Picture of the Month - July 2013

The Caledonia Way

-again-

An off road cycle path that never fails to deliver,

especially beautiful on sunny summer days

Susan with Castle Stalker

Stonehaven to Montrose NCN1

The road winds ever on

Saturday 2nd June

Leaving Johnshaven we took to a quiet country road.

We were deliberately avoiding the A92 sections, cycling with 

fast moving traffic is never pleasant.

Views over the land toward Gourdon are lovely.

Isabel was a bit saddle sore!

Anne and Roni leading the way, 

enjoying the freedom of quiet 'C' class roads

Patterns in ploughed fields

One of the few hills - but legs were getting weary!

The downhill run to the St Cyrus Nature Reserve

'The Road goes ever on and on'

We finally arrived in Montrose and it was a saddle sore four,

 who were glad to return to 'evening-rest and sleep to meet'

Anne, Roni, Isabel & Bill

Stonehaven to Montrose NCN1

The flat middle bit

Saturday 2nd June

Our journey south is an off-road cyclists treat.

The short section between Inverbervie and Gourdon follows the

line of the disused railway - flat and traffic free.

If you haven't been to Gourdon - imagine any village scene from the 1983 Bill Forsyth film 'Local Hero' - through half-closed eyes Ferness could really exist.....

We didn't have time to slow down and absorb the atmosphere 

(but did look greedily at Hornblowers chip shop by the harbour)

We left the village initially on a superb track

However the coastal path is rough in places

No complaints from us - fabulous to be off road and beside the sea

OK, we all agreed it's a bit bumpy in places......

Rape fields are so YELLOW - intensely so on a bright day

Roni checking out future accommodation for us Moray Clubbers

We entered Johnshaven,

a village in which fishing remains the focus of life.

The School of Lathallan sits on the village outskirts.
Suspect the headie would have a few choice nicknames in Glasgow!

At this point we headed uphill, out of Johnshaven, swinging away 

from the coast and taking to quiet rolling farmland roads again -

Anne 'yellow jersey' leading the way.

Our detour was suggested by Bill as he didn't fancy 

the A92 down to St  Cyrus....far too busy

More bright yellow field crops of rape seed.

To some the fields smell sensational - a sort of dense, honeyed, mustardy, oily, deeply musky scent. Others find it disgusting!

In the absence of a picnic site and table, 

Isabel found her own comfy spot for 2nd (or 3rd) lunch

Only another 16 miles to go.....

Stonehaven to Montrose NCN1

 Kinraddie

Saturday 2nd June

Our weekend explorers were Roni, Anne, Bill and Isabel   

 

Quite a cultured lot - aren't we?

Bloomfield Steading is a peaceful cottage set within the grounds of Bloomfield, the childhood home of 

James Leslie Mitchell better know 

as Lewis Grassic Gibbon

 Everyone chose cycling in preference to the hills,

Anne particularly so - as she almost lives in the saddle!

Bill's chosen cycle route was from Stonehaven to Montrose...but the Bervie Braes closure after landslip meant Dunotter was our start point

Isabel was glad as this would shorten our route to 'only'
30 miles....

We suggested to Anne that with her Hi-Vis vest she should charge £5 a time directing cars to a parking place...well she was asked a few times!

it's a stunning agricultural landscape you pass through

Catterline was particularly colourful

Isabel hadn't been out with the club for a few years

-did she know what a gentle cycle this would be?

Following narrow country roads we arrived at Kinneff.
If you are fascinated by Scottish history Kinneff Old Kirk is a must - its famous as the site where the Honours of Scotland were hidden after the Siege of Dunnottar Castle in 1651 until the Restoration in 1660

 The significance of the church in our history is... 

as is often the way in Scotland, rather understated.

Good information panels inside the church.

The Scottish Crown Jewels were hidden here after they had been rescued from Dunnottar Castle during Oliver Cromwell's siege in 1652.  The minister James Grainger and his wife Christian Fletcher devised the plan to smuggle them out of the castle right under the noses of the besieging forces,
aye, great stuff!

