2nd August 2025 Rannoch to Kingshouse

The Club’s most recent walk was different from usual in that we travelled by coach, train and “Shank’s Pony”, and the walk was on a Saturday to take advantage of the train times.

All 24 of the walkers joined the northbound train at Crianlarich and headed past dramatic scenery to Rannoch Station, where the A & B walks alighted, whilst the C group continued on to Corrour Halt.

There was a bit of soul-searching at Rannoch Station as the B party elected to visit the tearoom for coffee and bacon rolls, this decision proving to be a dilemma for the A party who swithered between joining them or showing true resolve by pressing on to start their walk.

The A walk ascended through the forest and on to the long broad ridge of the Graham A’Chruach (aptly translated from the Gaelic as “The Heap”). Thankfully the weather was dry overhead and underfoot, as the group meandered past peat hags, to the summit, Stob na Cruaiche (739m) before descending to the track which took them past Black Corries Lodge and on to the Kingshouse Hotel where the bus picked up the group.

In the meantime, the B group, having been refreshed at the Rannoch Station tearoom, took the lower level route through the forest above Loch Laidon on a track before exiting the forest on to boggy ground for a few kilometres and continuing on a decent track past Black Corries Lodge and the Kingshouse Hotel, and on to a section of the West Highland Way to the Glencoe Mountain Resort where the bus was waiting.

Both parties were treated to fantastic views in all directions from Schiehallion and the Beinn a’Ghlo range in the east to the hills of Glencoe and most strikingly the Buchaille Etive Mor.

Even The Ben (Nevis) was clear for much of the day.

The most plentiful wildlife seen on the walks were puddocks, however the groups were also treated to sightings of snipe and golden plover.

Whilst the A and B groups were moving from east to west, the smaller C group took a more relaxed option with warming drinks at Corrour Halt before heading for the Youth Hostel at Loch Ossian from where they climbed Carn Dearg whilst others ascended to Peter’s Rock before descending again to Loch Ossian and back to the Corrour Station Café where they were “entertained” by a stag party who had climbed Beinn na Lap, assisted by plenty refreshment.

The C group then joined the south-bound train to meet the A&B parties at the Tyndrum Inn for a meal and some re-hydration.

This meant a rare late return to Blairgowrie but satisfied walkers, who had enjoyed a good day in the hills.