Exploring (Virtually) OS Landranger Sheet 42:; Glen Garry & Loch Rannoch
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| Rannoch Station, 2014 |
This sheet is a bit different from the previous sheet in the series - there are a lots and lots of contours, and no coastline. The sheet stretches from the southern edge of the Cairngorms National Park, down to Loch Rannoch and the Tay Forest Park - and it's probably one of the most-traversed remote bits of the central Highlands.
At the south-east corner of the sheet is Schiehallion - and spread across much of the southern edge is Rannoch Moor - and tucked neatly into the southwest corner is Rannoch Station - on the West Highland line from Glasgow up to Fort William. The station is a stopping point for through traffic on the railway, but as far as the roads are concerned it is the end of the line.
So how come I've described this as the most-traversed remote bit of the central Highlands? It's simply because both the A9 and the main railway line to the North snake their way from Glen Garry, over the Drumochter Pass and through Glen Truim - and before these existed General Wade built his Military Road following much of the same route (he's left landmarks, The Wade Stone and Wade Bridge).
And have I visited this sheet? Yes, many many times - but not often stopped.
I've travelled the West Highland Line - and the train must have stopped at Rannoch Station. I've travelled the main line between Perth and Aviemore and on to Inverness several times (and probably stopped at Dalwhinnie Station). And I've driven up and down the A9 so many times that I can't count them - I've driven across Drumochter in bright sunshine, in pouring rain and in heavy snow - I've driven it in the dead of night (with the temperature showing -12C) and the headlights picking out magnificent stags along the roadside.
And the picture? - taken a few years ago when I went to the end of the road, just to see what was there.
Once the LockDown is over I'll be heading back up the A9 again.
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