Rannoch Moor Circuit

About this route

Rannoch Moor is one of Britain's last true wildernesses — a 150 square kilometre blanket bog at 300–400m altitude, without road or building across its centre. The railway station at Rannoch stands on its edge like a frontier post, accessible only by train from Glasgow or by a single road across the moor. This circuit uses that road — the B846, Scotland's most isolated classified road — and the Loch Rannoch south shore track to make a loop that captures the full character of the moor.

The B846 from Kinloch Rannoch to Bridge of Gaur is extraordinary: 15km of almost perfectly flat tarmac single-track across open bog, with mountains visible in every direction and the railway viaducts appearing like mirages in the middle distance. The Rannoch Station Tea Room at the circuit head serves tea and scones to walkers, train passengers, and cyclists in a 1889 station building that has changed little since it opened.

Highlights

• B846 across the moor — flat, straight, empty road with views to the Black Mount mountains
• Rannoch Station Tea Room — Britain's most remote tearoom, accessible only by train or bike
• Loch Rannoch south shore — Scots pines reflected in the loch, ptarmigan audible on the hill above
• Black Corries Estate track — the most remote section; red deer on the open ground above
• Loch Eigheach — tiny lochan visible from the B846, gold in summer evening light

Named climbs

• B846 Kinloch Rannoch climb (280m)
• Loch Eigheach approach (210m)

Notable descents

• Kinloch Rannoch descent
• Rannoch Station approach drop

Route notes

Rannoch Station is accessible by ScotRail (Glasgow Queen Street–Fort William line) making a car-free approach possible — train to Rannoch, ride the circuit, train back. The south shore Loch Rannoch track is a public road for 20km and then transitions to a permissive estate track — stay on the main track.

Seasonal conditions

The midge situation on Rannoch Moor is extreme June–August — the bog provides ideal breeding conditions. May is strongly recommended (midge population is low, bog cotton in flower, snow patches on the tops). October is dramatic but the B846 can be icy November onwards.

Water sources on route

• Loch Rannoch shore
• River Gaur at Bridge of Gaur
• Multiple burns throughout

Always filter or treat water from natural sources. Carry at least 1L reserve on remote sections.

OS map sheets