Spital of Glenshee - 14/07/13

Yet another sunny Sunday saw 6 head from the Leisure center picking up Raymond en-route for a whirl along the Bogside Road.

That was the easy bit, as we turned right of the back road to Alyth at 16 miles and headed towards the Bothy the route became more apparent, Kilry Hill followed by the Blacklunans.

Atop Kilry Hill

The down side of good weather is busier roads than normal, there seemed to be constant traffic as we headed up the the Spittal, we met Ron en-route as he was heading back to Kirrie.  We had covered 36 mile and climbed nearly 3000' and certainly need our lunch and a cold drink.

For the return we headed back down the main road and, after some off road scrambling due to road works, turned into Glen Isla and then left round by Forter.  The speed picked up on the way down the Glen, first Donald, then Gus and Charlie making good time.

We regrouped at the turn for Muirhead Wood and Kinnordy and split for home with Gus & Charlie heading straight home and the rest of us going to the Drovers for some welcome refreshments before turning for home.

The route is here if you fancy it

The Seaside - 07/07/13

The forecasters said it would be hottest day of the year so far and we due to be heading inland to the Inveralmond Brewery!  Unfortunately we had to cancel due to insufficient numbers and with Perth hosting the annual Game Fair the seaside sounded like a better plan.

Five headed for the Brechin Castle Estate with the aim being Montrose then Arbroath.  Keith turned for home just before we got to the Bridge of Dunn leaving 4 to head into the strong sea breeze towards Montrose, thankfully as we turned through the town centre we got a bit of respite and when Charlie spotted Duncan walking along the other side of the road we got a break for a bleather!

We had made good progress and decided to carry on to Arbroath before stopping for lunch, the route starts with a fair climb out of Ferryden and the undulates along the coast but with a steady wind behind us the hills felt fairly easy.

On entering Arbroath we caught a heavily laden couple from New Zealand touring Scotland heading from Montrose to Dundee for the day, we were in our lightest clothing and they were wrapped up like it was winter!  The harbour was mobbed and a long queue at the chippie put a few off s we headed a bit further along past the football ground to a huge play area with benches and picnic tables and a concession stall serving steak, hot dogs, pork and whole load of stuff.  We got our selves a seat and enjoyed the sun.

It was still early when we left but with Murray was playing at Wimbledon the talk naturally turned to hostelries to watch and hopefully celebrate!  It was decided on Letham via Carnoustie and Monikie not far but some long incines to test us after a lunch stop!

Charlie and Norman turned for home leaving Donald & I to head for The Commercial Inn in Letham which we did at a fairly brisk pace arriving half way through the first set a bit sweaty.  It didn't take to long for the cold ones to have the required effect and with Murray edging close to  a second straight set the decision was made to stay until he lost a set which would give us time to get home.  Thankfully he didn't loose a set and we celebrated a fine weekends sporting victories with a light refreshment with the Letham regulars.

Pitlochry 16/06/2013

Summer was in Forfar today, or this morning anyway!  This was one of the first mid summer long runs and there was a good turnout at the leisure centre, including Donald was back for his first Sunday run for a while on a new carbon fibre cyclo cross bike.

We headed out along the Bogside road in sunshine then along the main Perth rd for 5 miles from Meigle to Coupar Angus and onwards to Dunkeld en-route Brian turned off at Ardler and Keith just after Meikleour.  We had a pee break once out of the village and regrouped as we hit the cycle path up the side of the A9 but that was it till we hit Pitlochry.  We had covered the 45 miles at a good pace and we were ready for lunch,  the sun was shining so it was an alfresco stop.

The route to Pitlochry had only two short climbs but things were to change after lunch as we headed up and over  the Moulin, quite a climb on a full stomach - just under a 1000' in 3 miles so we had a wee break at the top.

 

From the top of the Moulin we had a good long descent through Kirkmichael then a left turn saw us clim a little more ten another gentle descent till we hit the Glenshee road where we had a brief stop to re-group and a short discussion on the route back.  

We headed for the three cairns a steep climb of 380' in just over a mile but from there, with the exception of a short sharp hill it was a 900' descent into Alyth.

In Alyth the group split with half heading straight home and half to the Tav in Ardler for some rehydration and after 81 miles we certainly needed it!

We stopped for about an hour as it was warm enough to sit outside and cool down a wee bit before heading back to Forfar at a slightly slower pace.

We rolled into town having covered 96 miles at a cracking pace on a lovely day - the route is HERE if you fancy it.

Next week it's the Bothy camping trip so no long run but plenty of beer, mid week it is Roundyhill leaving the clubrooms at 7:00pm.

