2025 Century ride record

January 2025...

I read 'The Year' again, the other week, and once again contemplated what it would be like to ride more than 200 miles a day, every day, for one year. Safe to say I'm too old for such a thing now (and to be fair I've probably never been in a position to achieve such a thing...) However I've decided to try and ride as many century plus rides as I can this year but to keep it achievable, I'll be looking to beat 12, my previous 'record.' So not many really but if I was a roadie, it would be much easier. Instead my circuits will generally have varying amounts of gravel thrown in, may even be full on off road, including the BB and at least two on the Highland Trail. I'll log every ride and hopefully have a few tales to tell at the end of it all. To be continued in December!

December 2025

Well I beat my previous annual century tally by a mile and it's been fun, mostly. I've largely avoided horrible weather, although been roasted a couple of times, I've ticked off all my usual circuits, done some variations and a few new routes too. Part of my success stemmed from having to fit as much cycling in as I could in between visits to parents, which inevitably led me to many long days to keep the mileage up. As usual, I set my annual target at 6000 miles, at one point wondered if I could push this out to 7k and in the end I've done 6300 miles which is alright. However I failed on the HT, didn't even make the start of the BB2/300 and also failed to do a cycle tour. That said I've done some fab bike rides.

Further highlights:

Sunshine in Arrochar, the Cobbler prominent. Soon after this point I was sat in the sun, eating pizza and an hour or so later drinking beer with good friends.

Several of my circuits take in NCN 7 from Callander to Killin - a cracker of a route.

Another Favourite - the water board road round Loch Katrin - generally devoid of motor traffic, just watch out for glaikit e-bike riders!

I've no real plan to do this again next year although I did take a notion to try to do one a week but this would prevent me doing many other fun rides. At the end of '24 I was determined to do more mountainbiking in '25 (before I decided on this caper) and this is going to be my priority for 2026.

Anyway, the following is my ride log and a very dull read but will remind me what I've done, when and prove I really did do 18 centuries!

No. 1 Sunday January 19th.

Ride length - 172.5k / 107 miles. Time / total time 8hrs / 8hrs 30.
Height gain 1983m
Bike - Stormchaser
Weather - dry, cold, overcast, light breeze

Ride notes.

Campsies and Trossachs. Home to Kincardine Bridge, back roads to south of Stirling, Campsies road, Kilearn, Aberfoyle, Callander, back road home

4th time doing this circuit and first without incident. First time I had terrible trouble with post Storm Arwen (Nov '21) windblow on the cycle route. 2nd was following the World Champ road race which got stopped due to two folk superglueing themselves to the road, 3rd I forgot any form of money so had to subsist on a pork pie, two bits of granola slice, 2 snickers and a packet of crisps I found on the roadside.

This time was easy, despite being January. Temps went from 4 to 7 degrees, there was little wind and it was dry with a slight overcast. The only issue were some of the forest tracks being a mess due to extensive logging activities and the frost coming out of the ground last week.

Loch Venechar cycleway.

No. 2 Sunday February 16th

Ride length - 170k, 106 miles. Time / Total time - 8hrs 15/9hrs 15

Height gain - 2066m

Bike - Stormchaser

Weather - Dry, mild, stiff easterly breeze

Ride Notes

East Fife gravel and back road ride. Home to Knockhill forest, Blair Adam, Lochore, over to Loch Leven trail, Dryside road then Strath to Falkland cycleway, path to Newton of Falkland, Ladybank, Cupar via cycleway / gravel path. Out of Cupar north side then Foodieash, Balmullo via quarry road, Leuchars, FCP east (diversion round Ryries wood and coast) Tentsmuir, west via usual back roads and Pitmedden forest.

On the face of it a straightforward circuit, done a few times before with variations. In the event it turned into a bit of a mission. Mucky trails, fallen trees and a stiff easterly wind slowed things up considerably heading out. Then I suffered yet another catastrophic puncture in Ryries wood thanks to a sharp stick - a first for me. I had to fit a tube and lost c40mins. Thereafter it was a good run west with a welcome tailwind. Dark at Pitmedden forest and the last 2 hours home.

On the wee roads north east of Cupar.

No. 3 Sunday March 2nd

Ride Length - 187k / 117m Time / Total Time - 8hrs 15 / 8hrs 45

Height gain - 2300m

Bike - Stormchaser

Weather - dry, overcast with some sun, stiff south westerly breeze, cool.

Ride notes 

Trossachs. Out to Loch Katrine via Bridge of Allan, Carse road, Doune, Callander, Venechar cycle way, Loch Katrine road. Back via Statute road, Aberfoyle, NCN, Doune, Dunblane, Tilly etc.

About the shortest variant of my ubiquitous Trossachs bash - a way to do a lap of Loch Katrine from home and pick off some fine gravel. No punctures today, unlike my previous two visits. The weather was dry and fairly sunny but a stiff south westerly hindered me on the way out and helped me on the way back. Forest roads were generally fairly dry and nothing got in my way fallen trees wise. No traffic on the forest drive for the second time this year was a bonus. Just about dark for the last half hour.

On a short section of singletrack by Loch Katrine, Ben Lomond in the distance with a dusting of snow.

Looking west to gloomy mountains (Bens' Ime, Vane and Narnain)

No. 4 Friday April 4th

Ride Length 168k / 105 miles. Time / total time 8hrs 30 / 9hrs 40

Height gain 2400m

Bike - Stormchaser

Weather - dry, sunny, clear skies, stiff easterly, warm mid day to early evening

Ride notes

Home to Ardroy via the Trossachs and 3 Lochs way:

Out to Callander via Hillfoots, Logie, Bridge of Allan, Dunblane, Doune. Callander to Aberfoyle on NCN 7 (Loch Drunkie singletrack) Aberfoyle to Balloch via NCN 7 with Auchencarroch road variation. Balloch to Glen Fruin then three lochs way to Arrochar, Glen Croe forest road and descent to Lochgoilhead.

