National park · United Kingdom
Rannoch MoorRaineach
Rannoch Moor is free and open — no gate, no ticket, no car park. Go by train (Rannoch or Corrour station) and walk in from the platform; a car only reaches the eastern edge at Rannoch Station. Best May–June and September; July–August means midges and rain.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
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Area
130 km² (50 sq mi)50 sq mi (130 km²)
approximate
Established
1894
Best months
May–Jun, Sep
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Britain and Ireland ↗Neither the UK nor Ireland is part of Schengen: days spent here do not count towards the 90/180-day Schengen limit, and a Schengen visa does not admit you to either country.
- Britain and Ireland ↗The island of Ireland runs on two currencies: euro in the Republic, pound sterling in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Carry a card that pays in both without fees.
- Britain and Ireland ↗Both islands drive on the left. Speed limits are in miles per hour in the UK (including Northern Ireland) and in kilometres per hour in the Republic of Ireland.
- United Kingdom ↗Most visitors who do not need a UK visa now need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling; this includes EU nationals. Irish citizens are exempt. Check the UK government site for your passport.
- United Kingdom ↗The UK is outside the EU and the Schengen area; a Schengen visa is not valid for the UK.
- United Kingdom ↗Driving is on the left; London has congestion and emissions charges for most vehicles, so do not drive in the city.
At a glance
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Area
- 130 km² (50 sq mi)50 sq mi (130 km²)
- About 50 sq mi (130 km²) of open moor; the boundary is not fenced and parts lie in neighbouring areas (check).
- Established
- 1894
- Best months
- May–Jun, Sep
- Permits
- For some areas
Rannoch Moor is a boggy plateau at the head of the Tummel catchment, about 50 sq mi (130 km²) of heather, lochans and low hills west of Loch Rannoch. It is not a national park and has no gate, ticket or car park: the land is private but open to walkers under Scotland's access code, and the only public road ends at Rannoch Station. Two railway stations sit on the moor itself — Rannoch and Corrour, the highest on the UK network at 408 m — which is why this landscape stayed road-free. Corrour has no public road at all; the estate track from the A86 in the Spean valley is not open to visitor vehicles. Expect trackless, saturated ground, sudden mist and no mobile signal away from the public road.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- Special national siteSite of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI); not a national park, so land use is set by the estates and Scottish Natural Heritage (check).
Size and age
130 km² (50 sq mi)50 sq mi (130 km²) · national park since 1894
About 50 sq mi (130 km²) of open moor; the boundary is not fenced and parts lie in neighbouring areas (check).
Why go
- One of the last road-free tracts in Britain: bog, lochans and low hills in every direction.
- Two railway stations on the moor itself — Rannoch and Corrour — so you can arrive without a car.
- Munros and Corbetts straight off the platform: Schiehallion, Beinn na Lap, Leum Ulleim, Chno Dearg.
- A working landscape of deer, grouse and restored bog, not a manicured park.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebAvoid
- MarCaution
- AprGo
- MayBest
- JunBest
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepBest
- OctGo
- NovCaution
- DecAvoid
- JanShort days, sleet, deep bog; daylight about 7 h
- FebCold and wet; snow on the tops
- MarLonger days; ground still saturated
- AprDrier spells; snow patches on high routes
- MayLong daylight, midges not yet bad, rhododendrons at Loch Ossian
- JunLongest days; midges start late in the month
- JulMidges at their worst; rain and cloud
- AugWettest feel; midges persist; busiest trains
- SepMidges fade, heather out, clearer air
- OctFishing season ends 6 Oct; first frosts
- NovVery short days; some lodging closed
- DecDaylight about 6.5 h; sleet and wind
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red deerAll year · On the open moor and around the station houses; do not feed them. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Red grouseAug–Dec · Heather moor managed for shooting; keep to tracks during driven days. | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Midges (Culicoides impunctatus)Jun–Sep · Worst on still, damp, overcast days; they dislike cold and wind. | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Brown trout and charrMar–Oct · Season closes 6 Oct; permit needed. | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| Rhododendron in bloom at Loch OssianMay–Jun · Escaped garden shrubs mark the estate grounds. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Glasgow
Train from Queen Street via Dumbarton, Helensburgh, Arrochar & Tarbet and Crianlarich; three a day.
2 h 30 min to Rannoch, 2 h 45 min to Corrour
Open the page →
From London
Caledonian Highland Sleeper from Euston, Sunday–Friday, joining the West Highland line at Dumbarton.
Overnight; arrives Rannoch and Corrour about 9AM
From Pitlochry
Elizabeth Yule Bus 82 to Kinloch Rannoch, then Dial-a-Bus to Rannoch Station (book 24 h ahead).
