map of area

walks in this area

Loch Ossian

Loch Pattack

Loch Ossian

Location of Ben Alder and Loch Ossian Hills

The Ben Alder and Loch Ossian areas are rather remote and require either a long walk in or the use of the Glasgow to Fort William train alighting at Corrour Station.  An alternative to the walk is the use of a cycle.

The area is in the very south of the Highland Region and is situated between Loch Ericht and the railway line mentioned above.

I have also added the hills on the north side of Loch Rannoch to this group.

Loch Ericht

Ben Alder

Loch an Sgoir

Mountains of Ben Alder

This group of hills are reached by a long walk along the west shore of Loch Ericht to Ben Alder Lodge, over towards Loch Pattack and south to Culra Bothy.   This bothy, which is open for general use, is a good base to climb the surrounding mountains.

An alternative approach from the north is the A86 Laggan to Spean Bridge Road near Kinloch Lagan and follow the track to Loch Pattack and onto Culra Bothy.

The two hills to the south of the Bothy are Ben Alder and Beinn Bheoil which are normally climbed together.   The approach to Ben Alder is either by the Short Leachas or Long Leachas which are narrow ridges and both involve some scrambling.   The choice of whether you use the Long or Short Leachas is yours.

There is no difficulties in the ascent of Beinn Bheoil followed by a walk along its north ridge before descending back to Culra.

To the west of Culra Bothy are a group of four Munros.   Some can be climbed from Loch Ossian (see below).   However if you have already climbed Geal-charn it is still worth the extra effort to walk up towards the Bealach Dubh from Culra and ascend the Lancet Edge, a steep and narrow ridge.   Thereafter you need to find the narrow ridge that leads to Carn Dearg before returning to Culra.

Beinn Eibhinn & Aonach Beag

Loch a'Bhealach Bheithe

Loch Ossian & Youth Hostel

Mountains of Loch Ossian

To the north of Loch Ossian is a single Munro Beinn na Lap which can easily be climbed from the west end of Loch Ossian in very short day.

On the south shore of this Loch are two Munros, Sgor Gaibhre and Carn Dearg  which can be combined together in a relatively easy day.   However the Corbett Meall na Meoig could be included to give longer day on an out and back route from Sgor Gaibhre.   If not the normal approach is from near Rannoch Station.

To the east end of Loch Ossian are the Munros Beinn Eibhinn and Aonach Beag.   It is easy to add the Munro Geal-charn to this list before descending its south-west ridge to the track back to Loch Ossian.   This leaves only one Munro in this group, Carn Dearg, which can be climbed from Culra. (see above).

On the west side of the railway line is the Corbett Leum Uilleim which can be climbed from Corrour Station on a circuit of Coir a' Bhric Beag.

There is a Youth Hostel, run by the Scottish Youth Association which can be used as a base to climb these mountains.   The alternative is to plan the walks to fit into timetables of the trains, which run infrequently, between Glasgow and Fort William.

You may wish to backpack in this area.   You could take the train to Corrour from Glasgow and walk through to Dalwhinnie at the head of Loch Ericht.   Here you can return to Glasgow as Dalwhinnie is on the Glasgow to Inverness rail link.

Loch Rannoch Hills

South of the Loch Ossian Hills is the area to the north of Loch Rannoch.   Here there are four Corbetts and a Graham.   The remotest of these Corbetts is Stob an Aonach Mhoir above Loch Ericht which requires a long walk in along a tarred road or even better the use of a bicycle.   The return by bike is great as a lot of it is downhill.   An alternative approach is from the A9 at Dalnaspidal but this involves a lot of wild and pathless and boggy terrain.

The Corbett Meall na Meoig, mentioned above, together with the Corbetts Beinn Mholach and Beinn a' Chuallaich can all be climbed on separate expeditions from the Loch Rannoch road or in the case of  Beinn a' Chuallaich from east of Kinloch Rannoch or the Trinafour road.   The sole Graham Creag a'Mhadaidh I combined with Beinn Mholach.

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Beinn Eibhinn & Loch Ossian

Lancet Edge

Loch Ossian