Near perfect conditions for this ride. Best time to Callander to date (2hrs 20) despite using the longer route. Did loch Drunkie shortcut which was a bit marginal and still soggy in places. Forest roads bone dry. Lunch in Aberfoyle then a fast ride over to Drymen. The sun was blazing as I peddled the backroads and the Croftamie cycleway. Beyond here I diverted onto the 'Auchencarroch road' which led into the back of Balloch via a rough trail signed as a core path. Balloch was mobbed so I rode straight on through.

Up Glen Fruin was glorious with the Arrochar Alps emerging ahead. Then onto the three Lochs Way which had been done up as part of another power line replacement scheme. That said, use by heavy machinery had left many big puddles which made my choice to remove mudguards poor. I carried on past the Glen Douglas road onto the much harder section to Arrochar. This was dispensed with easily enough but a wheel rut got the better of me with a minor fall, a scraped shin and scratched new pedal. Pizza in the sun in Arrochar then the long climb up Glen Croe. A 'Road Closed' sign was ignored and all was well with two big landslips all repaired and machinery parked up for the weekend. Ardroy was reached at 6.40pm and many beers followed.

No. 5 Saturday May10th

Ride Length 174.5k / 109 miles. Time / total time 7hrs 30 / 8hrs 12

Height gain 2090m

Bike - Stormchaser

Weather - dry, warm, sunny, stiff S/Westerly

Ride notes

Home to Comrie via Dunning road, Muthill, Lochearn, Callander, with the Braes of Doune thrown in and home over Glen Devon.

An oft used circuit done in blazing sun for a change. All other times it's rained at some point. The south Loch Earn road was rammed with idiots camping and other idiots trying to find a parking spot doing their best to run me off the road. I Overtook 2 cars who were dithering. By way of relief, the cycleway was oddly quiet but Callander mobbed so I went with the Braes of Doune route for a change. A hard climb this direction but the tailwind was welcome and the normally wet track up high bone dry. Back road to Blackford then Glen Devon road home. Puncture from Ardroy ride (which had sealed fairly quickly) let go and wouldn't seal. Eventually rammed a plug in but rear tyre kept losing pressure.

On the viaduct south of Lochearnhead, enjoying the view and the peace and quiet of the cycleway.

Braes of Doune windfarm track looking back to the Trossachs.

No. 6 Saturday May24th

Ride Length 155k / 98 miles. Time / total time 11hrs/13hrs 15

Height gain - 2867m

Bike - Jones

Weather - wet, drying, sunny, stiff S/Westerly

Ride notes

Highland Trail Day 1 route with north side of Loch Lyon variation. Not quite a century but gets in here as it nearly was and a hard ride.

Very wet start, drying over into Glen Lyon. Rivers all low thankfully. Trails pretty dry after 1 month of no rain and 24 hrs of rain. All good apart from dragging rear brake, finally sorted at Culra. Corrieariyack hard work into the wind. Made FA at 19:40, nearly the longest time on my HT exploits. Long break in Moorings pizza place then a few miles into the woods off the GGW for a bivvy.

No. 7 Sunday June 15th

Ride Length 174k / 109 miles. Time / total time 9hrs / 9hrs 20

Height gain - 3700m

Bike - Stormchaser

Weather - dry, sunny am, variable dreich, breezy pm

Ride notes

'Grand Old Dukes' gravel sportive starting in Aberfoyle. Over to Loch Venechar, various loops above Callander, up cycleway and back via high level track, Great Trossachs path, Loch Katrine, QE Forest tracks.

Mass start organised ride. Mix of going after heavy overnight rain. Mainly off road on forest tracks with sections of single track of varying standard. Almost as hard as HT Day 1.

No. 8 Friday July 11th

Ride Length 173k / 107 miles. Time / total time 8hrs / 8hrs 48

Height gain - 2049m

Bike - Stormchaser

Weather - hot, sunny, cooling as evening progressed.

Ride Notes:

Home to Dunalistair tin hut via Callander, Killin, Glen Lyon, Tummel Bridge. 

I avoided as much road riding as possible to Doune, using the Clacks cycleways and a couple of bits of trail to link to the NCN above Bridge of Allan. Temps started at 27 degrees and dropped progressively. Good time to Callander and Killin where I paused for a large feed. Hard work up the Pubil climb as the light faded but got down before it got too dark. Lights on approaching Bridge of Balgie. Tin hut empty so crashed out there.

 

No. 9 Saturday July 12th

Ride Length 165k / 103 miles. Time / total time 7hrs 30mins / 9hrs 11mins

Height gain - 1740m

Bike - Stormchaser

Weather - hot, sunny (30 degrees max)

Ride Notes:

Down Glen Erochty and Tummel Strath / NCN 7 to Pitlochry, A924 to Kirkmichael, then B950, A93 and U road over moor to Alyth. Then usual U road route to Tay crossing, C roads to Stanley, Methven, Dunning then home. 

Departed hut at 06:55, cool at first but temps rising as the day progressed. Water at Blair Atholl then breakfast at Pitlochry. Still quite cool over hill to Strathardle but temps climbing on fab U road over moor to Alyth. Super Hot from Alyth to Dunning. Dunning climb hard work but temps dropping on roll out to home.

No. 10 Sunday August 3rd

Ride Length 160k/100 miles. Time/total time 7hrs / 7hrs 25

Height gain 1850m

Bike: Stormchaser

Weather: warm, sunny, strong S/westerly

Ride notes

Home to Comrie via Glen Devon, new road to B827, Lochearn railway path, bonus climb off NCN7, Callander, back roads home. 