55 min plus 30 min
From Fort William
Train north-east along the same line; the moor is the stretch before Rannoch.
1 h 15 min to Rannoch
From By car
B8019 from Pitlochry past Loch Tummel to Kinloch Rannoch, then the north-shore road to Rannoch Station, where the public road ends.
1 h 15 min from Pitlochry
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern edge, Loch Rannoch and Rannoch Station | The only part a car reaches: loch shore, Kinloch Rannoch village, the dead-end road and the station. | Open; road and station. |
| Central moor | The road-free bog and lochans between Rannoch Station and Corrour, with Loch Laidon and Loch Eigheach. | On foot or bike only; no paths in places. |
| Corrour and Loch Ossian | Station, Station House, youth hostel, estate cottages and the 3-mile loch. | Train or estate track; no public road. |
| Northern hills | Beinn na Lap, Chno Dearg, Stob Coire Sgriodain and the country towards Tulloch and Fersit. | Open hill; navigation needed. |
| Western fringe, A82 | The busy Glencoe road across the moor's western edge; a different, road-bound experience. | Open; no scheduled bus stops until the ski slopes. |
Sketch map
- 1Rannoch Station · Ranger station≈56.686, -4.577Tearoom; unstaffed platform; public road ends here.Map ↗
- 2Corrour Station · Ranger station≈56.760, -4.691Highest station on the UK network at 408 m (1,340 ft); no public road.Highest station on the UK network at 1,340 ft (408 m); no public road.Map ↗
- 3Loch Ossian Youth Hostel · Sleep≈56.767, -4.6661 mile east of Corrour station.Map ↗
- 4Schiehallion · Summit≈56.669, -4.1021,083 m Munro; usual start Braes of Foss.Map ↗
- 5Beinn na Lap · Summit≈56.789, -4.660935 m; track from the hostel along the north shore.Map ↗
- 6Leum Ulleim · Summit≈56.739, -4.732909 m Corbett west of Corrour station.Map ↗
- 7Ben Alder · Summit≈56.813, -4.4651,148 m; two-day expedition.Map ↗
- 8Kinloch Rannoch · Town≈56.701, -4.189Small shop and post office; EV charge point.Map ↗
- 9Loch Rannoch · Beach≈56.696, -4.258Nine miles long; level raised, submerging two crannogs at the west end.Map ↗
- 10Loch Tummel · Viewpoint≈56.710, -3.970Queen's View; loch lengthened by the 1950 Faskally dam.Map ↗
Take the points offline
10 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Approximate positions across the moor from Loch Tummel to Corrour, for orientation only.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry to the moor | Free | person | No gate, ticket or car park charge; the land is private but open to walkers under the Scottish access code. |
| Train, Glasgow Queen Street to Rannoch | GBP 25–45 (≈ US$35–60) | person one way | 2026 estimate; advance fares lower, walk-up higher. Three trains a day, about 2 h 30 min. |
| Train, Glasgow Queen Street to Corrour | GBP 28–50 (≈ US$40–70) | person one way | 2026 estimate; about 2 h 45 min. |
| Elizabeth Yule Bus 82, Pitlochry to Kinloch Rannoch | GBP 5–8 (≈ US$7–11) | person one way | 2026 estimate; three times Mon–Sat, 55 min, no bikes. |
| Dial-a-Bus, Kinloch Rannoch to Rannoch Station | GBP 3–6 (≈ US$4–8) | person one way | 2026 estimate; on demand Mon–Sat, book 24 h ahead, carries bikes. |
| Loch fishing permit | GBP 10–30 (≈ US$14–40) | person per day | 2026 estimate; brown trout season 15 Mar–6 Oct, permits from the estate office, hostel or station house (check). |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Access on foot no permit
Vehicle access to Corrour permit or guide
Fishing permit or guide
Overnight on the moor no permit
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- £25–45≈ US$35–60
- £28–50≈ US$40–70
- £5–8≈ US$7–11
- £3–6≈ US$4–8
- £10–30≈ US$14–40
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on Loch Rannoch Conservation — fishing permits before you go.
Park rules
- Do not walk on the railway
- The line is live and single-track; walking the ballast is trespass and dangerous. Use the estate tracks and paths.
- No visitor vehicles at Corrour
- The estate track from the A86 is not open to visitor cars; walk or cycle in, or take the train.
- Leave no trace
- Bog and tundra vegetation is slow to recover. Carry out all rubbish; bury human waste well away from water.
- Dogs
- Keep dogs under control around deer and ground-nesting birds, and on a lead near livestock (check).check
- Fishing
- Permit required; salmon may not be taken. Buy from the estate, hostel, station house or Loch Rannoch Conservation.
