Alternative Winter Event '26 (and Feb BAM)

Once again, Shaff on the BB forum organised an alternative event for those not able or willing to travel to Wales. The official event nearly didn't happen due to an unseasonal dump of snow (for Wales, these days) and the re-arranged date involved more traditional rain.

So John Climber, from whom I had bought my pack raft off a few years ago, had been tasked with providing my Grid refs, and he came up with 11, in a roughly SW / NE line stretching from Devilla Forest in the west to Abernethy in the East. Two jokers in the pack were one on Castle Island in Loch Leven and another on the summit of Knockhill, the owner of which is well known hereabouts for being rabidly anti-access. 

After a certain amount of route planning and procrastination, I penciled in this weekend to bag them. As per the whole year so far, the weather looked pretty horrible until a few days before when Saturday looked to be a good 'un. Then Friday into Saturday was being mooted for solid sunshine and a dry night. Right then, plan reversed - I'll ride out to Pitmedden Forest on the Friday evening and then pick off the GR's riding home. I left the house just after 5 and followed an easy (and mainly tarmac) route North East-ish.

GR1 Burley sands on Loch Leven as the sun goes down. The hill opposite is Benarty, a GR on it's summit. Lost in the gloom is Castle island!  

Heading along the back road to Strathmiglo, I became aware that my GPS had shut down. Pressing the on button elicited no response so looks like the batteries have died. Except they are brand new Eneloops just fully charged.... Fortunately the shop in Strathmiglo was open so more batteries were obtained, and off we go again. (oddly, the GPS was still plotting a route when it was dead - I have no idea how)

At about 8 I entered the woods after the lengthy but steady climb out of Strath. I didn't muck about, just wandered into a level-ish area off the track and pitched up between the trees. Now after the fab forecast of yesterday, I was somewhat miffed when I'd re-checked that morning that it was now going on about rain and sleet all afternoon and through the night. It had actually been dry and bright all day and heading east had revealed a few showers around, but nothing on me. Hurrah! After a relaxing evening, as usual eating, drinking and reading, whilst listening to many owls, it started to rain. 10 hours later it stopped....

To be fair, I slept well despite the noise and was only awoken to the racket of a couple of pheasants at dawn, and a more restrained chorus sometime later. So I had breakfast, packed up and got going

The morning after a rather damp night.... Although I was bone dry inside, despite a bit of bivvy bag sliding around. And overhead the sky was clearing so no excuses, get on with it!

Next GR by the Pitmedden downhill trails. These seem a bit more substantial than when I used to ride them ten years ago. I picked my way down the easiest one and then after a bit of road, cut down to Abernethy via another trail. Everything was rather soggy after the rain....

Stupid trail name!

GR at the Cross in Abernethy and the Nook Cafe, which looked too posh so I grabbed a chicken curry pie and a coffee from the shop for breakfast part two.

So, of course, I then had to climb all the way back over the ridge of Pitmedden and back to Strathmiglo. But rather than re-trace an easy route to and round Loch Leven, I figured on cutting through the Lomond Hills. Mistake...

It was fine at first on good tracks, but the short cut path to the Tyndall Bruce Monument was an absolute swamp.

Not a GR but a good spot. Snowy hills were visible to the north but according to the SAIS the snow was all frozen solid so skiing will have to wait until it softens again. Better trails followed but the track to Holl res was a mud bath and the trail to West Feal Farm and my next big climb bog-tastic. I ground up this, wishing I'd just ridden round the loch.

Also not a GR - Bishop Hill, but to the left is my next GR on Benarty Hill, another in the Cleish Hills and just about visible my last one of the day on Knockhill. To the right are the Ochills - all the big snow from two weekends ago gone - but sporting a dusting of white slush from last night.

The descent was fun, and fairly dry, but the Loch Leven trail was distinctly wet. Much huffing and puffing on the climb out of Vane Farm followed and further pushing up the ridge path to Benarty trig point as the trail was gunge-central.

Next GR, at last! I was feeling pretty weary but sustenance was coming after the lengthy descent. More mud....

More GPS grief - I'd been going by memory so far but needed an exact location for this one and for some reason, my GR track went into the archive (I didn't have my specs on so couldn't see what I was doing) and I couldn't seem to retrieve it. So this is a bit approximate on the Meedies bike trails.

The excellent Lochore Meadows cafe provided tea, soup and cake, and I was feeling much more energetic as I rode up to the next climb.

Next GR, or thereby. John's list showed a picture of this trail with a spooky image of a miner in the trees. Must be a swizz as I couldn't see him, and in fact have never seen him on the 100's of times I've been up this trail. Further on I encountered forestry work, that I had also encountered on my ride home from work the other day. For some reason, the contractor has spread mud all over several tracks and the place is mud central. I have no idea why, and this and their piss poor site management means a letter is going out to F&LS to tell them to sort this out. Grrrr.

