The Bothy - 18/08/2013

The plan had been to get some higher numbers out on a shorter Sunday run to the Bothy, sadly the first week backfired as nobody noticed that this was the same weekend as the CTC Birthday Rides which saw eight+ members away to Stone in Staffordshire.

Nevertheless seven of us headed out on a relatively warm, sunny and windy morning.  We made our way up the Dundee Road heading for Inverarity turning right into the wind along the high road to Glamis, we then headed to the Tav.

It 14 miles into the wind all the way to Ardler where we turned right, finally getting out of the wind, to cross the main road down the long hill past the scrambling track and over the iron bridge crossing the River Isla following the road round towards New Alyth.  

We took a right up the small brae towards Leitfie and got the full force of the wind and sun on our backs for a short downhill till the bottom of the Strathmore golf course where we turned right up past the club house and right onto the A926 for a couple of hundred yards, We turned left into Alyth and Angela headed for home. 

We stopped for supplies in Alyth then headed for the Bothy where Keith carried on heading for home.  Big Jim had been up earlier  to cut the grass and put the fire on so it was nice and warm inside, probably to warm as we all felt a wee bit sleepy after lunch, must be an age thing!

We tidied and locked up and headed towards Kirrie past Peel Farm which was mobbed as usual on a summer Sunday onwards up the hill to go round the Loch of Lintrathen.

Just before Kinnordy Loch we turned right up the hill through Auchindorie and down the long hill crossing the A926 and down to the Bogside Road.  Passing the Park Tavern sounded like a good plan, four of us headed in with Charlie giving it a miss.

The Park Tavern is busy on a sunday but we got a table and put the world to rights before heading for home, it was a good day out, you can get the route here

Amulree 11/08/13

Another slightly cooler Sunday but a good turn out for this popular run saw eight head out of the leisure centre along the Glamis Road towards Newtyle and Coupar Angus.

 Thankfully we were into the wind so we didn't get done for speeding!

We were heading along at a steady pace when we were joined by Mike Carroll in part of his training for the Glasgow 1/2 marathon, he left us at Coupar Angus heading for Blairgowire.  Ron and Tom turned for home as we continued on, past the cemetry and had just enjoyed a wee rest stop when Dave got a puncture, his second in consecutive days, this called for dramatic action - the cluby tire!

It was fitted in minutes and we were off again!

We reached Dunkeld with no further problems and we had a brief jaunt up the busy A9, it was only 1/4 mile but it seemed to take for ever and we were overjoyed to get off even more so when Gus informed us all the we had 7 miles of continual climbing ahead of us!  There were no steep sections and there were a few sections where we got some respite.

I had never doe this run before so wasn't expecting the final wee climb after we turned left just before Amulree, probably the steepest section of the run.

The tea room was busy but we all got in, good soup and coffee with a ginger beer for me, we had done 43 miles so it was a welcome break.  Talk turned to the return and were soon off again heading down The Sma Glenn and turned left for Harriotfield with the wind behind us.  It was quite a rolling road with lots of twists and turns to keep us concentrating.

Dave didn't fancy the Luncarty to Stanley road so we turned left onto the national cycle route to Bankfoot  then up hill to the dairy.  We didn't stop for an ice cream this week continuing on to a left turn to Murthly to retrace our route back to Coupar Angus.

Instead of going through Newtyle we headed for Ardler and the draw of a pint in the Tav was to strong, the rest headed for home with me an hour later.  All in all a great day out and 94 miles to the good, the route is here if you would like to try it!

Next week it's a trip to the Bothy!!

Loch Lee & Glen Lethnot - 04/08/13

A heavy downpour just before 9 cooled the air down a wee bit.  Five headed out of the leisure centre up to the trafic lights where we met Dave and we turned for Brechin.  The wind was behind us so we got a nice blow all the way.

The sun was shining by the time we stopped in Edzell to pick up some lunch.  Ron turned for home and the rest of us  made our way up Glen Esk stopping for a coffee at The Retreat with the wind still slightly behind us.