Similar to April but Dunning road shut so had to use Glen Devon (lots of traffic) short cut to Muthill and took new road beyond here to B827. Followed railway path on north side of Lochearn from St. Fillans to Lochearnhead. Mixed going with odd section tarmacked (overgrown and moss covered), new bailey bridge over Tarken water, several wet sections, longish rough track and odd bits of better track. On way down NCN7 threw in the bonus climb as used on the GOD, to avoid lots of tourists. Normal back road route home with Hillfoots variation. Very windy for most of day but warm and sunny.

New Bailey bridge after long section of overgrown trail

Tarmac beyond it for 2k

No. 11 Wednesday August 13th

Ride Length 193k/121 miles. Time/total time 9hrs 30 / 10hrs 35

Height gain 2600m

Bike: Stormchaser

Weather: Hot (32 max), sunny, easterly breeze

Ride notes

Glen Almond and Griffin gravel - home over Glen Devon (again) then back roads to Fowlis, gravel tracks to Sma glen, Glen Almond gravel highway, NCN 7 to Aberfeldy, up main road and into Griffin forest. Bottled Glen Shee but did Glen Garr instead, home via Bankfoot and usual back roads / Dunning climb.

Forecast max was 26. Glen Almond was fab with a nice breeze to shove me up the glen. Heat built on the run to Aberfeldy maxing at 32 degrees. Avoided bottling to the Tay strath and climbed up the road instead of the gravel. Really suffered in the heat and had to spend some time sat in shady breeze to cool off. Into the forest brought relief and it was a good run out to Braan. Glenshee had been the plan but gave it a miss as I needed a shop. Started up climb to do trail to Birnam and decided to do Glen Garr instead as this is a huge shortcut to Bankfoot. The trail was dust dry dry but lots of bracken and death hoof prints in the last field made it hard work on the gravel bike. Bankfoot shop provided cold drinks and food but I felt terrible rolling south. A can of coke and more lucozade at Dunning Co-op failed to make much difference so once again the Dunning climb was a grind, although the temps had finally dropped. Utterly exhausted when I reached home (again).

Ben Lawyers and An Stuc in the sun

Glen Garr was a bit much on the gravel bike although the extreme dryness helped. Bracken not shown!

No. 12 Sunday August 24th

Ride Length 176k/110 miles. Time/total time 7hrs 45 / 8hrs 12

Height gain 2080m

Bike: Stormchaser

Weather: Overcast, some sun, light breeze, fine dreich approaching Aberfoyle

Ride notes

Campsies and Trossachs circuit as per January with Carron Res forest track thrown in and off road return from Bridge of Allan.

Variable forecast ended up being mostly dry and warm, but thankfully much cooler than the roasters of late. Unlike in January the forest tracks were dust dry. Lots of roadies around and had a strange 'race' with a gent on a hybrid between Callander and Dunblane. WHW full of walkers and QE Forest full of gravel bikes. Fastest time on this circuit and longest distance thanks to extra bits.

Carron res trail looking east

No. 13 Sunday September 28th

Ride length - 166k, 103 miles. Time / Total time - 7hrs 30 / 8hrs

Height gain - 1800

Bike - Stormchaser

Weather - Dry, sunny, cool am, warm pm.

Ride Notes

East Fife gravel and back road ride. Home to Knockhill forest, Blair Adam, Lochore, over to Loch Leven trail, Dryside road then Strath to Falkland cycleway, path to Newton of Falkland, Ladybank, Cupar via cycleway / gravel path. Out of Cupar north side then Foodieash, Balmullo via gravel track, Leuchars, FCP east Tentsmuir to Tayport, cycleway to Newport, west via usual back roads but cut west to Aberargie and Kintillo climb to Glen Farg.

More or less a repeat of February but without the horrible puncture. I fancied lunch at Newport so kept on through Tentsmuir. FCP boardwalk now refurbished and much more robust. At Newburgh I went with an alternative along the A912 to avoid the Pitmedden climb yet again, having been through two days previously. Instead did the Kintillo to Glen Farg Climb for the 3rd time this year. Total off road = 53k.

Looking East across the north sea, the bell rock lighthouse gleaming in the sun.

Dundee and the Tay road bridge. I've not done the Tay loop for a couple of years so may try and do it before the year ends.

No. 14 Sunday October 12th

Ride length - 194k, 121 miles. Time / Total time - 9hrs / 9hrs 30

Height gain - 2800m

Bike - Stormchaser

Weather - Misty am, sunny, warm pm, still.

Ride Notes

Trossachs bash number 2 - home to Doune via usual route, Teith trail as per a '24 ride but a better and shorter way in. Great Trossachs path from Callander to Brig O' Turk then usual Katrine / Statute road loop to Aberfoyle and back via usual route.

A few k longer than March's effort and a chunk longer ride time thanks to doing the noodly Teith trail and the great Trossachs path with its twists, turns and climbs. Damp mist lifted by the time I passed Stirling and the sun came out at Callander. Trails generally dry. Crowds at the honey pots, it being school hols, but had a clear run of the great Trossachs path and no traffic on the forest drive (shuts end of September!) making for fun times.

Loch Katrine like the proverbial mill pond, Ben Lomond in the distance

Ben's Ime, Vane and Narnain

No. 15 Saturday October 25th

Ride length - 187k, 117 miles. Time / Total time - 8hrs 45 / 9hrs 10

Height gain - 2400m

Bike - Stormchaser

Weather - Sunny, stiff north westerly breeze

Ride Notes

Loch Tay circuit. Home to Callander, NCN to Killin, South Loch Tay road to Ardnaltaig, then climb out of the strath and into the top end of Glen Almond. Down the gravel to Sma bridge, back roads to Auchterarder and home via Glen Eagles and Glen Devon.