More bog world followed and I was thinking this ride was heading into the realms of BB200 territory, distance aside. A bars above head push onto the next GR confirmed this.

The GR - This bump has no name but the handfull of rocky gnolls hereabouts are known as the Inneans. They are all ex volcanoes, and it's a nice walk round them, as well as providing a few good bike trails. Then there was more bog and even some tussocks... Just need an axle deep muddy farm track now.... Knockhill ahead, here I come!

After the fishery (GR1 from last year) I was on a blessedly good track to the knockhill road, which despite it's 'A' status was empty. There was nothing on at the race track so all was quite as I passed it's main entrance and headed along a core path I knew would be a another glop fest. 

Knockhill summit GR after a lengthy climb and another barbed wire fence wrapped locked gate, sporting a "no footpath" and a "no entry from 1st of March to 1st of June" sign both of which are cobblers. I was up for a rammy with the farmer but he didn't appear, so I cut straight west down the Knockhill couloir (which I've skied twice, last time on my 50th birthday after skiing from my front door!) to rejoin the core path and... a farm track covered in 6" of wet gunge, cow sh*t and p*ss. Luverly. 

In the distance, I noticed a small tractor bearing a hay bale - my friends off to feed the cows in their small holding. So obviously I called in for a cuppa and a chat. It was getting dark by this time so the last two GR's would have to wait. I sploshed down their track and trundled the half mile to the village and home. The bike was utterly filthy and it took an age to wash. I then spent the evening eating a lot of food and relaxing on the sofa.

Sunday was decorating day, finally finishing off my front bedroom. But after clearing up, it was only 3 and despite the forecast, all was dry. So on with the gear, out with the Straggler and off on a local circuit to bag two more GR's via Kincardine Co-op for supplies (and another pie!)

Keir Dam outfall in Devilla forest. Usually a nice technical challenge, but not on my road tyred stragg with a pannier full of shopping. The dots around the bike is plastic confetti which some utter f**kwit has thrown everywhere, right where the ducks and moorhens can swallow them. I despair.... 

More slurry like trails followed - I've never known it this bad since 2012. I sincerely hope we don't get a summer like that year.

Hurrah for the Spar! I'd actually been in here last week, but by car, so this made it official. Then it was just a case of one last climb back up home, another bike washing session, and more food and drink.

Castle Island will have to wait as Nature Scot ask you not to take water access during the breeding season. Total distance 92 miles, with a lot of climbing yesterday. So another good ride round my local manor and good training for the years adventures. Thanks to John for providing the opportunity! Will the trails ever dry?

2026 Bivvy a Month, again...

It's that time of year again, where I spend far to much time procrastinating on whether or not to start another BAM campaign, then procrastinate on when to do my January bivvy.

This year was my closest to a fail since I started this nonsense. Firstly, I had to miss the Scottish Winter Bivvy, moved to January from its usual December slot, due to family demands. This was a pity as it was at the end of the major snowfall that had blessed my New Year trip. The following weekend was very nice, weather wise. I'd been slated to do a music weekend but this got cancelled at the last minute and for some reason, I couldn't be bothered to go out for a bivvy...

Then I had had to go down to Mum and Dads the following weekend and suddenly, it was nearly February!

I finally made it out last night, on the last night of what has been a full-on month. Apart from the above I've also been written off with a shocker of a cold this last week. As it was the weather for this weekend looked to be yet more grey dreich driven by a cold easterly. This was not the weather to be out in with a head full of snot...

Anyway, I took the bike into work on Friday thinking I might get out later on but as I arrived home, the rain came on and I felt lousy. So in at the death. Saturday ended up being dry, pretty much, so I should have done a decent bike ride but I'm in the middle of a decorating project just now so cracked on with that, plus the Mukluk build (more later). Finally at 5 I headed out. The weather had cleared and it actually promised a decent evening. Of course it did rain, but just a sprinkle of light drops. No drama, just an easy ride along the Fife coast and yet another pitch in Devilla forest, much like last December. The night ended up bone dry and I did appreciate laying back listening to various night time birdies after 4 hectic weeks at work and a load of other stuff.

I do appreciate the opulent luxury of the deschutes when the weather is a bit iffy.

In view of an un-forecasted nice day, I grabbed breakfast at Kincardine and picked my way via various soggy trails to Dollar, grabbed a sarny from the Co-op and headed up one of the Ochills harder climbs.

View to the Forth, home in the middle near to the hill with the aerials on it. This climb is a brute, actually 600m of height gain from it's notional start on Dollar Main street. After a bit of tarmac you get the full joy of a steep track, a steeper path, more track and then the crux - a bars above head thrutch straight up the side of Saddle Hill, followed by a further grind up onto Whitewisp, pushed in it's entirety. 

