Rannoch Moor Loop

Route: Rannoch Moor Loop
Distance: 24.9m / 40.1km
Profile: View
Grade: Hard
Fitness: High
Time: 5-7 Hours
OS MAP: 41 & 51
Route Data: GPX KML
Riders: Dave Banks, Brian Gray
Date: 06/05/2017


Summary

A mixture of road, landrover track, single track, rocky sections and some very boggy sections make this a hard mountain bike trek through interesting scenery.

This route is best run from Bridge of Orchy back to Rannoch Station, as that gets the train journey out of the way and avoids the danger of missing the train if you run late. This requires you to book bike space on the train in advance with Scot-Rail. There is a 2.5m/4km section across Rannoch Moor can't really be cycled, so that requires a lot of pushing and progress is quite slow.

High levels of fitness and decent skills are required, only due to the distance and boggy sections on the route. Be prepared to get wet and muddy.


Details

Starting at the small car park at Rannoch Station, take the 20 minute train ride to Bridge of Orchy. From Bridge of Orchy station, head downhill towards the hotel. Take care crossing the A82, as the traffic is fast moving, and head across onto the single track road to Loch Tulla and Victoria Lodge.

Keep to the single track road until it runs out just past the car park. Take the parliamentary road that forms part of the West Highland Way, as it climbs up over the Blackmount. The road is made of rounded stone cobbles, and these can be slippery in the wet. Ba Bridge is a nice spot to stop for a break before the hard climb up by Beinn Chaorach. The road resembles a dried up river bed, it is rutted and full of loose stones causing you to lose traction in places.

The reward for all that climbing is now the descent to Blackrock Cottage and the Ski Centre access road. The surface is again rutted and full of loose stones, but careful choice of lines and a bit of care make this a fast and exciting descent.

From Blackrock Cottage, head down to the A82 and again, take care crossing the road as the traffic is fast moving, head down the single track road to the Kingshouse Hotel. Although this road is metalled, the surface is quite badly eroded in places, so watch out for the rough sections.

A refreshing pint at the Kingshouse Hotel and watching the local deer in the car park makes a welcome break before starting the third leg of the journey.

Take the old road at the side of the hotel and cross the bridge. The road turns sharp left, but to get back to Rannoch Station, turn right here onto the landrover track to Black Corries Lodge. Continue on the landrover track until you come to the Lodge gates where there is a path up to the left, skirting the lodge grounds, which then joins back onto the landrover track. Continue on the landrover track and when you come to a T-junction, turn right onto the lower track and continue until the track runs out.

When the track runs out, you will see a line in the grass ahead. Take this "path" and follow the power lines for the next 2.5m/4km. This section isn't rideable, and can be boggy in places. Even after the driest April in years, and no rain at all for the first week in May, there were still very boggy sections. Progress on this section is very slow (1Hr 40Min), but eventually you see trees on the skyline signalling the start of the forest track back to Rannoch Station. The forest track is mainly downhill, but there are a couple of climbs to test your weary legs. Continue on this track as it leaves the trees and Rannoch Station comes into sight a short distance ahead. Cross the level crossing and you are back at the car park.


Photo Gallery

Rannoch Car Park		Rannoch Station		Rannoch Station		Rannoch Station
Rannoch Station		Our train approaches		Bridge of Orchy Station		Bridge of Orchy Station
Loch Tulla		Singletrack road to Victoria Lodge		Water of Tulla		Water of Tulla
Start of Parliamentary Road, West Highland Way		Looking back towards Bridge of Orchy		Long climb on West Highland Way		Climb continues
still climbing		Levelling out onto open moorland		Stob a Choire Odhair		Stob a Choire Odhair
Looking back		Lochan		Lochan		View from Ba Bridge
View from Ba Bridge		Climbing starts again		View across Blackmount		Looking back towards Bridge of Orchy
Looking back towards Bridge of Orchy		Track resembles dried up river bed		Start of the descent to Blackrock Cottage		Blackrock Cottage
Deer at Kingshouse Hotel		Deer at Kingshouse Hotel		Welcome refreshment at Kingshouse Hotel		Route ahead
Turn right here		Good landrover track		Looking back towards Kingshouse Hotel		Detour around Black Corries Lodge
Detour around Black Corries Lodge		Detour around Black Corries Lodge		Turn right here		Small lochan
Small lochan		Route ahead		End of landrover track		Start of the path
View across Rannoch Moor		The bike		Path unrideable		Rare rideable section
Boggy section		The route ahead		Water crossing		Another boggy section
More pushing		Little sign of path here		Admiring the view		The route ahead
Small water crossing		Water crossing easily managed		Narrow path climbs steeply		View across Rannoch Moor
Nearing the forest section		Approaching the forest section		View across Rannoch Moor		Entering the forest section
More bog		Start of forest road		Looking back		First glimpse of Rannoch Station
Railway viaduct		Final climb		Approaching level crossing		Looking towards Bridge of Orchy
Looking towards Rannoch Station

Video

This video shows highlights from the trip. The key points in the video are:

00:00 - 03:23 Train from Rannoch Station to Bridge of Orchy
03:23 - 09:03 Bridge of Orchy to Loch Tulla and start of the West Highland Way
09:03 - 13:26 Crossing the Blackmount
13:26 - 20:00 Descent to Blackrock Cottage
20:00 - 26:01 Blackrock Cottage to Kingshouse Hotel
26:01 - 29:18 Kingshouse Hotel to Black Corries Lodge
29:18 - 35:49 Black Corries Lodge to end of landrover track
35:49 - 40:12 The "path" across Rannoch Moor
40:12 - 49:45 Landrover track back to Rannoch Station