VC's Impromptu - Bankfoot 09/06/13

The warm weather of the past week deserted Forfar for the day with sensible people in long sleeves and Brian on his new Spa Tourer.

David led us to Newtyle where Charlie turned off and Brian had to make some adjustments to his bike so we got a wee rest.

From Newtyle we heaed onwards to Coupar Angus where Norman turned off followed by Keith leaving 4 to head to Bankfoot and the Stewart Tower Dairy where we enjoyed some lovely soup coffee cakes scones etc.

For the return we headed down into Bankfoot and Dunkeld followed by a brisk run through Meikleour on the Old Military Road.  We were about to turn right for Coupar Angus but decided to take a chance on Kitty Swanson's bridge which crosses the river Ericht, the bridge dates back to the 1800 when it replaced a ferry run by Kitty Swanson

 We rejoined the hard black surface heading towards Meigle with the Tav in Ardler in our minds but Brian was wanting to head home so we turned left just before the iron bridge along the bottom of the golf course which took us out onto the Meigle to Alyth Rd but rather than turn right and down onto the Bogside road we turned left up the hill and right to Jordanstone, the tarmak ran out and we were on bumpy farm roads where we happened across the burial enclosure of Rear Admiral John Knight born 1710d died 1788

Admiral Knight was an agnostic who insisted on being buried in his own garden, related to Queen Charlotte's lady-in waiting Miss Knight.

When we eventually made it back to Tarmac we headed up the hill and on to the Kirrie Blair road and turned to Kirrie through Airlie for another brisk run up to the Auchindorie cross roads dwn the hill towards Roundyhill for a few pints, Brian headed straight home so we had an hour in the pub before heading home. 

A good run of 75 miles going quickly enough to keep warm - the route is hear if you fancy it

Impromptu - Sunday 2nd June

This run was left open as there ware Audax's being run and others were on holiday and touring.

Three left on a gorgeous sunny day from the Leisure centre Brian heading to the Bothy and myself on the tandem with Zoe, complete with balloons for her birthday, for a couple of hours in the sun.

Sunday 9th is also an impromptu due to holidays - 9:00am at the leisure centre.

St Andrews 26/05/2013

At last a warn sunny say, maybe summer is here!  A good day for heading to the seaside so we set off over Carrot Hill for Dundee with Ron suggesting we stop to look for the Mor Brewery in Kellas, we didn't find it but it gave us a wee rest!

In Dundee Keith and Norman headed towards Arbroath and home, the rest of us headed for the bridge where we paused to look at the the old council office being demolished.

We had a stop for coffee and a roll ate the Tay Bridge Cafe then split up as Ron and Gus were heading for home leaving Charlie and I to head for St. Andrews. We took the usual route but turned up the hill towards Strathkinnes and down past the long descent towards the uni sports ground

We found our way to the harbour and had a bland plate of soup  before heading for home for a second shot at Carrot Hill then we went to Whigstreet an into Forfar - a good day out and 70 miles - the route is here

Clatterin' Brig 19/05/13

It's been about three months since we last visited the Clatterin' Brig at the foot of the Cairn O' Mount and as we set of from Forfar it looked like it might rain and there was a northerly wind to impede our progress.

Seven of set out towards Horney Cross Shielhill then Windsor Terrace to Brechin, we have come back that way a few times but had not headed out that way for a while so it made a fine change with only a couple of small climbs.  W joined the usuall rout at the Co-op and climbed up through Trinity, Temple Wood, Ron turned off heading down towards Stracthro, whilst the rest of us enjoyed the long descent down to Gallery through Marykirk, from Marykirk we followed the main road to Laurencekirk.

Laurencekirk was quite busy for a Sunday morning as we weaved along the High Street before turning left down Station Road heading for Auchenblae and climed through Drumtochty Glen past St Palladuis Church, described as a fairy tale church with part of the original structure dating back as far as 1244 and Drumtochty Castle

On the final steep descent Charlie's rear brake cable snapped, we had covered just under 40 miles climbed 1800' and were ready for lunch, you get a grand feed in the restaurant and it was busy with cyclists.  We had a good break and thankfully David had a full set of cables in his bag so Charlie managed to change the cable and we were soon heading for home.

The sun was out and we had the wind behind us and were making good progress, but it wasn't Charlie's day as he hit a pothole we had a brief stop to get things back together before heading through Fettercarin and Edzell and turning for Memus and the Drovers.  It clouded over a wee bit on the way but when we arrived Gus, David and Charlie headed straight home  and Norman and I stopped for a couple of liquid refreshments.

On the way home we met up with Grahame Steel and his family out for a couple of hours in the sun.  We arrived back in Forfar  we had covered 68 miles the route is here if you want to try it