Loch Rannoch

Loch Rannoch is a long freshwater loch in Perth and Kinross, stretching over 15 kilometres from west to east. Its eastern end is deepest at 130 metres, and the River Tummel begins there near the small village of Kinloch Rannoch. To the west lies the wild Rannoch Moor, while the loch itself is surrounded mainly by commercial forestry and open hills. A small surviving patch of the ancient Caledonian Forest remains at the Black Wood of Rannoch on the southern shore. The area forms part of the Loch Rannoch and Glen Lyon National Scenic Area, one of Scotland’s protected landscapes. The loch offers good sport fishing for brown and ferox trout, arctic charr, pike and perch, managed by the Loch Rannoch Conservation Association. A crannog stands on Eilean nam Faoileag in the western half of the loch, with a 19th-century folly built on it. Mary, Queen of Scots, once ordered the demolition of a fortified house on an island here in 1564. The B846 road runs along the north shore, linking to Rannoch railway station further west. Nearby, Rannoch Power Station uses water from Loch Ericht to generate 44 MW of electricity. The Black Wood of Rannoch is the largest remaining fragment of the original Caledonian Forest in the region. It supports rare plants like coralroot and serrated wintergreen, as well as birds such as the Scottish crossbill and capercaillie. The wood has been protected since 1947 and supplies Scots pine seeds for regeneration projects across Scotland. Visitors can walk through the ancient pines and enjoy views over the loch. The surrounding forests and hills provide paths for walking and quiet exploration.