Last day of British summertime led me to make the most of the daylight and a sunny but breezy day. Stiff NW wind would give me a shove from Killin home and the route out should be fairly sheltered. Trails pretty dry and lots of bikes around. Coffee and a pie at Strathyre then bashed onto Killin for more Co-op food. Cold temps meant I ate on the hoof and felt a bit icky on the big climb away from the loch. Glen Almond was ace and barely a need to pedal the whole way down. Dark just before Auchterarder.

A hint of snow on Stobbinean...

And a good dusting on Ben Lawyers, with more coming in as I passed.

No. 16 Saturday November 8th

Ride length - 163k, 102 miles. Time / Total time - 7hrs 15 / 7hrs 30

Height gain - 2135m

Bike - Stormchaser

Weather - Misty, damp am, overcast, odd shower and fog patches pm

Ride Notes

Perthshire road circuit - home to Perth via Glenfarg / Duncrievie, east through hills, north to Woodside, Caputh, Bankfoot and usual route home via Dunning climb

Road only for a change, given generally damp conditions. That said, by the end of the ride, the bike was filthy, thanks to a lot of farm vehicles. First time through the hills east of Perth on NCN77 then more backroads to Abernyte and Burleton. To Caputh took me past a very orange Meiklour beech hedge. The odd bits of A road bashing had been straightforward with little traffic but it was nice to get back onto wee roads to Bankfoot. The last time I'd been along here it was 32 degrees and I was really struggling. Today was mild for November (13 degrees) and slightly damp. Annoyingly, the only real rain of the day came in on the approach to Bankfoot but fortunately, the shop has a nice awning under which I sheltered. It had cleared up by the time I left and the sun even made an appearance on my usual route home. Sunset on the approach to Dunning and I rode straight onto the climb to get up before dark. Fastest century of the year (so far) and a good route I'll use again.

Not a day for views - looking back to the beech hedge and the monster trees behind it.

No. 17 Saturday November 29th

Ride length - 163k, 102 miles. Time / Total time - 7hrs / 7hrs 25

Height gain - 1500m

Bike - Stormchaser

Weather - Cold, some overcast, some sun, NW breeze

Ride Notes

Home to Falkland then Freuchie, N to Bow of Fife then Lindores, Newburgh, Dunning, Auchterarder, Braco, back road to Dunblane, home via coastal route.

Another road only circuit done quicker than the last one, so this will be my fastest century! Bit of a bonus ride, cashing in on a clear spell ahead of a hard frost and lots of icy back roads. Bike also filthy due to mud on the Falkland cycleway. I plotted this as an 'easy' local century to do if the weather was horrible but actually a good route with fine views all round. No issues, just a nice, easy 100 miles.

Sunset over the Campsies with the Trossachs hills just in view behind the power lines.

No. 18 Saturday December 20th

Ride length - 166k, 104 miles. Time / Total time - 7hrs 30 / 7hrs 45

Height gain - 1500m

Bike - Stormchaser

Weather - Cold, sunny / starry, Easterly breeze

Ride Notes

Home to Falkland via usual back roads. KEttle then climb up to Burnturk. Back road / B road to Ceres then over the hill to Cupar. North on the C road but threw in a loop past Foodiesh then over to Brunton and up the Tay Estuary to Newburgh. West to Dunning, over the hill then Clacks cycleway loop.

I set out to do about an 80 mile ride round East Fife, road only, but in the end I decided to keep on. The first extension was west to Dunning (and its shop) and my final go up the climb over to Muckhart - tenth time this year and second in the dark. On reaching Muckart, I realised I only needed to do 30k for the century so short cutted to Dollar and then followed the cycle route to Alloa and back via NCN 76 and the WFW. About 3 and half hours in the dark due to a late start but I had the place to myself mostly so that was OK. That's me done!

Looking across the Silvery Tay - my companion for a few rides this year.

Beautiful silvery Tay,
With your landscapes, so lovely and gay,
Along each side of your waters, to Perth all the way;
No other river in the world has got scenery more fine,
Only I am told the beautiful Rhine,
Near to Wormit Bay, it seems very fine,
Where the Railway Bridge is towering above its waters sublime,
And the beautiful ship Mars,
With her Juvenile Tars,
Both lively and gay,
Does carelessly lie
By night and by day,
In the beautiful Bay
Of the silvery Tay.
Beautiful, beautiful! silvery Tay,
Thy scenery is enchanting on a fine summer day,
Near by Balmerino it is beautiful to behold,
When the trees are in full bloom and the cornfields seems like gold –
And nature’s face seems gay,
And the lambkins they do play,
And the humming bee is on the wing,
It is enough to make one sing,
While they carelessly do stray,
Along the beautiful banks of the silvery Tay,
Beautiful silvery Tay, rolling smoothly on your way,
Near by Newport, as clear as the day,
Thy scenery around is charming I’ll be bound…
And would make the heart of any one feel light and gay on a fine summer day,
To view the beautiful scenery along the banks of the silvery Tay.

William McGonagall

December BAM

December done, and therefore BAM 2025 complete!

As noted last month, I was determined to do something fairly easy as a year finisher. Typically December would be on the Scottish Winter Bivvy but a lack of suitable dates has meant this will hopefully take place in January. As it turns out, it's just as well we aren't trying to head up into the wilds this weekend...

The forecast looked horrible at the beginning of the week so various sheds were considered as I couldn't face a wet pitch. Then suddenly things were looking much better, in fact dry from Thursday morning until Saturday lunchtime (as per quite a few weekends this year) so a bonus tarp bivvy was clearly the way to finish my '25 BAM in a degree of style.

