Rannoch & Tummel

Picnic Spot by Kinloch Rannoch

There's parking here and a picnic table, right by the River Tummel as it flows out of Loch Rannoch. On the route of a circular walk around Kinloch Rannoch.

Macgregors Cave

Due to their banditry, cattle raiding and general lawlessness, the Clan Macgregor and all bearing the name, were outlawed by King James VI in 1603. The clan was dispersed and, while many adopted other names, those that still bore the name Macgregor were hunted and killed like animals. There is a local belief that the cave, which is really a cleft in the rocks high above the River Tummel at the east end of Dunalastair reservoir, was one of their hideouts during this time. It is rumoured that on one occasion, redcoat soldiers hunted down three members of the Macgregor clan to the cave and chased them onto the rocks in the river below where they were killed. The outlaw ban was only repealed in 1774. In Victorian times the cave was faked up as a summer house.

Picture copyright ronnie leask and licensed for reuse under the Creative Commons Licence.

Allean Forest Picnic Spot

This scenic picnic spot is surrounded by Scots pine and larch trees that are home to a variety of birds and animals such as the gold crest, the siskin, the red squirrel and the elusive pine marten. Close to the picnic spot, two kilometres of path and new bridges have been added as part of the Heritage & Access Project and lead to the Clachan, a partly restored 18th century farmstead and the conserved remains of an 8th century Pictish homestead and lookout point above Loch Tummel.

Picture copyright Lis Burke and licensed for reuse under the Creative Commons Licence.

Carie Picnic Area

With car parking and toilets close by, and an easy short walk on hand, this is the ideal spot for families. Just beautiful!

Picture copyright Gordon Hatton and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Clans of Rannoch Trail

The trail was conceived by Alec Cunningham, a former deputy head of the old Rannoch School and commemorates seven clans and others who lived in this wild and inhospitable area in days gone by.
Encounter stories of heroic deeds and dark terror on the descriptive plaques located at various sites around the Loch Rannoch. Clans who once lived in this area and included on the trail are:
The MacDonalds
The Menzies
The MacGregors
The MacDougalls
The Camerons
The Robertsons
The Stewarts

Leaflets are available at various venues in Kinloch Rannoch i.e. shops, hotels, garage etc. Starting point: Annat/finishing point: Viewpoint at War Memorial. Picture is the island, Eilean nam Faoileag, once the fortified HQ of Clan MacGregor known as 'Children of the Mist'

Picture copyright Daryl McKeown and licensed for reuse under the Creative Commons Licence