r/OutdoorScotland • u/olderandhappier • 5d 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/CollReg 4d 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 4d 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 4d 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.