Rannoch
is one of the most scenic and rewarding parts of Highland Perthshire,
Scotland. Despite its wild and unspoilt beauty it is quite accessible
being only 50 miles from Perth, a small mileage as far as the
Highlands are concerned.
Loch Rannoch
itself extends for 10 miles, averaging about 1 mile in width,
and is famous for both its fishing and rough water. Like so
many other of the famed Highland lochs, there is a road along
both sides. The main road on the north bank is the faster route;
while the road on the south bank is the more scenic. Neither
road ever moves far from the edge of the loch, and there are
countless scenic vistas.
The south
shore is most famed for the presence of the Tay Forest Park,
the largest surviving remnant of the ancient Caledonian Forest
south of Rothiemurchus. Rising out of undulating slopes of heather,
the forest offers magnificent walking. To the west of the forest,
in a large clearing, is the hamlet of Camghouran, a beautiful
spot. Isolated down near the lochside is the ancient burial-ground
of St Michaels, with several old gravestones of the Camerons.
One stone
is known as the Clach nan Ceann, the Stone of Heads, recalling
a grim story in which a jealous Mackintosh dashed the heads
of his former lover's little sons against this rock.
Further
west, at the end of the loch, is Braes of Rannoch parish church
and the nearby Bridge of Gaur. The road here continues westwards,
suddenly to end after 6 miles, in the middle of nowhere at Rannoch
Station, where the West Highland railroad line makes a great
curve around the east side of the vast empty wilderness of Rannoch
Moor.
The north
side of Loch Rannoch is known as An Slios Min, The Side of Gentle
Slopes, and here are fields and birch-woods and wonderful views.
Many streams
flow from the north, the largest of which is the Ericht. Nearby,
out in Loch Rannoch, is an ancient crannog, or artificial island.