The hills had been shrouded in cloud but it was lifting as I got up on high, reward for a huge effort to get here. Much sogginess followed to Innerdounie and on the long descent. Sat below the summit eating my sandwich, it was really quite mild as I watched the view opening up around me. As I twiddled the last miles home, the cloud dissipated completely and all the hills were revealed for the first time this year.

So off we go again. Once started, it's easy to keep going (until next November). I'm doing another Alternative Winter event for February, March I'll try and get up to the Cairngorms, although we appear to be having a proper winter so this could be interesting... In April, I've penciled in a Highland Trail ITT. I suspect this won't happen, but I'll try and get a few days away at least. Then it will be the summer...

2025, another year, another load of bike riding

This year has been another one that didn't go quite to plan although more due to my own fault rather than external factors - specifically, injuries and motorcycling! For the first year since 2010 I've failed to do any kind of bike tour / multi day effort and on the subject of failure, I also failed to get beyond Contin on the Highland Trail Group start and failed to make the start of the BB300. I've been down to see Mum and Dad a lot this year and that is partly to blame I suppose but holiday wise, the big news was a motorcycle tour with others, to the Adventure Bike Rider Festival plus a grand UK tour thrown in - my first for many years. 

I have done a lot of miles - 6413 - which is possibly my highest ever. I may have done more in 2015 and 2021 but I didn't keep a complete ride record for both those years so that's just a guess. Ironically, this high mileage was because of my many cycle-less trips south, as I tended to cram miles in at every available opportunity and also ended up doing many rides over 100 miles (18!) and a lot in the 70 - 95 range to boot. So overall a good year and herewith the highlights:

Highest Bivvy:

Near the summit of Tarmangie hill, alt 620m so quite high and a lot higher than previous years.

And another hill top bivvy - Coalcraigy Hill, alt 450m, in an unsuccessful bid to avoid the dreaded midge.

Longest Bivvy ride:

Total = 210 miles split equally either side of a brief kip in my favourite tin hut up near Loch Rannoch. I'll put this down as my best (only) tin hut bivvy and hottest (30 plus degrees)

Best bivvy:

My jaunt over the Monega was a cracker with some fab trails, a great bivvy spot and pretty good weather, despite it being a bit damp and breezy on the ride out. My Cairngorms tour was also a strong contender as yet another variation on the classic Cairngorms tour delivered ace riding, much scenery and even some socialising.

Glen Tilt remains one of my favourite trails.

Worst weather:

I've been rained on a lot this year, despite all the hot weather. The Deschutes has largely shrugged this off so no bivvy disasters, just a bit of dampness to deal with. I've managed plenty of totally dry bivvies and gone bivvy bag only once, so I'm not complaining. No sub zeros this year though!

In total I was out for 14 nights so not a great showing but they were all pretty good nights out, even the wet ones. Apart from the Highland Trail bivvy, all were done from the house and I've many times enjoyed a relaxing night away from home, on my own, with a couple of beers and a book whilst listening to much nature. I can feel myself heading towards being a recluse but part of me doesn't really mind this. That said I've been pretty social this year so there is hope yet!

Ride highlights:

As well as the above I've done a lot of good rides, long and short. In the main, these have also been round my local patch or at least started from home and I have cashed in on what was a stunner of a summer. Winter was a disaster in terms of skiing but the fat bike got a good work out.

Snow and sun is my favourite trail / weather combo

OK, not as much snow (but enough to lead to a hard ride later on) but sun and a temp inversion makes for a fab view during an early season sprinkle.

Sun on a mirror like Loch Katrine doing one of many long rides that the Stormchaser dealt with fabulously.

A blazer of a day (and ride) on NCN 7 between Callander and Killin.

Fun on the Grand Old Dukes gravel sportive in the Trossachs. Actually one of my harder rides this year, although HT Day 1 wins that prize.

Yet another traverse of the Gaik (my 20th or so) which is also favourite trail.

Fallen trees have featured rather heavily on my rides this year, thanks to a couple of big storms. Possibly as a result, I've also managed two catastrophic punctures courtesy of sticks:

Fortunately this one happened fairly close to home, albeit just as darkness was falling. The other happened about as far away from home as I can get whilst still being in Fife - 55 miles into a 110 mile ride...

In terms of other disasters, I've managed to break two ribs this year, one thanks to ice and the other thanks to a miss-timed log hop. I also gave myself a nasty back injury which wrote off one tour and took ages to heal. That said my usual dodgy knee issues haven't caused me much problems, despite all the miles.

So another year passes. I'm 55 next month and starting to formulate retirement plans. This year will hopefully get me out on some multi day trips, I've penciled in an ITT on the Highland Trail for the end of April / beginning of May and I'm off round the southern end of Ireland on the motorbike at the end of May. Visits to parents will continue in order to keep Mum sane and Dad amused. Other than that, I'll be doing another BAM, get out on one of my seven bikes at every available opportunity and also try to crack the 6000 mile barrier.

Happy trails!