Work got in the way until Friday evening and then I was off, on a route similar to August down by the Fife Coast and into the back of Devilla forest. I kept looking up expecting the rain to come in but stars shone down and it wasn't -6. Fair to say we've had some odd weather this year so of no surprise I suppose but a clear, dry and mild evening in December is a bit of a first. In keeping with my plan not to do anything difficult I headed to my spot of August (plus a few other times) and got pitched up. For a change I'd humped a tin of 'Stag' chilli (actually beef, not deer) with me for tea which was mighty fine. I also brought mulled wine - the remains of a bottle Mum had drank last weekend on here visit - followed of course by a few beers and a dram to finish. So a fine evening all in, followed by a solid 9hrs sleep. 

It was getting a bit breezy as I packed up and departed but no sign of the forecasted deluge so I tootled round various local trails, calling in at Baynes the bakers in Kincardine for Breakfast and Stevens in Dollar for lunch. All I needed was a Stuarts and I'd have scored a Fife bakery hat trick. However as I ground up the long climb out of Dollar, it was clear the storm was a-coming so I sploshed across the moor connecting Commonedge and Seamab hills and picked my way down the steep descent as the first sprinkle of rain came in. Home just as it started to get properly horrible

This fella made a determined effort to get into the bivvy bag (walking not flying). I managed to pick it up and set it down under some leaves.

Good spot this - fairly open but well sheltered from south westerly gales. A perfect flat tarp pitch I may say!

Swans and ducks. I also saw various squirrels, small rodents, two Kestrels and the Ochills red kite.

So there we have it - another successful BAM campaign. Better yet, at some point during the Saturday I rolled over 6000 miles for the year. Roll on '26.

PS - the weather is now terrible, thank goodness we aren't doing the SWB this weekend....

November BAM, another mission...

I've been stricken with a particularly annoying cold all week, which even by Friday hadn't abated. The weather for Friday evening and Saturday on top of what we've had all week meant I had to get out. Then, after a week of serious sub-zeros following a decent dump of snow, plus temps and rain on Friday evening crept into the forecast which was a bit of a downer. However when I knocked off from work, and even after the usual faff to get stuff on the bike, the rain still hadn't started so off we go. Of note was that I was on the ICT, given the likelihood of lots of snow in the hills, complete with Schwalbe Al Mighty's and studs.

I stuck to an oft used route getting the feel of the studded tyres on tarmac plus on a few bits of suicider ice. All good and the trails were still frozen solid, by and large, so all was well. Back to the woods off the Dunning road as per Nov '24 except this time it was 1 degree, not 12! It was quite breezy so I headed further in than a year ago to a spot I'd used back in '22 - another wild night. This was a mistake....

Anyway, despite much coughing, I had a fairly pleasant evening listening to light rain (at 1 degree, not sure why it wasn't snow) and zonked out at 11. Sleep was a bit hit and miss due to the sound of water drops falling off trees splatting onto the tarp, as well as coughing fits. I kept getting a splash in the face which was condensation getting knocked off the inside of the tarp by said splats. Grrr. Dawn awoke me, and I snoozed again until the sun appeared - 9.30! Breakfast followed, me being aware that everything under the tarp and in the bivvy bag was rather damp - condensation mainly.

Not one of my better pitches. I'd actually gone further away from the trail than my '22 spot but this was daft as although it was level, it was a bit tight and the Deschutes really needs a good bit of space, hence the poor pitch. I Should have set up on my more usual spot in the breeze to avoid condensation! There were bits of snow on the ground on my pitch so I'll claim this for a snowy bivvy.

Further lost marks - puddles on the tarp!

Anyway, despite all of this off I went, feeling a bit rough thanks to the cold but looking forward to some snow time. That said, it wasn't cold - 1 degree still at the bivvy spot but up onto Green Knowe in blazing sunshine it was 8! Getting up here had been hard work - not as bad as my October bivvy ride but still a schlep. The monster snow was fast disappearing and somewhat soggy. This would be my undoing.

Snowy hills, which led me on...

For sale, Suzuki SJ. Buyer collects. I'd love to know the story here - there is another one mostly dismantled further along. I suspect it croaked when the farmer was out in it one day and he simply walked away...

Full inversion spilling into the hills. 

The view north. The Cairngorms got plastered this week and there was even some lift served skiing today. Fingers, toes and eyes crossed this heralds a decent winter!

After bagging a couple more hills, I dropped into Glen Devon and then ground up the long, long climb to Cairnmorris Hill (alt 606). In the valley bottom the trail was still pretty firm but thanks to the inversion, higher up was a different story. Despite the low temps through the week, the frost had come out of the ground and the snow melting drastically - full on porridge. Even with the extreme knobiness of the Al Mighty's (and studs) I was all over the place. I tested the studs on some water ice and they were pretty good, particularly when I dropped the pressures to 3 and 4 PSI. Hopefully no more bust in ribs from icy paths...

It was incredibly hard going - wet snow is actually hellish on a fat bike as the tyres just surf (and slide) into any little rut or hollow. You can be pedaling forward and the front will somehow manage to go backwards. Traction was none existent in places and I managed one off as the bike went completely away from me. Something narrow but extremely spiky would have probably served me better. Oh to have been here on Thursday. I staggered up Tarmangie hill (alt 645) then on to Whitewisp before the long descent to Dollar. I grabbed juice and snacks as I was utterly wasted, then trundled home. All was murk around me as the inversion still hadn't lifted.

So glad to get that one in. My November BAMs are often a bit of a mission but this one takes the biscuit. I'll be doing something much closer to home for December.... 

October bivvy - sunshine, but not in Wales.