- Drones
- Check current rules with the estate before flying; the moor is a working sporting estate (check).check
Where to stay
In the park
Loch Ossian Youth Hostel
20-bed hostel on the loch shore, 1 mile east of Corrour station, no vehicle access. Dorm about £28 per person per night (2026 estimate); open daily April–October, Wed–Sun November–March.
In the park
Corrour Station House
Guesthouse and self-catering in the former signal box and railway cottages at the station; open April–October, restaurant Mon–Sat. B&B double about £140 (2026 estimate).
In the park
Moor of Rannoch Hotel
Small hotel and restaurant by Rannoch Station, open February–November, Thu–Mon. Double with dinner about £400 (2026 estimate); no TV, wifi or mobile signal.
In the park
Corrour Estate Cottages
Holiday homes sleeping 3–11, 11 miles by track from the station, no road access. From about £3,000 per week (2026 estimate).
Near the park
Kilvrecht Campsite
Forestry and Land Scotland site on the south-shore lane at Kinloch Rannoch; tents about £10, caravans about £30 (2026 estimate), open April–October, dogs welcome.
Near the park
Kinloch Rannoch hotels and cottages
Dunalastair Hotel Suites, Loch Rannoch Hotel and Dunalastair Estate cottages, 20–30 min from the moor's eastern edge.
Safety
Navigation on indistinct, boggy ground high
Missing the last train medium
Midges medium
Wet feet and exposure medium
Deer ticks low
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- Rannoch and Corrour stations are unstaffed island platforms with no ticket machines or toilets; boarding involves a step up from the platform.
- The B8019 and the north-shore road give car-based views of Loch Rannoch and the moor's eastern edge without walking.
- The moor itself is trackless bog; there are no surfaced paths or accessible trails.
Visiting lightly
- Stay on the estate tracks where the ground is soft; bog and tundra plants recover slowly.
- Use the train rather than driving to the eastern edge — the West Highland line is the reason this landscape stayed road-free.
- Buy permits and food locally (station house, hostel, Kinloch Rannoch) so the estates and villages gain from visitors.
- Take all litter out; there are no bins at either station.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Rannoch Moor?
Nothing. There is no gate, ticket or car park charge — the moor is private land open to walkers under Scotland's access code. Your real costs are the train (about £25–50 return from Glasgow, 2026 estimate), a fishing permit if you want one, and food or a bed at Rannoch or Corrour.
What are the best hikes in Rannoch Moor?
Schiehallion (1,083 m, 4–5 h) is the signature ascent. From Corrour, Beinn na Lap (935 m, about 3 h 30 min) and Leum Ulleim (909 m) are the shortest. The Loch Ossian circuit is an easy 1–1.5 h. Ben Alder (1,148 m) needs two days and a bivvy.
When is the best time to visit Rannoch Moor?
May to June and September. May and June have the longest daylight and rhododendrons at Loch Ossian; September brings clearer air and fewer midges. July and August are wet and midge-heavy. November to February means very short days and sleet.
Can I visit Rannoch Moor without a car?
Yes — the train is the classic way in. Three trains a day run from Glasgow Queen Street to Rannoch (2 h 30 min) and Corrour (2 h 45 min), and the Caledonian Highland Sleeper from London Euston stops at both. A day trip gives you about six hours on the moor.
Is Rannoch Moor a national park?
No. It is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, not a national park, so there is no visitor centre, no ranger station and no pass to buy. Land use is decided by the estates and Scottish Natural Heritage.
Where can I stay near Rannoch Moor?
On the moor: Loch Ossian Youth Hostel (dorm about £28), Corrour Station House (double about £140) and the Moor of Rannoch Hotel at Rannoch Station (double with dinner about £400). Near the eastern edge: Kilvrecht Campsite and the Kinloch Rannoch hotels. All 2026 estimates.
Is there mobile signal on Rannoch Moor?
No signal away from the public road. Tummel Bridge and Kinloch Rannoch have patchy EE and Vodafone coverage; there is nothing west of the A9 from Three or O2. Finish calls before leaving Pitlochry.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go
Show the detailsHide
Sources
- officialScottish Natural Heritage (NatureScot) — Rannoch Moor SSSI
- officialCorrour Estate
- officialForestry and Land Scotland — Kilvrecht Campsite
- officialHostelling Scotland — Loch Ossian Youth Hostel
- officialLoch Rannoch Conservation — fishing permits
- officialElizabeth Yule Coaches — Bus 82
- secondaryWikipedia — Rannoch Moor
- secondaryWikivoyage: Rannoch Moor, revision 5304259 (CC BY-SA 4.0)