Loch Rannoch

Loch Rannoch.

My first experience of Loch Rannoch was a cold, lonely affair, I had planned a day out in the van, I just needed a change of scenery and couldn’t drum up any interest from my other swimming buddies. It was a beautiful drive over, passing some iconic walking locations along the way, Schiehallion walking car park was busy, but as I dropped down to Kinloch Rannoch I left most of the cars behind. Once in the village of Kinloch Rannoch, I turned left heading up the far side of the loch. This was really a recki visit, I hadn’t been before and so wasn’t sure where I was going. My plan was to drive until I found a suitable place to pull inwhere I would be off the single-track road. I quite quickly found a little car park on the right just next to the Loch. The weather was a bit breezy, and the water looked a bit choppy, but I had to at least dip my toes in. It’s a rocky entry and I found it a bit tricky to negotiate, it was also quite an intimidating Loch, it’s expanse was overwhelming. The moors In the distance were reflected in the water, the sky was oppressive and it was a strange swimming experience, the waters moved inky black around me and the breeze across the surface made it a chilly one. That said, it was a stunning vista and on a slightly calmer day and with some company it would have felt very different. I have since decided that I don’t really like swimming alone, I like doing walking, running, and cycling by myself, but for me one of the biggest reasons to swim is to be social. But I managed to stay in about five minutes bouncing about a bit in the waves and soaking in the scenery. This was one I wanted to revisit with company, and so a friend and I camped at Kilvrecht campsite, an idyllic, peaceful woodland site. The site is set back from the Loch and so we needed to walk around a mile to find a suitable swimming location, but it’s a quiet road, we found a wee beach against a dry sone wall. The wall provided s both with suitable perches to get ready to go in. The loch was welcoming, a sandy easy wade in and then we pushed off into the water, it was a magical experience. The distant Schiehallion in the distance provided a magnigicent back drop. The next day we couldn’t get out of the campsite until 11.30 as the Caledonian Etape was happening, instead we ventured out the back of the site following a loggers track to a concrete bridge, we then found a deer track which ran along the side of the Carie Burn. This was a different place, a green canopy spread all around us and we felt sheltered and secreted away like we had found our very own fairy glen. In this glen we came across a little plunge pool and waterfall. This was where we would have another fabulous watery adventure. It is very different wading into the burn, the rocks are slippy and not very forgiving, there was lots of sliding about on our bums until we managed to get to the deeper hollow. It was like being under and in our own personal cold water jacuzzi, bubbles tickling the skin and sending two full grown woman back to childhood. We sat for a good ten minutes and really didn’t want to leave, but it was cold and in we had to put our sensible grown-up heads back on. It’s one I will be taking my kayak on at some point, it’s peace and serenely invites quiet participation.

Loch Rannoch

Underneath the milky sun,
I swam myself to peace,
In beautiful Loch Rannoch,
All stressors were released.
It’s inky black, deep waters,
Stole my heart away,
Now beautiful Loch Rannoch,
Is with me every day.
The mountains In the distance,
The trees are ever green,
And beautiful Loch Rannoch,
Has washed the slate all clean.
Hillsides roll besides you,
Keeping secrets passed,
About beautiful Loch Rannoch,
And it’s chilly waters vast.