39: Loch Ossian trio (part 2)

Beinn na Lap   8th April 2010

Rannoch Station

A chance to combine two of my interests - mountains and railways!  Beinn na Lap, above Loch Ossian, can only easily be reached by train from the remote Corrour Station.


And so it was, that Anne, Fiona and I set off from our wee holiday cottage at Kinloch Rannoch for the lovely drive up Loch Rannoch to Rannoch Station to catch the 11.08 train to Corrour.  

The train was delayed 50 minutes due to some problem further south, but it was no hardship waiting in such an attractive location.  


Eventually the train trundled into view, and we climbed on board for the 12 minute journey across the desolate Rannoch Moor to Corrour.   












We watched the train trundle on northwards out of sight, then took a short walk along the track to wards Loch Ossian to where a boggy path headed off up the rather uninviting slopes of Beinn na Lap (right).  


A brief sandwich stop, and we were off. 










Fortunately the "path" became a bit drier higher up, and we made steady progress towards the snowy skyline.


Kicking steps up the final snowy slope (left) to the ridge was a pleasant diversion from the grassy trudge.


Once on the ridge, the going became easier, the ground firmer underfoot, and soon we were approaching the summit area.  The actual summit was at the far end of the hill, and we were glad to get some shelter form the cold wind behind the summit cairn and rocks at 2.30pm, 2 hours 15 minutes after leaving the station.

Although an undramatic hill, the views were good across Loch Ossian to Ben Alder and to the hills we had climbed yesterday, Carn Dearg and Sgor Gaibhre (above).

We descended by a slightly different (and drier) route, slanting across the face of the hill and dropping down to the northern shore of Loch Ossian (right).

Our return train wasn't due until 18.25, so we had a couple of hours spare to explore around the loch and the Youth Hostel. 


Loch Ossian Youth Hostel (left)

Corrour Station, with Corbett Leum Uilleam beyond.

Then back along the track to Corrour Station, for the train back to Rannoch.

Summary:

1 Munro

9km walk.

550m climbing.

4hrs.