Skywatch Scotland 6

Two different views across Loch Leven , Kinross-shire on a glorious summer's day.

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Drookit at Innerleithen on Sunday

If you look very carefully at Baz's leg you'll see a minor scratch which he claimed was a major injury and proof of his bravado on the slippy slopes we encountered on Sunday at Innerleithen! "Drookit" by the way for the non Scots means bloody wet or soaking which is what we were in the heavy rain on Sunday morning.

Baz emerges from the undergrowth into the rain.

The Cycle path round Loch Leven

I'll describe the path from Vane Farm around the north shore of Loch Leven to Kinross as a cycle path and risk the wrath of all the folk who walk it rather than do the sensible thing and bike it!! (only joking by the way, don't want to upset the rambling fraternity!)

Did it on Saturday for the first time and though I was born and brought up there I saw the views round the loch in a completely different perspective from before. The journey from Findatie car park to Kinross was approximately 7.5 miles and the cup of coffee at the Bistro beside the pier at Kinross where the boat takes visitors to the Castle Island of Mary Queen of Scots fame was very welcome. On the way we passed by my birthplace at Grahamstone Farm where I emerged bawling and screaming into the world. On the return journey we did a short detour up the track to the Larder, another restaurant cum coffee shop and had an ice cream, well it was a warm day! The wild life would appear to co-exist with the walkers and cyclists as the birds seem unnerved by their presence and we even had a deer run over the path in front of us. Well worth a visit if you're ever in the area.

The Sluice Gates or "Sluices" as they are known locally, which control the outflow of water from Loch Leven.

Grahamstone farm where I was born with the Bishop Hill in the background.

A labradoodle we met en route to Kinross.

Looking across to the Castle Island from the pier at Kinross.

Skywatch Scotland 5

The Falkirk Wheel caught midway on one of the better days this summer.

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No blood spilt today (for a change)

This must be the first time for quite a few weeks that I haven't either spilt blood or bruised some part of my anatomy on a cross country ride. Probably the fact that I walked down one particular section that has been my Nemesis of late helped this! Heavy rain meant it was Glentress today which stands up to the wet better than Innerleithen even still we came home with an admirable amount of muck on our clothes to test the washing machines! Nearly 25 miles done today to continue the build up to Ten at Moray near the end of August.

The Red Devil!!

A sheer(ish) drop negotiated safely!

Riding the wall of death!

The bottom car park at Glentress showing how popular the sport of mountain biking has become.