Loch Ossian
Distance: 30m / 48km
Profile: View
Grade: Easy
Fitness: Moderate
Time: 4.5 - 6 Hours
OS MAP: 41, 42
Route Data: GPX KML
Riders: Dave Banks, Brian Gray
Date: 24/08/2013
Summary
An all land rover track, mountain bike trek through interesting scenery.
An initial steep climb and long gradual gradients over a long distance requires you to have good levels of fitness.
Details
Starting at the lay-by on the A86 near Moy, take the short path at the end of the lay-by to the Corrour Estate access road. Turning left and crossing the bridge over the River Spean takes you into the Corrour Estate.
Navigation is easy, just stay on the main access road as it works its way through a mixture of open countryside, forest, felled trees and open moorland. After about 1km the track enters the forest, and climbs steeply for about 1km, this is the only really steep climb on the way to Loch Ossian. There is a steep downhill section 0.5km long just after this climb, before the land rover track gradually climbs all the way through the forest, with the occasion slight level/downhill section before heading out into open moorland.
The moorland section sees a gradual descent. There are nice views to the small lochs and surrounding mountains. You can take a detour down a rough track to Strathossian House before joining back onto the land rover track for another gentle climb before the final descent to Corrour Lodge and Loch Ossian.
Take the right hand track at the junction and head round the Loch in an anti-clockwise direction. The track undulates as it heads through the trees which change from Scots Pine, to Sitka Spruce to native deciduous trees before heading out into open moorland. As you head round to the head of Loch Ossian, there is a T junction, turning right here takes you to Corrour Station. This is just a short distance away and is worth a visit.
Returning from the station brings you back to T junction, but this time you just head straight on and continue round the loch. The land rover track soon deteriorates after you pass the turn off for the Youth Hostel, but is still perfectly rideable. As the track heads towards the head of the loch, you get small glimpses of the Lodge before it is hidden from sight as the track heads though the rhododendron bushes and comes out at the holiday cottages.
The track skirts round the fenced off Lodge, just offering brief glimpses through the trees before bringing you back to the junction again.
Turn right and retrace your route avoiding the detour at Strathossian House, due to the rough track. The gentle descents on the way in now become long climbs on the way out as at this point you have already covered about 20m/30km and your legs aren't as fresh. The long climb through the forest on the way in makes for a fast descent on the way out and gives your legs a bit of a rest before the only steep climb on the way out. This 0.5km climb seems to take an eternity due to tired legs. The track levels off before the final 1km descent quickly brings you out of the forest and the short section back to the lay-by.
Photo Gallery
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Lay-by off the A86 |
Path from Lay-by |
Access road to Corrour Estate |
Start of the land rover track |
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Entering the forest |
Top of the long climb |
View from the top |
Track levels off |
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View of Creag Meagaidh |
Looking back to the steep downhill secion |
Another view of Creag Meagaidh |
Track starts to climb again |
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Fersit track joins from the right |
Track continues its climb |
A gentle downhill section |
View from the track |
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Another view from the track |
Security gate |
Non-vehicular gate |
Top of the climb and end of the forest |
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Track heads across open moorland |
River Ossian |
Lochan and the track in the distance |
Loch Ghuibinn |
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Direct route to Strathossian House |
Water crossing |
Bridge over small water crossing |
Strathossian House in the distance |
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Bridge to Strathossian House |
Looking up towards the landrover track |
Path cuts between buildings |
Strathossian House |
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Track to Loch Ghuibinn |
Final gentle climb before Corrour Lodge |
Start of descent to Corrour Lodge |
Take the right track at Loch Ossian |
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Shores of Loch Ossian |
Shores of Loch Ossian |
Shores of Loch Ossian |
Scots Pine on Loch Ossian |
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Track heads through woodland |
Track heads out into open countryside |
Heading towards Corrour |
Track to Corrour Station |
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Looking back down Loch Ossian |
Close up view of Loch Ossian |
Turn right for Corrour Station |
Looking back down Loch Ossian |
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Peat bog plant life |
Peat bog plant life |
Looking back down Loch Ossian |
Looking down the line at Corrour Station |
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Platform at Corrour Station |
Looking down the line at Corrour Station |
Loch Ossian |
Corrour Lodge just visible in the distance |
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Rougher track on the other side of the loch |
Track heads back into trees |
Track continues above the loch |
Track heads through rhododendron bushes |
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Holiday cottages |
Corrour Lodge out buildings |
Brief view of courtyard |
Close up view of courtyard |
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View down stream to Strathossion House |
Welcome sight after 30 miles |