a roadside car park with a picnic table.

Another 80yds (73m) along the road, a high gate on the opposite side is signed ‘Craig Varr Path’. 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. 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 edge of the village. Continue along the road for a few steps, crossing the Allt Mor.

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Location

Nearest postcode:

Additional information

Terrain - Small but well-formed paths, sometimes muddy, 1 stile

Landscape - Oakwoods, large river, very large loch

Dog friendliness - On leads under Craig Varr and in village, and care on short stretch of B846 without pavement

Parking - Street parking in main square of Kinloch Rannoch

Toilets en route - None in Kinloch Rannoch; most convenient conveniences are at Queen's View, Loch Tummel

About the walk

The one-time Road to the Isles ran by lochs Tummel and Rannoch through to Lochaber, which isn't a loch at all but the land around Fort William. While this is still a fine through route for walkers or mountain bikers, today's motor road stops abruptly at Rannoch Station, on the edge of the great... Rannoch Moor. To continue to the A82 Glen Coe road, just 10 miles (16km) away across the moor, you'd have to reverse your route back past Kinloch Rannoch for a 3-hour drive by way of Aberfeldy and Crianlarich. Schiehallion stands high The approach from Tummel to Rannoch gives the classic view of Schiehallion, seen best in late autumn with the snow-topped hill standing above the blue loch and golden birch trees. Seen end-on the mountain is a perfect cone. Its free-standing position and symmetrical shape meant it was chosen in 1774 for a measurement by Astronomer Royal Nevil Maskelyne to determine the weight of the Earth. Careful observation of the stars revealed that the 'straight-up' direction, normally determined by the gravitational pull of the Earth as a whole, was slightly deviated by the weight of nearby Schiehallion. The deflection, of slightly over 0.001 degrees, was successfully measured, giving a weight for the Earth of around 13 billion Schiehallions.It only remained to calculate the weight of Schiehallion! In measuring the mountain, the mathematician Charles Hutton needed a way of representing its shape and so invented the contour line, now used on every walkers' map. Varr to go Schiehallion shows well from Craig Varr, the popular viewpoint, poised 600ft (183m) above Kinloch Rannoch, with sight-lines along lochs Rannoch and Tummel. This walk takes an easier line, along the foot of the cliffs of Craig Varr. 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. A big stream Where Allt Mor runs down beside Craig Varr, the strata of the schist rock 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 means large. A small metal statue of a man once fished the pool below the waterfall; hopefully he may return.

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About the area

Perth and Kinross, sheltered by the Grampian Mountains, is often regarded as the Heart of Scotland, and its mountains, lochs and glens yearn to be explored. Just outside the ancient city of Perth is Scone Palace, home of the mystical Stone of Destiny, on which 42 Scottish Kings were crowned.

Route details

Difficulty:

Easy

Gradient:

Gentle

Distance:

2.25 miles (3.6kms)

Ascent:

100ft (30m)

If you like this walk, you can try more routes in the area.

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Around Kinloch Rannoch

Recommended by

Our view

"A wander round field paths, riversides and through a craggy wood."

Walk details

Difficulty:

Easy

Gradient:

Gentle

Distance:

2.25 miles (3.6kms)

Ascent:

100ft (30m)

Walk directions

1 of 5

2 of 5

If you wish to shorten this already short walk, the main square is just ahead, otherwise turn sharp right on a track with a signpost for Loch Rannoch. On the right is a small but striking waterfall. The route passes through a gate with a kissing gate alongside, to a stony track. In 20yds (18m), the uphill track is signed for Craig Varr, but the route takes a path bearing left across a small stream. A ruined wall runs below on your left. On the right you pass a stone arch containing a spring that flows into a stone tank. A kissing gate leads to the roadside near Loch Rannoch Highland Club timeshare complex.

3 of 5

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.

4 of 5

At the start of the pavement, opposite the Kinloch Rannoch Medical Practice, turn right. A ‘Please Shut the Gate’ notice indicates a gate on the left, where a rough track leads to the riverside. A tall concrete weir controls the water level of Loch Rannoch here. The path leads downstream, and under birch trees. After passing under the road bridge, turn left past the derelict public toilets to the village square.

5 of 5

Location

Starting point

Nearest postcode:

Additional information

Terrain - Small but well-formed paths, sometimes muddy, 1 stile

Landscape - Oakwoods, large river, very large loch

Dog friendliness - On leads under Craig Varr and in village, and care on short stretch of B846 without pavement

Parking - Street parking in main square of Kinloch Rannoch

Toilets en route - None in Kinloch Rannoch; most convenient conveniences are at Queen's View, Loch Tummel

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About the walk

Been on this walk?

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Been on this walk?

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About the area

Perth & Kinross

Around Kinloch Rannoch

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Around Kinloch Rannoch

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