r/OutdoorScotland • u/olderandhappier • 4d ago
Corrour hikes
I am planning a short hiking trip to Scotland to a part I have visited in the past but have never hiked in.
I am fit and experienced in hiking in Scotland including poor winter weather in very exposed places. This trip will be to Rannoch Moor and I plan to train into Corrour station one day first thing, do a hike from there before taking the train out in the evening. Unfortunately the train schedules will only allow me to do this on one day of my trip.
Q - should I hike up Leung Uilleim or Benin na Lap from Corrour? Which is the more remote and has the best views? Which is the nicer hike (probably = less boggy)
Q2 - assuming I have enough daylight could I do both or the best part of both in say 8 hours? (Assume good fitness and stamina but not athlete good). I’m not sure I’ll try this but wondering it it is even possible.
Q3 on another day I can hike into Corrour from Rannoch station and train it back. Has to be in this direction given Sunday train times. Has anyone done this hike? What’s it like? Views and remoteness?
Q4 any other advice or thoughts? Midges are gone now?
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u/Radioactdave 4d ago
The Trainspotting bridge isn't that far from Corrour Station, should be doable in a day, lol
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u/CollReg 3d ago
Personally I would do Carn Dearg & Sgor Choinnich if anything. Or the full Ossian lap to take in Beinn na Lap if you're fit enough.
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u/olderandhappier 3d ago
Thank you. Can you elaborate on both if you get a chance…the quality of scenery and feel of the hike.
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u/CollReg 3d ago
Beinn na Lap is very much an up and down down from Corrour, it’s bloody steep for a few hundred metres of climbing then gentle for the rest. In terms of the ‘journey’, I find that pretty uninspiring.
Carn Dearg and Sgor Gaibhre (sorry I made a mistake in my original comment, Sgor Choinnich is the subsidiary Top), make for a more complete walk. They sit on the South East side of loch Ossian and can be walked as a loop. You’ll see more of the loch, views north to Ben Alder and Loch Ericht and get similar views North West towards the Ben Nevis range.
It is possible to extend the walk to take in both, doing a lap of Loch Ossian effectively, if you’re fit enough. This only took me 4 hours running so would be doable by a fit person walking in 8 hours in my opinion. I descended from Sgor Gaibhre to Corrour lodge then made my way north west past Strath Ossian on good estate tracks to ascend Beinn na Lap by its long North Easterly ridge, this ascent is almost entirely path-less until you get on to the upper ridge, it’s not at all easy. Steve Fallon (renowned Scottish mountain guide) suggests a different version that another commented linked to, it goes up Beinn na Lap first then uses a steep descent off its south east flank to make for a shorter loop.
I think either of these are a more complete day out than either of the two standalone hills you suggested. But I’m sure you’ll have a great time any which way as it’s a beautiful spot and you need to do something within your capabilities.
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u/ChanceStunning8314 4d ago
The walk from rannoch station to corrour is easy to follow and a good track. Nice views. How remote do you want it..?! You can take a Munro in too.. Midges have almost gone. They were there last weekend on the track on a hike up to sron smeur (now if you want views, divert to this hill.. only a 200m climb of that but the 360 is wow, and the lochan is an excellent swim). But temps dropping so midges won’t be around for much longer. Ticks dropping down too.
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u/olderandhappier 3d ago
Thank you so much for this advice. If time which Munro would you recommend as a detour whilst on this hike.
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u/ChanceStunning8314 3d ago
Carn Dearg is accessible from the track. Not the most attractive Munro I’ll grant you! Always looks to me nearer than it is..just at the back of the old lodge. Forgot to say plenty of water available on the track-a few running water burn crossings. I cycle it frequently from home. Corrour station cafe very good food!
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u/olderandhappier 3d ago
Thank you. Is the viewfrom from the top nice and worth the trudge uphill?
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u/ChanceStunning8314 3d ago
It is..on a clear day. But honestly sron smeur is far easier and possibly more rewarding.
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u/olderandhappier 2d ago
Would you need heavier boots given bog factor for the detour or are light boots or decent hiking shoes good enough? I presume the latter for the track but was thinking about the detour.
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u/ChanceStunning8314 2d ago
The lower track to sron smeur can be boggy, but I tend to walk at the sides and tussock hop if needed. It’s only a short track, and the hill seems to drain well. As it’s only a short diversion I’d go with the light boots ‘for the majority’ of the stony track.
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u/Useless_or_inept 4d ago
It is a very long day - but you could walk between Corrour and Dalwhinnie station? Dalwhinnie is on a different line, so different train schedules, this might open up other options for you? Or walk over Beinn a' Bhric, past the Blackwater reservoir, over the Devil's Staircase, see the dramatic mountains overlooking Glencoe, then take a Citylink bus home? (Or vice versa, walk in the opposite direction and take a train home)
Steve Fallon has a good route from Corrour around Loch Ossian, which includes 3 different mountains; that is a good range of scenery.
Would you consider walking between Corrour and Tulloch? This gives you more mountains than Rannoch. :-)
There might be a compromise - the taller peaks have more dramatic views, but they attract more walkers. So Leum Uilleim may be less scenic, but you will probably be alone all day.,,
Enjoy!