A November Bivvy

So having had a fairly successful year, bikepacking and bivvy-wise I'm planning on doing 'Bivvy a Month' next year, heading out at least once per month, every month for one year. A chap on the BB forum, Blair, had been in touch wondering if I fancied a ride into Fife. He lived in Falkirk but was brought up in Strathmiglo so knew the area well, including a fine bivvy spot. He was also a BAM veteran so I figured on getting a few tips too. So we hatched a plan to meet up and head out to the Lomonds. By chance the weather was set fair for a cold but clear weekend.

The meeting point was just down the hill from my place on the West Fife Way. We met up bang on time and headed to Dunf, faffed a bit getting round the trails along the north of the town, diverted due to a housing scheme, and then picked up the route through Lochfitty and past the 'landscape art' by the M90. We stopped for a late lunch in the seething metropolis that is Kelty then ground up the monster climb over Benarty hill, followed by a leisurely pedal round Loch leven.

It was dark by this time and we were wondering about bivvy spots and food. The latter came courtesy of the Balgeddie Toll Inn. The proprietor looked a bit dubious at us but as long as we were away by 7.30 we wouldn't disturb his usual customers so we settled in for scran and Bitter and Twisted. Bivvy spot wise, neither of us fancied a cold and breezy Glen Vale but fortunately Blair knew of a 5 star alternative. We departed the boozer just as the first of the normal folk arrived and headed east along the dryside road. It was cold and breezy but Blair was confident our luxury digs would be unoccupied.

We crept into a bit of woodland on the periphery of the Falkland Estate, negotiated a locked gate and entered an area of spaced out trees complete with wigwams, a wooden gazebo with a wood burner, composting loo and lots of dry flat ground. A convivial evening followed sipping whisky and chewing the bikepacking fat sat in front of the wood burning stove. A sound sleep followed.




Day 2 started with two hard climbs over the Lomonds in the sun, and the precipitous descent to Scotlandwell. The ground was frozen solid so the famous Lomonds glop wasn't. More Loch Leven trail led us to lunch in the RSPB cafe (pricy but welcome) and then a leisurely pedal on back roads to my place leaving Blair to do the last 12 miles to Falkirk. I did 70 miles in total but Blair reckoned he would hit the century!





So a good intro to a bivvy at a time of year I would normally never consider going out. I'm joining Blair again, as well as others from the BB forum for the 'Scottish Winter Bivvy,' in December, venue TBC, then it will be off on my BAM campaign for 2018.