I usually do a localish woodland bivvy in October to recover from the BB300. However the BB300 never happened, or even the BB200 which I decided to do in view of a need to get to my parents on the Sunday. Yes once again I failed an ITT, not even getting to the start this time. And as with the Highland Trail a shocker of a weather forecast after a few weeks of nice weather was largely to blame. I'd hoped to get down on the Thursday evening but the forecast was horrible which combined with the horrendous traffic at the best of times on the M6 would make for a miserable journey. A call with Mum kind of sealed the deal then as by this time the weekend weather was looking desperate. Shouldn't I give it a miss and come and visit instead?

Heading south on the Friday confirmed my no show - the weather was worse and even on the quieter bits of the M74/M6, progress was slow. No way was I tackling the bit past Preston. Plus by this time, after a few ups and downs, it was clear that the actual ride itself would be brutal. So I turned left at Penrith and spent a quality weekend with Mum, Dad, Bruv, S in law; celebrating Dad's 84th. Disappointment reigned as this year has ended up being a bit of a none event in terms of ITT's, tours and challenges.

For my October bivvy I still fancied a local night out as I had a rare social occasion on the Saturday evening. Pertinent to my usual ruminations was a stunning forecast. So along, up, down and finally up to spot I'd used a few years ago and close to my July bivvy take 2.

Not quite a sunset shot...

After an extremely relaxing evening entertained by a couple of beers, a nip or three of whisky and various owls I slept soundly until just after 8.

Then...

Sausages! Inspired by some of the breakfast extravaganzas of other Bearbones BAM'ers I'd brought a Ti frying pan, sausages, a roll and ketchup (I have standards.) The end result was mighty fine but it took ages to fry the sausages as the wee gas flame only really heated the bit of the pan it was under, requiring much waving around of pan to heat them through thoroughly.

Good spot this - fairly sheltered but you get the sun shining in at you.

Various trails followed. I'd nearly gone with a high level bivvy somewhere, but cloud was lurking over the higher hills. I suspect there had been an inversion and this was it lifting out of the lowlands which would have created a damp morning. However my route, via various fun trails (plus one brute of a tussock infested climb, penance for my BB no-show) and a usual route back home, was in blazing sunshine.

Lots of Autumnal woodland colours around. Also pleased the Castlelaw res dam is back open again. There is a faint chance of another outing this coming weekend as the run of dry weather is set to continue to Saturday at least. Cairngorms maybe?!

A weekend of bike riding

As I've had to go down south to visit Mum and Dad a few times this year, a certain amount of cramming has been necessary when it comes to bike rides. This weekend was typical...

Firstly I threw in a bivvy on the Friday night. Having failed to do any multi day trips this year I'm trying to get a few extra nights out to make up my annual bivvy tally. As with my July bonus bivvy, the weather for the Saturday afternoon looked somewhat damp so this would be a way of getting some saddle time in before it got too wet. 

So as usual for a Friday bivvy, I finished work, threw stuff on bike, left. My spot was one I'd scoped last year, above Glen quey, reached via various local trails. Things were a little soggy but I got to the general vicinity of my bivvy site just as dusk was falling, after a short but quality tussock based death march. The ride hadn't been quite the peace and tranquility I'd hoped, firstly due to a horrendous creak from my Bottom Bracket (Bushnell EBB,) then thanks to a few 'coo with a gun' moments on a few very minor technical challenges and finally a short cut which wasn't (hence a death march;) plus as usual my chosen bivvy site didn't look quite as good as when I was here last. A bit of nosing around found a good enough space for tarp and bivvy bag. I knew of a better one not far away but it's close to a regular dog walking route so this would do. A fine evening followed and a good nights kip.

I woke at dawn, as usual, and lay for some time listening to various birds and the wind in the trees. It's one of the many benefits of sleeping out, being able to listen to natural things with nothing between you and them but a bit of nylon. Then humanity intervened with cracks and bangs from the wind turbines across the glen, the first traffic on the road and the first flight out of Edinburgh. I fell asleep soon after and woke at a decadent 9.30!

Another sitka bivvy, tarp well concealed!

Breakfast was tea and pork pies then it was off up the hill (Innerdounie) to see what's, what - in the event a nice view and nice weather, contrary to the forecast. 

BB200 training followed using a fairly marginal trail down the 'burn of sorrow.' I've walked this a few times and ridden it once up and down. It's a fine place, well off the usual beaten tracks and the trail is nicely technical in places.

And a bit hairy in others... Part of the problem is it's quietness - the trail is a bit overgrown and not that well worn. You also really need to cross the burn three times to make the best of the riding. The first crossing was fine then I got distracted by a higher level sheep trail which led me into a sea of bracken and a dead end. I got back across after a deal of faffing then stuck to the west bank from then on which involves a fair bit scrambling past various landslips.

I fought my way down eventually and of course, called into the Stevens bakers in Dollar for a pie based lunch ahead of a leisurely trundle home.

The forecast for Sunday, first day of Autumn, was for cool and breezy sunshine across Fife and Perthshire so I figured on a decent ride. I've been meaning to do a couple of track passes crossing the hills between Glen Almond and Strath Braan for a while now, so today was the day. Getting to them would involve a fair bit of road riding but that was alright.

Apart from the Glen Devon road which got quite busy as the masses departed for their Sunday escape to the country (or at least Crieff.) Anyway, many back roads followed and the climb out of the Earn Valley was a fine warm up for what was to come. 

