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 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?