My Highland Travelogue

Welcome to my Highland Travelogue Page.   My passion is to explore the Scottish Highland Upland Lochs. When time permits, I will drive to a remote location, park the car, fasten on my backpack and trusty camera, and trek a few miles to discover a hidden Loch or Lochan. My pleasure is to explore the smaller, hidden Lochs and Lochans, rather than the larger, well known ones that are already well documented. 

I think that certain places are "healing" , and I begin to understand why when I sit by a lonely stretch of water, with nobody and nothing around for miles. So far, most of my expeditions have been in Highland Perthshire, for logistical and economic reasons, but I hope to travel further as time passes. I think that maybe I am frightened that my Highlands are threatened and that they may vanish. Perhaps to record them on photograph is my mission? When I stumble unexpectedley on one of those jaw-dropping views, I have mixed thoughts - firstly, I want to share it with the world, then, when I think on, I selfishly want to keep it all to myself.  Often I just stand a while in wonderment.

I am no scientist, but many of our small inland Lochs and Lochans are in decline.
Each has its own mini eco system, and it is the decay of this that is the problem.
Each eco system is made up of many interactive and interdependent parts - water,sediment,fish,insects,animals,weather. Eutrophication (chemical and acid pollution) is causing serious problems to our smaller Lochs and Lochans that do not get the same level of monitoring and protection as those larger and better known examples adopted by S.E.P.A.
The decline of insect life affects the fish life, which affects the Lochan itself, which affects the bird and animal life.
This then causes (some) of the Lochans to be affected by Algae and Reed cover, which then affects light penetration, photosynthesis and the general "life" of the Lochan goes into a rapid decline.
This is happening now. Already, some of the large Raptors are coming down to road level to find food.

I dont know how long they will be there for us, but I have to record them as they are now.
I hope I am wrong.

Above all, I feel priviledged to be allowed the honour to walk on this sacred land - I am finite, my footsteps will soon vanish, but this wonderful place will stand for millions of years.

I will try to describe my adventures as best as I can and I hope that I can share my wonderful Highlands with you.

"Enjoy Life's Journey, But Leave No Tracks" (Cherokee Wolf Clan, with thanks to Sue)

"Your travelogue helped to influence our choice of destination as your pictures and details are superb and really do give that `get away from it all feeling`- Martin Rutherford

Like a large Highland Loch on your wall?  - click here!

If you have any questions about the places I visit, please e-mail me and I will do my best to help!

Rannoch and Loch Laidon
Posted by Graham Lumsden (highlandp) on Apr 05 2009 at 6:36 PM
Highland Travelogue >>

The Road to the Isles - or The Road To Nowhere? The road from just above Pitlochry, West, past Lochs Tummel and Rannoch is known as that - The Road to the Isles. The problem is - it stops, suddenly, at Rannoch Station, where it becomes a footpath. The round trip by road is 128 miles, 2 hours each way, which tells you a lot about the road.

I passed the Mighty "S" on my left

I can think of a few good descriptors for Rannoch Moor - Bleak, barren, beautiful. I have never come across a landscape quite like it before. Think of a damp desert and you come closest. And damp it is. It is one huge bog. The word waterproof does not apply here - witness my expensive, so called "waterproof" boots!

There are stunning views across to Glencoe

Loch Eigheach lies to the South.

Eventually, you come to Rannoch Station, through which passes the West Coast Line to Fort Willam. The End Of The Road. There is an hotel and a Railway Station, which has public toilets and a café. 

The Railway itself is a marvel of engineering. the tracks actually "float" over the bog.  The work required to lay these tracks must have been enormous.

I parked up and carefully crossed the tracks, and made my way down to Loch Laidon.

A short cut to the Lochside was a bad idea - this is SERIOUS bogland! A little way along the path there is a worn way down to the East end of the Loch and a sandy beach!  I forgot my bucket and spade! Warm clothes were the order of the day as a bitterly cold wind blew off the Loch. 

The scenery is stunning all around. There is a signpost on the path pointing to Glencoe, some 12 miles further on - good luck to you intrepid travellers - a bit much for me, I'm afraid.

Lunch was a cheese roll and a box of Blackberries. I think I'm getting too lazy to cook out.

The route out is the exact reverse, or you could turn right at Tummel Bridge and drop down to Aberfeldy. One thing I should warn you of - watch out for the roadworks at Bankfoot - I was delayed 45 looooooooooooong minutes and got through a whole packet of Fruit Gums in the process. All in all this is a great trip through wonderfully wild scenery although the drive takes a lot out of you.

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