Around Loch Rannoch

Starting in the small village of Kinloch Rannoch, this is an easy cycle on a wonderfully quiet and mainly flat road around an attractive loch fringed by sandy shores and dense forests. The road is used as part of the annual famous Etape Caledonia, a closed road 80-mile cycling event.

Route Description

This is a gentle and pleasant cycle round a typical Highland loch. You can start (and finish) the route at the square in Kinloch Rannoch. The route is around 23 miles (37 km) and usually takes under two and a half hours to complete.

The hills are at the west end and these are quite slight. There are sandy beaches on the north shore at the west end of the loch and the beach just south of Kinloch Rannoch is very attractive with distant views of the mountains on the other side of Rannoch Moor.

The route passes through some lovely Scots pine trees. You actually cycle through the Black Wood of Rannoch, one of the largest areas of ancient Caledonian Forest which once stretched across Britain and Europe, while going round the loch and there are more pine woods on the hills to the south. The area is home to a wide variety of plants and wildlife, including deer, pine martens and red squirrels.

Forest trails lead up from Carie, some of which are suitable for mountain bikes. 

For more information:

• Loch Rannoch Circular Cycle Route