Sunday Runs 4th March

On Sunday, Ian Matheson, Dave Fawcett, and myself (Dave H) made our way down to Rosewell south of Edinburgh to take part in the "Dave Harris Memorial" 200k Audax organized by Sonya and Colin Crawford. On the first stage down the main A701 to Tweedsmuir there was snow down to the roadside and it was pretty chilly. The usual workout over the steep climb from Tala to Meggat reservoirs was re-routed for safety, and instead we kept on the main road to Moffat. There was a fair bit of slush on the road all the way up the Devil's Beeftub but the going was easy in the calm conditions. Once over the top, the snow disappeared and we enjoyed a fast 5 mile descent to Moffat. Here we took the Selkirk road up by the Grey Mare's Tail and St Mary's Loch.

Dave H (my good self) at Grey Mare's Tail

The weather here was bright, sunny, and spring like but as soon as we turned up Paddock Slack towards Traquair we were into a head wind and short hail showers. Not too bad towards Peebles where a bag of chips was a welcome snack before the main road dash down to Clovenfords.

Filling my face at Peebles (not a pretty sight)

 
A stiff climb up and over to the A7 tested the tiring legs and a bit of a headwind as we started on the A7 wasn't too welcome. I began to cramp after Stowe and had to stop and stretch and consume some fluids. I managed over the top by Fallah Hill in an easy gear then enjoyed the long descent towards Laswadde. 1 mile from the end, I cramped so badly that I had to walk most of it. Ian kept me company to the end where we enjoyed the food and company in the hall.
Dave F wasn't there to cheer us in however as he had finished his cuppie and headed home, having finished 2 hours in front of us.

Meanwhile on the Club run from Forfar, 5 members, Charlie, Gus, Ron, Norman, and Keith set off for Stracathro taking a route out by Redroofs, Powsoddie, and up the hill past the transmitters at Burghill Woods.
From there it was down into Brechin by the caravan site, then up the hill to the main road near Taranty, Once up the hill of Stracathro it was a fine run down to and over the dual carriageway then into the restaurant at the hospital for some lunch. The weather wasn't that great but not too bad as they headed home by Careston.

The Wednesday night run is to Finavon
The next Sunday run on 11th March is to Scone

Wednesday Evening Run to Memus

On a calm night Gus, Keith and myself made our way from Forfar out the usual route by Battledykes, Justinhaugh, and Baldoukie, to Memus. At the Drovers we met up with Pat, Ron, Tom, and Norman.
An easy and pleasant run home by Shielhill Bridge and Hornycross.

Sunday Run to Inchture

The windy weather of late continued on Sunday as 8 of us set off from the Leisure Centre on route to Inchture.

It was hard work against the breeze all the way out by Newtyle and up the hill by  Haliburton Woods then along the flat exposed roads to Collace. Here we got some respite as we turned up through the village and round the side of Dunsinane Hill then up through the glen past Pitmiddle Wood

Up the glen towards Pitmiddle Wood

Ian at Collace Quarry

Norman

After a couple of short climbs it was downhill all the way through Abernyte and on to Inchture where we stopped for a while at the transport cafe. After the break we took the flyover across the main road towards Errol and due to the strong wind we were glad when we  turned  towards Invergowrie to enjoy the strong tail wind that blew us along by Kingoodie then Riverside and through the docks. Here we had to make a slight detour due to a closed bridge but found another route up to Strathearn Road  then out the Wellbank Road by Claypotts.

Luckily the wind was still in our favour as we slowly climbed up by Kellas and we only had a cross wind to contend with as we tackled the slopes up Carrot Hill.

Gus and Keith at the viewpoint

Norman Charlie and Ian atop Carrot Hill

After pausing to regroup at the viewpoint, it was more or less downhill all the way to Inverarity then home to Forfar.





The Run on Wednesday Evening is to the Drovers Inn at Memus.
The run on Sunday 4th March will be to Stracathro.

Wednesday Evening Run to Roundyhill

On a dry but windy night 9 members of Angus CC met up at the Park Tavern at Roundyhill.
The main group took a route around by Heatherstacks,  Balinshoe, and Maryton, with others making their own way. While enjoying some refreshments, our host Jim  provided us with a basket of his finest chips which were eagerly consumed. With a tail wind we then made for home by Paddy School and Drumgley.  

Sunday Run to the Bothy

On a bitterly cold but bright morning, 8 members set off from the leisure centre for a run up to the bothy.
Choosing a slightly different route from the norm, we headed out by Horny Cross and Inverquharity before tackling the sharp climb up by Kinwhirrie and along the ridge that ends up at Pearsie Crossroads.

Tom at Pearsie Crossroads

Re- grouping at Pearsie

Pausing there to re-group we then carried on past the Iron Kirk and down by Balloch then up to the junction where we turned along the Ballintore road.  After the descent over the Quharity Burn it was hard work as we turned full into the breeze with the only shelter being afforded by the steep climb up by Auldallan. No sign of any restoration at Ballintore looks a wee bit more dilapidated each time we pass it. From there it was down to Lintrathen where the road a round the western edge was rather icy.

Charlie and Tom at Ballintore

Leaving Ballintore

Once at the bothy we found that Mary, Etta, Gus, Grant, and Wallace (who we hadn't seen for a while) were already there. Pat also turned up later so it was a full house.

On the way home we split up with myself , Charlie and Norman extending the run a bit by climbing up over by Bamff then down into Alyth Den before heading home by Airle, Westmuir, and Kirriemuir.

The Wednesday night run is to Roundyhill
The next Sunday run 26th Feb. is to Inchture.

Wednesday night run to Glamis

On a chilly might 6 of us set off from Forfar to Glamis. With the main road at Paddy being closed, the Drumgley road was being used as a rat run to get around it so we avoided this and instead chose a route up the Dundee road  then around by Inverarity. Turning towards Gateside into a strong headwind, the going was hard and didn't get any easier as we climbed up the side of Kincaldrum Hill and along to Foffarty then around the back of Hunter's hill before dropping down to Glamis. Ron and Tom had beaten us to it so that made 8 on the night.

Sunday Run to Blairgowrie

Sunday started off cold and misty but there were early signs that it would lift as the group of eight Charlie, Keith, Gus, Tom, Jim, Norman, Ron, and myself (Dave) headed out the Bogside road. There was a faint head wind from the South West but nothing to worry about as we continued on turning up to Airlie School by Baikie Sawmill. From there it was straight along the main road and into Alyth where the fine day had encouraged a few horse riders out and we passed a horse and cart coming out of the town. Climbing up out of Alyth, we were now in the sunshine but looking down into the den there was still ice at the bottom. There was a steep climb out by Bamff before turning along towards Bridge of Cally. Re-grouping in the sun we then continued down the dip at Mains of Creuchies then up onto the moorland below the Drumderg wind farm.

Re-grouping up past Bamff

relaxing in the sun

The views over towards the snow clad hills in the West were clear and the cycling pleasant as we eased down by Heatherhaugh to the T junction. Turning left we took the roller coaster route up past Drimmie Woods where looking down we saw a herd of deer sunning themselves in the field, they gave us the once over but were enjoying the sun too much to let us disturb them. A fast series of descents down by Courthill and Bonnington brought us down into Rattray where we followed the main road out of town before turning down by Aberbothrie and over the main road to Ardler.

Up on the moor near Drumderg

Turning down by Aberbothrie

After arriving at Ardler we enjoyed lunch at the Tavern before getting a blow home by Belmont, Kirkinch and Newtyle.


The run on Wednesday night is to Glamis.
The next Sunday run is to the Bothy (19th Feb)