Loch Rannoch to Corrour via Loch Ericht and Loch Ossian

This is a long, remote Highland crossing linking the Loch Rannoch area with Corrour through a landscape of estate tracks, long loch shores, open moorland and big mountain views. At roughly 34 km / 21.1 miles with around 600 m / 1,970 ft of ascent, it is not technically difficult in dry, settled conditions, but the length, exposure and remoteness make it feel more serious than an “easy” rating suggests. Much of the route follows broad land-rover tracks rather than narrow hill paths, which helps with navigation, but it is still a committing day where weather, wind and fatigue can change the character of the walk quickly. Corrour itself is exceptionally isolated, with no public road access to the station. (nationalrail.co.uk)

The start is best understood as being near Rannoch Station, Rannoch, Perth and Kinross, on the north side of Loch Rannoch, rather than at a village centre trailhead. If you are matching the route to mapping, that is the most useful known landmark for the eastern end. The finish is at Corrour railway station, near Loch Ossian, Highland, PH30 4AA, one of the UK’s most remote railway stations. (en.wikipedia.org)

From the Loch Rannoch side, the route heads west into increasingly wild country. Early on, the walking is generally straightforward, with gentle gradients and long stretches where the track allows you to settle into a steady pace. Loch Rannoch itself is a major feature of the region, stretching east-west with Kinloch Rannoch at its eastern end and the open expanse of Rannoch Moor to the west. As the route leaves the settled edge behind, the sense of scale grows quickly: broad water, peatland, rough grazing, scattered burns and distant ridgelines dominate the day. (en.wikipedia.org)

Terrain and what to expect

Most hikers should expect a mixture of estate road, rough vehicle track and occasional wetter or looser sections, especially after rain. The ascent is spread out rather than concentrated in one punishing climb, which is one reason the route can appear moderate on paper. Even so, 34 km / 21.1 miles on hard track can be tiring underfoot, and the cumulative effort is often underestimated. In poor weather, the exposed sections beside Loch Ericht and across the open ground toward Loch Ossian can feel very isolated, with little shelter from wind or driving rain. Reports and route descriptions for this corridor consistently note that the walking is easy to follow overall, but long and remote. (static1.squarespace.com)

Loch Ericht is one of the defining landmarks of the middle part of the journey. It is a very large Highland loch, running for many miles through a dramatic trench between mountain massifs, and it has long been associated with fishing, hydro engineering and travel through the central Highlands. Views northward toward the Ben Alder range are a major scenic reward here, and the scale of the water often makes this section feel much bigger and wilder than the map suggests. (en.wikipedia.org)

As the route bends toward Loch Ossian, the atmosphere changes again. Loch Ossian is narrower and more intimate than Loch Ericht, but still deeply remote, lying on the edge of Rannoch Moor within the Corrour Estate. The final approach toward Corrour is usually on good track, with the station area and the lochside buildings appearing only late in the day. Loch Ossian is about 5 km / 3.1 miles long, and Corrour Station lies a short distance to its west, making this one of the most distinctive finishes to any point-to-point walk in Scotland. (en.wikipedia.org)

Landmarks, wildlife and atmosphere

The great attraction of this route is not a single summit or dramatic scramble, but the feeling of travelling through a huge, sparsely populated landscape shaped by water, ice, estate history and rail access. Loch Rannoch, Loch Ericht and Loch Ossian each have a different character, and together they give the walk a strong sense of progression. Around you, expect open moor, heather, bog cotton, rough grassland and scattered native woodland remnants in places, with red deer likely the most noticeable large mammal. Birdlife can include raptors, meadow and moorland species, and waterfowl around the lochs, though sightings vary with season and