The road was quite busy as we continued up to Tarfside turning left to Loch Lee, the car park at the end of the road was full and a fair smattering of mountain bikers.  As we got to the rough track Charlie decided he had had enough and was going to stop for his lunch, the rest of us headed the 1/2 mile up to the old ruined church at the foot of the loch

Heading back down the Glen and into the wind you realise how much climbing was involved in getting up, we were past The Retreat before we knew it and in Edzell pretty quickly.  Gus was struggling with his ribs so didn't fancy the big climb.

Glen Lethnot is a tough route back with three short warm up climbs before the main event which has a steep long section before easing out at the top and affording fantastic views on the way down.

At the bottom we turned right and headed to the Drovers where we met Gus who had met up with Charlie in Edzell and had company as far as the pub.  It was a hot day and we were all in need of some rehydration, it was nice enough to sit outside. for an hour before heading back to Forfar.

Crail & Anstruther - 28/07/2013

Summer's over, or at least it was in Forfar.  It was chucking it down at 9:00am, and it had been for a few hours, 3 of us were heading off just as David arrived with the forecast due to be better in the afternoon.  Not really what we needed for what was to be the longest run of the year so far.

As we headed up Carrot Hill Ron had literally had enough and tuned for home. leaving three of us to head for Fife.  It threatened to brighten up as we headed over the Tay Bridge for a stop at the cafe for black pudding rolls and coffee.

After a short break we headed back out into a drizzle and it stayed like that all the way through Craill and onto Anstruther.  We dropped down for a run along the Harbour but we weren't for stopping,  It was a longish climb out of Anstruther back to St. Andrews where we did stop at the Whey Pat, a regular stop when it's wet, you need a feed and drink as they always have 3 hand pull ales on.

After a slightly late lunch the rain had finally stopped and the rain jackets were off, we took the high road to Strathkinness before dropping down to the main road and through Gaurdbridge, we looked towards the Eden Brewery but there was no sign of life so it was the Toll Road through to Balmullo and down to St. Michael for 1/4 mile along the main rd then turning left to the East Links Wood roundabout at the A92, we crossed without incident and went round to the bridge via Wormit and Newport on Tay.

From the bridge we had a choice, back over Carrot, up the steep hills to Glams or the long way round via the tunnel at Invergowrie and on to Newtyle.  The latter was the choice as we were late anyway and had completed 77 miles so another wee bit wouldn't hurt us.  It was into the wind along Riverside Drive then a long drag up to Muirhead.  Through Auchterhouse Donald got a second wind and took off and Dave hit the wall just before we regrouped at the Commercial in  Newtyle.

Three pints later and some crisps we were off for the last leg of our journey into Forfar, we had a light breeze behind us and made good time - 102 miles and a good day out - The route is here if you want to try it

Prosen & Glen Clova + Beer Festival - 21/07/2013

The hilly short run round Prosen and Clova always has a good turn out and we hoped the good weather would draw a crowd.   Numbers were lower than thought as seven headed out but were joined on the run by Iain who was a wee bit late, saw us leaving and caught us in Kirrie and Angela and Lynsey  joined us at the beer festival to give us 10 for the day.

It was  a fairly uneventful ride up until David, who had only arrived home at 1am from holiday had the bad luck of a puncture at the bottom of the steepest hill of the day.  By the time we realised something was up and Gus & I ventured back down he was back on the road so we got a second hit up the big one.

Pace was good all the way and we arrived just on 12 only to find out that they were not starting till 1 so we had lunch in the bar with an early pint.

£5 paid and we were in, early enough to get some seats in the sun.  There was a good selection of beer and the hog roast was on so there was plenty of food and beer, the band was warming up and we had a couple of hours of tunes before leaving the ladies who were planning to stay till the end.

Donald & I headed back via the Drovers who were having 'A Taste Of Angus' festival in the garden.  A cracking barbi with steak, lobster and loads other fancy stuff and Mor Brewing had a tent with some samples to give away.  We were lucky that Ron had bought some beer from them for the bothy so they were happy to chat and give us good sized top ups.

There was a band on there as well but as it got close to 5 the haar came in so we retreated to the bar for the final pint of the day.  A gentle run into Forfar with the water bottle racks full of Mor beer - good day oot!

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.