Loch Ossian in winter
Snow at Loch Ossian
During the week I went hunting for some snowy photos, and decided to head up to Loch Ossian on Rannoch Moor. From Corrour station, there’s hills and moorland stretching in every direction. When I got off the train, all of it was covered in snow. Apart from the abandoned house (Lubnaclach), there’s no signs of buildings for many miles beyond the station area. That’s a lot of white!
The forestry track heading east from Corrour heads over to Loch Ossian. Hidden in the trees at the west end of the loch is Loch Ossian Youth Hostel, run by the SYHA. The hostel was refurbished in 2003, and is now billed as an ‘eco-hostel, with a wind turbine, solar panels and composting toilets.
It’s an incredibly beautiful area of the country. The forestry track continues right round the loch, making for a wonderful fairly flat walk straight from the station. And for those who want to climb Munros, there are plenty within striking distance of the hostel. The train takes you up to 1339 feet at Corrour station, so there’s not too much more climbing to do from there! This photo was taken from the track to the south of the loch, looking towards Ben na Lap on the north shore. It’s probably the easiest of the Munro’s to climb from the station, being fairly close, and also having a steady gentle climb up the west side. The hostel is in the small cluster of trees, seen here at the left hand end of the loch.
Snow on the West Highland line
Snow at Corrour station on Rannoch Moor
This week a made a quick journey north to look for snow in the Highlands. I headed to Rannoch Moor on the train first thing on Wednesday morning. On the strength of a good forecast for two days, I had booked a bed at Loch Ossian Youth Hostel. It’s a place I’m very familiar with from my younger days, but I hadn’t been back in many years. I was intrigued to see how it looked after the major refurbishment it underwent in 2003. I was also hunting for snowy photos for the Photography Scotland’s 2014 landscape calendar.
Corrour station, at 1339 feet, is Scotland’s highest train station. For the final hour of the journey north, we had the most fantastic snowy views. From Tyndrum onwards, we were above the snowline, and the sun was out. Corrour is possibly familiar to many people who have never visited it, after its brief appearance in the film ‘Trainspotting’. It’s a remote spot, with just a station platform, and one building opposite – peculairly, this is a restaurant. Corour Station House Restaurant was built after the station master’s house was knocked down in 2000. With no public road, it’s only possible to get to the UK’s most remote restaurant by taking a train on the West Highland Line. And in the winter it’s essential to book before you go, otherwise you may find the restaurant is shut!
There was still a little late morning sunshine as we pulled into the station at Corrour. Several walkers got off to head up Leum Ulleum, the hill to the west of the station. I had my camera out, and headed off down the track to the youth hostel. The view looking back at the station shows just how remote it is.
Lochs on Rannoch Moor in the Scottish Highlands
Here’s a scene I’ll never get tired of. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve passed by Loch na h-Achlaise on the A82 on the way to Highlands or the West coast. There’s always something that makes me want to stop for a photo.
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Rannoch Moor in the Scottish Highlands
It was sunny as we were heading North through Scotland towards Glencoe. The clouds suddenly rolled in as we approached Rannoch Moor – it’s such an atmospheric place on days like this.
You can buy this photo as a card or print from the Photography Scotland website shop
Rannoch Moor
This is a photo from way back. I’d bought a digital camera just after they were first invented. The camera was the size of a brick, and the batteries went flat after you’d taken a dozen photos. But it still managed to take a few good shots. This one was on Rannoch Moor, just outside the Youth Hostel at Loch Ossian.
Looking across Loch Ossian in the Scottish Highlands
Rannoch Moor
Beautiful sunshine on an incredibly still day on Rannoch Moor
Reflections in a loch on Rannoch Moor in the Scottish Highlands
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