New track 1 was a route that started at the local big posh estate house (stone gate posts, tarmac road and fake antique lighting columns) but signed as a P&K core path. It would go via a pass to join the A822 near Amulree and would hopefully be a fine alternative to A road drudgery. It's shown on the Heritage Paths website but annoyingly, the link takes you to the Glenfiddich Road (which I've also ridden) so intel was minimal, other than it looked to be well defined. I diverted off the official route to check out a large disused quarry shown on the map, and spied on a sunny day in the Ochills last year (i.e from 20 miles away.) It's quite a scar as it stands out very clearly on the otherwise natural hillside so I was curious to see what the score was.

A sizeable ex-slate quarry. I passed several more on the days ride although all much smaller than this. Large piles of excavated spoil have been left and clearly abandoned for many years. Slates would have been much in demand for the large houses and castles that abound this area so this would have been a nice little earner for Glen Almond estate. In those days there would have been little in the way of planning restrictions or conditions, hence the massive scar on the hillside and no sign of any restoration.

A steep push followed then a rough descent to the main track. 

The track up the hill opposite is new. My route heads up the glen to the pass.

Beyond the pass the track became less used - in fact fairly overgrown and it's descent was a fab grassy line finishing at a seemingly abandoned farm house. So a good one and a route I'll use again.

Road riding to new track number 2 followed accompanied by the usual sunny Sunday stream of day trippers and motorbikes. This heads south west from the A822 over a low moor into little Glenshee. The bridge across the river looked far too elaborate for the couple of farms it served so I figure this will have been a public road at one point. This was confirmed by long sections with well built dry stone wall boundaries and a steady line across the hillside, instead of the usual estate track that just heads straight up any hill it encounters. A squint at some historic mapping confirmed this although intel on it's route history is lacking. Anyway it made for another good trail, with only a herd of cows (and a large bull) tromping the rough surface to mud in a few places making it one to avoid in wet weather.

Speaking of which, the 0% chance of rain forecast was once again wrong as large clouds were moving in from the north.

On the nicest bit of the route (no cows). It's actually raining a bit here but it soon passed over. The track joins the road just past a farm which is an odd out and back again from Glen Almond - further evidence that it must once have been public right across the pass. From here I started on new track 3.

This skirts the hills east to above Bankfoot, my destination for food and drink. It doesn't feature on any historic mapping but is also a core path, which is a bit odd, as after passing another couple of abandoned slate quarries it's quite clearly a grouse and duck shooting access track. Such things are usually jealously guarded by the estates so it must have taken some negotiating to make it so public. The heather on the hills around it are criss-crossed with mown strips to enable grouse to be more easily ID'd (and shot.) 

That said, there were literally thousands of them flying around me so any tactics to actually hunt them seem a bit unnecessary. I'm not against hunting but fail to see the sport in blasting what must be a strong contender for the worlds stupidest bird. They make a huge racket when flying and seem singularly unable to fly away from a suspected predator (i.e. me,) instead just fluttering up the track aways then landing right in front of me, making stalking them and any form of aiming skill somewhat redundant. Still it keeps the toffs happy and leads to tracks such as this one. Which eventually took me onto another dead end back road and the fine shop at Bankfoot.

It was now quite warm in the sun as I sat out drinking coffee and eating cake, however on departing the village for my usual route home a very large cloud appeared from the north west and rapidly overtook me. To be fair I only caught light sprinkles for the most part, the sodden roads suggesting I narrowly missed much worse. It persisted to near Dunning and then the sun shone once more on the climb, done many times this year after a long bike ride. The last time it had been after a 30 plus degree suffer fest, so riding up it on a cool afternoon with a stiff tailwind was most pleasant.

So all in all a great weekend - about 120 miles total, 13 hours out (plus 13 hours in my bivvy site!) and some great trails. More sun next weekend by the looks so I need to cash in on it whilst I can, ahead of a doubtless very wet BB200.

September BAM, the Monega

So last months (and the month before's) assertion of doing something more interesting next month has come to pass but no multi day extravaganza... Yet again my September holiday plans went pear shaped. I'd actually penciled in the UKSS champs for this weekend but that went west as I'd agreed to visit Mum and Dad for various reasons. I still hoped to do a decent tour or even an Autumn HT if the weather was looking favourable. Then Dad ended up in hospital (out now, all good). Then a weather shocker and a further Thursday commitment squeezed my available window into an overnighter. Again. Encouraged by a decent forecast for the Tuesday and a hopefully dry Wed morning I ruminated (and faffed) and ended up in the motor heading up the A9 for a Dunkeld start, destination.... somewhere.

On the GPS was a route I'd done in 2017 that went via various trails and the Capel Mounth to Ballater; and a route I'd done in 2018 via the mighty Monega Pass (alt 1000m) to Braemar. I nearly kept on up the A9 to Blair Atholl and more Cairngorm fun but it looked a bit murky further north and my (nowadays very low) tolerance for traffic saw the Birnam turn made and a rapid getaway. I guess I was desperate to be pedaling after a bike free weekend plus it was sunny!

And for a starter were the fine trails up to Lochs Ordie and Oisinneach (Beag and Mhor.) These are famously boggy (As per the SWB 2021) although in 2018 were bone dry. Today they were somewhere between these extremes...

Lots of extremely pleasant doubletrack followed plus some extremely pleasant bogs, but actually fine overall as I went round the south side of Loch Oisinneach which misses the horrors either side of Sarah's bothy.

On the singletrack climbing away from the main trails, quality tussocks.

I was committed to the Monega route by this time, as the route I'd used in 2017 would be a bit much given sunset at 7.30 or so. And there the hills were, in the sun! Between me and them (well Kirkmichael and the upper reaches of Glen Islay) were about 13 miles of empty back roads. But that was alright. I could have chucked in the Rob Roy way route from Ennochdhu to the Spital and down to Lair but I was aware of the time, sunset and the gathering clouds so tarmac was the way.