The Honous Three - our Scottish Crown Jewels

  

We had our pieces amongst the graves in the churchyard.

It's a very peaceful spot

....there is a rather steep hill back up to our route....

We were soon speeding downhill to 

Inverbervie.

10 miles done.....only 20 to go!

Meall Garbh - An Stuc - Ben Lawers

Craggantoul hills

Saturday 17th March

Our 'boys' bounded up the grassy slopes of Meall Garbh. 
 Blue skies and sun putting a spring in their steps.

Andy striding out purposefully

Despite the strong sunshine we needed warm clothes,

it was a chilly wind.

It was at this point the girls waved us on - 

they would do their own thing and see us back at the house.

a breather before the final slopes

We looked east to Meall Greigh - very different conditions today 

from our last visit to these hills.

easy high level walking - the eastern hills in this range are rounder and less craggy

 A feature of hill walking in recent years is the explosion of wind farms, 

and they are not exclusive to upland areas.

These turbines are above Aberfeldy - completed in early 2012, 

Griffin is located within a boundary area similar in size to the nearby city of Perth. 

Its 68 turbines are built on land which is a mixture of 
upland heather moorland, grassland and commercial forestry.

Griffin Forest wind farm above Aberfeldy

The summit path gave stunning views of the north ridge from An Stuc

'good winter walking'

An Stuc was, as always, intimidating!

...cant' avoid going over it...

It was at this point that we had a rather odd encounter.

Ron, forging a way up the steep southern side, 

appeared ahead of us at the dip on the ridge, 

he must have run up the slope.

Disbelieving David questioning Ron!

Grub stop on An Stac

....more Jelly babies please...

Ben Lawers had cleared of cloud

 and it looked like we would have the ridge to ourselves. 

Although we could see figures on the summit -

It's not a place for those seeking solitude.

'a light dusting of icing sugar'

Views south over the wee coire lochan to Loch Tay

our descent route was on the far side
of the snow covered slope

Looking back along our route - watching cloud 

being blown north east

'where is Ron-will he pop up in front of us again?'

We made fast progress off Lawers running down the hard sugary snow

our fast descent to Loch Tay

See what happens when you eat too much, you fall through holes!

a hidden stream

It was a deep one and we had a good laugh at

Andy struggling, of course he would ham it up..

Gonny gie's a haund?

A pretty good day out - now ready for dinner!

Ben Lawers from Craggantoul

Ben Lawers circuit

Saturday 17th March

The Moray Club have had many Burns night celebrations -

but a weekend in March is a tad late

No camping this time -  but luxury accommodation

 on the shores of Loch Tay.

Craggantoul (stony barn) exceeded all our expectations

Craggantoul sits on the shores of Loch Tay.

 Ben Lawers looked fab with it's wee cap of snow.

Nice to be able to see the hill top from your house.

Brilliant blue skies

 There had been a keen frost, so the strong sunshine was welcome

gearing up in the sun....

 Bill, wrapped up warmly...it was cold in the shadow

....is it me or is it pretty cold?

 Elizabeth and Jim had plans for low level exploration.

'Aberfeldy coffee shop here we come'

 It was an effort to leave Craggantoul.

South facing, it soaked up the warm sun.

Craggantoul is no 'stony barn'!

 With an access track from our doorstep we made good speed to the

tiny dam in the corrie of Lochan nan Cat.

 We donned winter gear - the dam is at 2000 feet 

and it was cold in the breeze.

Julie, Dee, Ron and David

Ron and Dee gave instructions to each other 

on how best to cross the river!

Dee just loves river crossings

 Our first summit was Meall Garbh, looking an easy grassy walk.

Well it was, but we managed to find the craggy bits.

Its a unique skill to make an easy day more challenging.

David & Andy striding out to Meall Garbh

 We split into two (and a half) groups - 
with different walking speeds and objectives.

Julie, Roni & Dee formed the club ladies section

Who went where?

read on.....