Corrour Munros - guided mountain running weekend

This is your stop! Corrour station is in the middle of a remote 57,000 acre Highland estate on the edge of Rannoch Moor. The nearest public road may be 27km away but our cosy ecohostel is less than 2km down the track. We'll meet you off the train and show you where to go. All you have to do is wave goodbye to civilisation!

For this special mountain running weekend, we've teamed up with the Scottish Youth Hostelling Association (SYHA), who will host our stay at the stunning Loch Ossian Youth Hostel with its lochside setting and dark skies! This award-winning hostel dates back to 1895 and was once a Boat House from where visitors, arriving from the train station on pony and trap, could sail to the grand Lodge House at the eastern end of Loch Ossian. Today things are quite different and the ecohostel has some modern conveniences, including electricity and hot water from local renewable energy sources, yet its foot-only access maintains its remote feel!

From this well-appointed base, our group will run the the sweeping hillside connecting the Munro summits of Sgòr Gaibhre and Càrn Dearg. This route is a good introduction to Scottish hill-running, thanks to the soft terrain underfoot and a high start of nearly 400m elevation. Leave the trails behind and scamper over these rough, open hillsides with views to Ben Alder and Schiehallion. Experience how it feels to run off the beaten track but let our experienced local running guides show you the way. We'll finish our run on trail along the south shore of Loch Ossian, running door-to-door from the ecohostel (22km/973m ascent).

On Saturday night you'll have the choice of whether to cook for yourself or join us at the Corrour Station House Restaurant (20 mins walk away). SYHA Loch Ossian is a self-catering property (and we have sole occupancy for the weekend), but we will also have a table reversation at the nearby restuarant. Our run guides will be found supping a local ale and enjoying the early evening light - and we'd be delighted if you joined us...

On Sunday we will be running a route that includes the Munro summit of Beinn na Lap and surrounding trails (10km/562m ascent with options to extend).

If you prefer, you can take on the Loch Ossian Challenge, inspired by former hostel warden Tom Rigg who ran the 11.5km circuit in under 1h in 1977. The logbook still lives in the hostel, so perhaps you'll be able to add your name to the list before breakfast!

We plan to return to the hostel in time for a wee dip and some relaxation in this beautiful place before walking up to meet the train.

During your stay, keep your eyes peeled. Corrour has an abundance of wildlife, including black and red grouse, ptarmigans, golden eagles, mountain hare, otters, red, roe and sika deer (to name but a few). Immerse yourself in wild running and wildlife on this truly Scottish experience!

What's included?

• Two nights at the award-winning Loch Ossian ecohostel (shared bunk rooms)
• Two days of guided mountain running (route planning, guiding and tales of the trails!). Run guides are insured Mountain Leaders with outdoor first aid certification.
• Wild swimming/dipping in Loch Ossian (optional).

What's not included?

• Train fare (to/from your chosen location).
• Meal at Corrour Station House Restaurant (optional)

Rail Connections

Corrour Station can be accessed on the West Highland Line running from Glasgow to Fort William, with connections to Edinburgh, Oban and Mallaig. Travel from whatever station you like, on whichever service suits your needs (as long as you arrrive on Friday 16th August)! We will be aiming to finish for the 18:25 return service to Glasagow from Corrour on Sunday 18th August. Please note that the return service to Fort William departs at 15:21* or 21:20. The summer ScotRail Timetable for 2024 is still TBC but our itinerary is based on usual/previous schedules.

You can be assured that our final weekend timings will be built around the 2024 summer timetable.

*This service will require an early finish and may mean you need to curtail your day out with us.

Upon booking your will receive a kit list and, nearer the time, final details of the weekend and rail timetables to assist your planning/logistics.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to email us on info@girlsonhills.com or see our useful FAQs online.

Please note that Girls on Hills guides will amend the above intinerary according to the weather and will shorten the route/s if conditions are poor .

Will it be too easy or too hard for me?

This weekend is suitable for anyone with a bit of trail running experience, who is looking to try fell running (or hill running as it's known in Scotland!) You don't need to be able to navigate or run fast but you can expect to be on your feet most of the day. We'll take a sociable pace and will be walking all the uphill climbs. The Sunday will be the easier of the two days and should feel more like a half-day by comparison.

If you're looking to stretch yourself more than this and already have some mountain running experience, check-out our Glen Shiel Munros weekends, which involves a much more intinerary.

This location is very special to Girls on Hills - indeed our co-founder Keri even chose to get married here, on the shore of the Loch, in 2013! We can't wait to show your around....

CREDENTIALS & DETAILS

At Girls on Hills, our experienced trail running guides are Summer Mountain Leader qualified, with outdoor first aid certification and often with Scottish mountain rescue team experience. Your guides will carry first aid kits and group shelters, and will show you the way, whatever the visibility.

For further information see www.girlsonhills.com/faqs. We pride ourselves on being 'approachable and relatable' so please do get in touch with any concerns or queries you might have now or nearer to the event.

For our Terms & Conditions see www.girlsonhills.com/terms-and-conditions