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