Rannoch Drove Road Show path on map
Start location: A82, eastern end of Loch Tulla ( NN 311 436 )
End location: B846, Bridge of Gaur ( NN 501 566 )
Geographical area: Argyll and Bute, Perth, Kinross and Stirling (part)
Path type: Drove Road
Path distance: 26km
Accessibility info: Suitable for pedestrians
Route Description
This was once an important drove road, but today it gives the walker a fairly hard outing although there are long sections of easy walking at both ends. A shorter middle section across peat bogs can be quite difficult and gives some idea of the many problems which the builders of the West Highland Railway had more than a hundred years ago.
Starting from the A82, 4km north of Bridge of Orchy at the northeast corner of Loch Tulla, a ScotWays sign indicates this old route to Rannoch initially follows the farm road northeast to Achallader farm where there is parking. Go along the track on the south bank of the Water of Tulla crossing it after either 1km by a ford or after 2km by a bridge at Barravourich (ruin). It is a further 5km to the end of the track at Gorton bothy. Travelling onwards from the bothy, head towards the old bridge (NN379480) over the Water of Tulla. From here, to stay on the old route, keep to the rough and pathless north bank for 2.5km, then go under the railway at the point where it crosses the river close to the Madagan Moineach, and head for a pylon line. Alternatively from the bridge, an easier way now is to stay on the track (crossing said bridge) reaching a railway underpass soon afterwards. Upon reaching the line of pylons roughly paralleling the railway, follow these east-northeast, fording a watercourse en route to a stile at the forest gate (NN405490).
The original route of the old drove road (by way of Meall Doire Meallaich) has long been overplanted, but the right of way still passes through the trees. To most easily pass through the forest now, first follow the pylons northeast across very wet open woodland to the northward-flowing Allt Criche, and after 1km cross this burn, which could be troublesome. Continue below the pylon line for a short distance to join a forest track (NN412502). Leaving the pylon line, follow this track northeast to the junction at NN437525, where the route goes to the right, and by ford across the Duibhe Bheag. Continue for 5km more through forest, passing the ruin near Lochan Dubh Grundd nan Darachan, before emerging onto open ground. Go down the west side of Gleann Chomraidh and by road to reach Bridge of Gaur.
OS Landranger 50 (Glen Orchy & Loch Etive) and either 51 (Loch Tay) or 42 (Glen Garry & Loch Rannoch area)
Heritage Information
This ancient route has had a long usage - including cattle raiders from the West, Campbells travelling between their eastern and western estates, and Hanoverian soldiers when the barracks at Invercomrie were extant.
From the coming of the railway in the 1890s until at least the 1920s, shepherds would take their flocks from Argyll up to Dalnaspidal, there to be sent by train for winter grazing on the Moray coast. In the 1930s it was reported that under the lease of the farm of Achallader there was an obligation on the tenant to give accommodation to shepherds who may be staying overnight and facilities for stancing the sheep.
Dues per 100 head of sheep and 20 head of cattle were collected at the Bridge of Orchy drove stance, and another stance was at Gorton but no dues were collected there. Madagan Moineach, a mossy place close to where the railway crosses the river, was another droving stance. It was also said that the farmer at Camusericht might give a stance for the night - a piece of ground near Bridge of Gaur was known locally as Lucky Park or sometimes as Drovers Stance, but it is unclear whether this is the same spot.
The bridge at NN399485 was constructed by the West Highland Railway Company to make provision for both the stream and for the droving of cattle (on the north side of the stream). This was a statutory provision in the company's bill.