A famous sign (on the front cover of the Scottish Hill Tracks book for years) To this point it had been highly sunny although bigger clouds loomed to the north. It's about 30k to Braemar from here including the minor matter of a climb to 1000+m and around 12k above 900m. That said it's actually doubletrack the whole way, more or less. But it is a great route progressing from road to track to the leap up the ridge, a wall of hills in front of you. Near the top, two large birds of prey suddenly appeared. One flapped in a circle and a small bird suddenly flew away from it. Looks like the eagle didn't quite have a firm enough grip on it. Once it had flown the eagle then rejoined its mate and they both circled away from me. Fabulous.

c500m vertical of pushing to the summit of Monega hill. It's pretty steep in places but otherwise just a straight slog, no scrambling. But we ain't done yet.... 

Nav-wise there are a number of epic fails you could make here, but you'd likely soon realise, i.e. as you plummeted into Caenlochan Glen. The Glenshee Ski centre is the escape route as the top of the Glas Maol Pommer looms out of the murk. You could drop down this and up the Coire Fionnh tow back out to the Cairnwell, cafe and toilets. Also the miles of ski fences would guide you if you just headed north, However despite cloud now obscuring the summit of Glas Maol and a stiff breeze (which I'd feared would be gale force but wasn't) I was doing well, so on and up we go.

Being so close to the summit of Cairn a Cleise I figured I should divert to bag it - 1062m. Ben Avon dimples in view. You can head further east off here picking off Tolmount, Fafernie, Cairn Bannoch, Broad Cairn and a precipitous descent into Glen Muik. Or you could throw in Lochnagar if you are keen. This is probably the longest high level traverse do-able by bike in the UK. I'll do it one day but only if it's sunny and with a light breeze, with plenty of daylight, i.e. not today.

Looking back to the Monega ridge. I'd had a few spots of rain but it looked like the sky was clearing. The Lomond hills are just visible in the far distance. For todays ride I'd thought of a more usual Fife expedition over the Lomonds, Pilgrims Way and back via the coastal path which would have been wall to wall sunshine. That said, this route would have been busy whereas I was slightly bemused to see absolutely no-one up here or at any point so far, barring the odd car. I know it was a weekday but I'd generally expect to see a munro bagger or two, at least. Anyway, I was slightly relieved to be at the route's highpoint with no epic weather. It was all downhill from here.

I regained the landrover track and clattered off down the long descent. There are a couple of short climbs on the way but soon enough I was dropping into Glen Callater. I had one panic when I stopped to see if there were any signs of life at the bothy only for my back brake to disappear just as I set off again. Some frantic pumping yielded nothing and much front wheel slithering ensued as I brought the plot back under control. I hit the valley bottom and brake pressure magically re-appeared. There is clearly something wrong with this brake (see 'Not the Highland Trail') but I'm damned if I can figure out what. Anyway, despite being empty, I rode away from the bothy, Braemar my destination. It had taken some 2 hours to do the whole traverse.

Tootling down to Braemar on the back road I noted a perfect bivvy spot in a patch of sitka woodland. Ideal - I headed into town, grabbed some supplies from Greens and then back for a fine pitch up. The gale of earlier had dropped so a peaceful evening followed and a sound sleep. I always think this is the highlight of bikepacking - doing a good, challenging route over high ground, fab trails and then a great bivvy spot to relax and review what you've just done. The wind reappeared later and woke me but once I'd decided it wasn't going to drop a branch on me I drifted back off.

The next morning. Annoyingly, as I was packing up a sprinkle of rain came in, dampening the tarp. It was somewhat gloomy (and very breezy) however the wind was still in the south east so hopefully would give me a bit of a shove down Glen Tilt. Breakfast 2 was partaken of in the little retail area behind the high street (benches under cover) then I headed off, the rain varying between dreich and...rain.... I was fairly relaxed about this, even if it was contrary to the last forecast I'd seen pre-ride. The current forecast suggested it might cheer up later ahead of a deluge overnight so any vague thought of a second night out was shelved.

My Passage of Glen Tilt was somewhat damp with full on heavy rain for the last miles. I was wary as the rocks on the trail are definitely of the slippery when wet variety. I passed three other people on bikes with bags attached, presumably doing the Cairngorms tour. As expected, some of the trickier sections were well slippy so a fair bit of footing (walking) did ensue but I managed to avoid a drastic fall into the abyss. Given my poor record for injuries of late, this was a relief. 

The SE wind varied between in my face and behind me as the glen made it's turns, finally spitting me out at Blair Atholl as the rain went off and the sky cleared somewhat. A fun ride down the riverside path followed and after lunch at Pitlochry I went with the old NCN83 route finishing with a long length of track back to Dunkeld. Total distance 107 miles.

The NTS are doing stuff to the Bynack, Geldie and Dee - making piles of rock and old tree trunks. You typically do this sort of thing on heavily canalised water courses to improve habitat and reduce flow velocity but I'm pretty sure these rivers are wholly natural already. A bit of research suggests this is being led by the River Dee Trust trying to improve salmon habitat upstream. If we get another Storm Frank (or even a Muckle Spate) I can see these being scoured clear, so here's hoping for an epic storm free winter until they bed in a bit.

Another clean across the Geldie. The channel on the east side is getting quite deep and there are a few large rocks to catch you out.

I always like this view, knowing I don't have to cross the Tilt, stagger up the climb and splosh my way to Fealar Lodge and the last climbs on the CL300. That said, the rivers today were still low.

Jones looking quite feisty with the Chronicles on - first time I've used these for a few years and I'm liking them. Burly, grippy but actually pretty easy rolling on hard surfaces. As I sat here eating a Heron suddenly swooped into the little dell and sat looking optimistically for a fish - no chance in that burn, but pretty cool in the middle of Pitlochry.