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.

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