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.
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