Cupar 01/09/13

Autumn arrived with a cold start today, putting a few folks off going out.  Ron was at the leisure centre but was recovering from an operation on his hand so was not going out.  This left just three of us to head to the Kingdom of Fife for a run to Cupar.  Thankfully it was not raining but there was a strong wind from the south west and we had to pedal just to keep moving down Carrot Hill as we headed for Dundee.

 We stopped for a roll and a hot drink at the Tay Bridge Cafe before heading for Strathkinness and the second climb of the day.  From Strathkinness we turned right and into the wind for a couple of miles.  We turned right at Pitscottie a mile early to get a bit of shelter but it was a busy B road into Cupar.  Unlike Forfar, Cupar has hardly any Cafes and both were shut so we headed up to Cairnie Fruit Farm.  It was a steep climb and felt more than the 10% warning sign which was at the top!

We were lucky with our timing as it got really busy just after we tucked in to large bowls of pasta soup and strong coffee, it was certainly welcome after 40 miles!  After warming up we headed for home, it was cold but there were some climbs to come to warm us up.  The wind was generally behind us so we warmed up fairly quickly, a brief stop before we headed over the bridge into the wind, we were buffeted by the wind but it was not as bad as we feared!

From the Tay we headed up through Stobie past the Morgan and  out to Fintray, Bridge of Duntrune, as we climbed up Todhillswe discussed the route home.  Normally it would be via Glamis from this point but Charlie suggested Nether Finlarg, it is a dead end but there is a farm track which takes you through and down to the Inverarity road.  From there we headed straight back to Forfar over the Whirlies and had planned to head in via the Farm track but there must have been an event on as the rod was clogged up so we went down to the Glamis Rd and in via McDonalds.

Back into Forfar we had completed just under 70 miles and climbed nearly 4000'.  The route is here if you fancy a lumpy day!

This coming week is Dunning, meet up 9:00am at the leisure centre.

Stonehaven - 25/08/13

Another cool damp start saw only a small group leave the leisure centre, two of the regulars staying home to try earning some brownie points before heading off on a 10 day tour to the Western Isles.  

The last two trips to the 'Auld Toon' had been up by the coast first and back via Auchenblae and the Drovers, the hills and twists giving some shelter from the wind but today there was unusual for the north east with virtually no wind.  

We headed to the Drovers turning right over the undulating road that would eventually take us down into the centre of Edzell.  Brian was stopping for a cuppee and Gus was heading for home via either the Brown and White Caterthuns or Glen Lethnot.

This left just Charlie and I to head north.  We kept a steady pace all the way arriving in Stonehaven in good time.  We stopped at a cafe in the centre of the toon for a quick bite to eat before returning on the coast road.  During the trip north we could see that there was a haar  over the coast and we were heading into it as we climbed up the brae past the harbour.  The steep brae was made easier by the singing from a festival which was going on at the harbour.

As we rounded the corner past Dunnottar Castle the sun came out and the gentle wind was now behind us.  We had a short stint on the main road before returning to the hilly B roads for a few miles then back on to the main road with both of us taking turns to keep up a brisk pace which saw us  going through the 26 miles to Montrose in under an hour and a half.

We turned at Montrose towards Hillside then Bridge of Dunn where we saw the old Bluebrid Bus ferrying passengers between the old steam trains and the house.  We caught up with Duncan on the Montrose Rd, he was out for an afternoon run on one of his 9 working bikes.  We had a good bleather before he turned for home leaving Charlie and I to return to Forfar - a good brisk day!

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!