Only four Carnethies made it down to Earlston this year for the Black Hill Race, part of the Earlston Civic Week, but the very hot & dry conditions brought out a large field of Border runners, as there were 79 finishers, but the hot conditions made the running hard (despite being an evening race). Daniel Lavin was first Carnethy home in 6th, Andy Spenceley was 11th, Hilary Spenceley was first Over 60 in 43rd, with Robin Sloan 63rd (1st Over 70?). Results
Archives for July 2018
Traunsee Bergmarathon 7th July 2018
Continuing with the Carnethy tradition of abusing family holiday time I saw that the 30th edition of the Traunsee Bergmarathon coincided with our summer holiday to Austria. Once I’d secured an entry, I then booked some accommodation nearby in the village of Ebensee. This was the site of a Nazi concentration camp where over 8,000 died building underground tunnels to house Hitler’s V2 rocket program. Very little remains of this dark piece of history, and you have to seek out the hidden memorials.
The race itself was 70km with around 4,500m of ascent/descent taking in 7 hills around Lake Traunsee. After a lengthy briefing, mainly in German, the race started at 3.00am from the town square in Gmunden. The first few miles on forest tracks and trails reminded me of the Trossachs Night Trail Series, and the pace very similar- way too fast with 70km ahead of us. The route then went through a series of tunnels under the mountains, and I thought of those lost souls who had died in their construction.
Emerging in the open the race took a dramatic turn as we climbed the Traunstein; an almost vertical lump of rock rising from the lake to 1,691m. The markers followed one of the via ferrata routes; an 800m climb up cables, ladders and metal plates with some worrying exposure. Overnight rain had made the rocks and cables greasy, and at times my feet were struggling for grip. The Austrians, who made up 95% of the field, were much quicker than me at climbing, and I found myself frequently stepping aside to let them pass.
Once over the high point we faced a steep technical descent down more cables and scree filled gullys. I was somewhat relieved to reach the shores of the Lake, and one of the many aid stations, each one well stocked with food and drink, including “man cuts” and beer.
I reached the halfway point at Ebensee after 5.5 hours, and after a pit stop began the 1,200m climb up to the summit of Feuerkogel (1,592m). After another slippy descent down narrow forest trails the route eased into tracks and some sections of road back to Gmunden. I finished in just over 10hrs (47th and 1st Brit – out of 2), in time to spend the rest of the day with the family.
A fantastic race, very much of 2 halves. In fact the organisers give competitors the option of the full 70km, or either half from Gmunden to Ebensee, or Ebensee to Gmunden, if the exposed scrambling on Traunstein is not to your fancy.
Race info: http://www.bergmarathon.at/
Results: https://my3.raceresult.com/ 84075/results?lang=de#1_A472E2
Graham Nash
Dollar Hill Race
Well, another race on another very hot day. I just can’t get enough of this weather, but Matt J was sighing heavily at the prospect of another scorcher, and maybe others felt likewise as it seemed a smaller field than usual. The Carnethy contingent was comprised of me, Matt, Jane J, Neil B, and Fergus J, plus a cameo from Matt Grove who had sneaked over from ‘Merka without telling anyone. He also ran as “unattached”. I guess we’re not good enough for him anymore :-(.
We sizzled our way up Saddle Hill to White Wisp, and thankfully some clouds drifted in with a light breeze which made for a very pleasant ridge run round to Andrew Gannell hill. I had two ladies breathing heavily on my shoulder which scuppered any hopes for pausing to appreciate the views. I also had TWO shoe lace stops in which I frantically and hamfistedly tried (and failed) to relace without losing places.
From the top of Kings Seat to the finish is about 5km, and for me, the moment of truth as all the hard work I put in slogging uphills and chugging along the flats is usually undone as everyone flies past me on the downhill. So it was with breath-that-would-have-been-baited-if-it-wasn’t-panting that I made my way back down to Dollar with at least one lady hot on my tail.
Back at the finish Neil and Fergus were cooling their boots (and possibly filling their boots too? The cakes were pretty awesome). I beat Matt J (yay!!) and got a prize, as did Jane. (Sadly we missed out on the ladies’ team prize to Ochils, although it was a close run! The Ochils men also came out top). Catriona Buchanan was first lady, and I don’t know who was first fella as I was late for the prize-giving.
One of my favourite races – thanks to Ochil Hill Runners for organising. Results
Mary Lye
David Shepherd Memorial Glamaig hill race
A record number of runners and record times (albeit by seconds) for both Finlay Wild in 44:22 and Jill Stephen in 56:09. Also Alasdair Anthony set a new Over 40s record. Rachel warned me not to say Carnethy didn’t do very well… unfortunately the only Carnethys in the prize list are Rachel herself – 3rd senior lady, and Michelle 2nd FV50. But we are all winners in this race! It’s a hard slog of unrelenting ascent to the summit and this year the scree descent was particularly brutal with flying rock and moving torrents of stone. The weather was warm but ominous black cloud wreathed the Cuillin, and was heading our way. An incentive to quit the mountain.
The joy of this race is definitely the afters (assuming you don’t have time for the views), with nice food and a beer for each finisher, including the hotel’s own excellent brewery brew, somewhat spoiled by being kept in the chiller in the bar. Tsk. A sampling of a local whisky too, and very delicious. There’s a ceilidh too. More photos when the campsite wifi speeds up.
Digby
Jill became the second woman ever to break the hour after the great Trish Calder in 1990 (and then Clare Whitehead became the 3rd minutes later!). A list of all female sub 70 min runs is here with a list of all sub 52 min runs here. All previous winners are listed here.
Photos of the winners courtesy Geraint Ashton Jones (Alligin Photography). More photos here
Photos from Anne Nimmo
Results:
Position | Race No. | Time | Name | Club | Category |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 102 | 0:44:22 | Finlay Wild | Lochaber Athletic Club | M |
2 | 137 | 0:47:54 | Ted Mason | Wharfedale H | M |
3 | 163 | 0:48:06 | Lachlan Oates | Shettleston Harriers | M |
4 | 48 | 0:48:20 | James Espie | Deeside Runners | M |
5 | 84 | 0:48:40 | Alasdair Anthony | Ochil Hill Runners | M40 |
6 | 58 | 0:49:38 | Sam Alexander | Westerlands | M |
7 | 141 | 0:52:47 | Tom Simpson | Ambleside AC | M |
8 | 153 | 0:53:04 | James Tullie | Highland Hill Runners | M |
9 | 198 | 0:53:31 | Alec Keith | HBT | M50 |
10 | 82 | 0:54:13 | Richard Macleod | Lochaber Athletic Club | M |
11 | 124 | 0:54:26 | Gregor Stewart | Westerlands | M |
12 | 25 | 0:54:43 | Manny Gorman | Westerlands | M50 |
13 | 173 | 0:55:07 | Ross Spalding | Ochil Hill Runners | M |
14 | 183 | 0:55:27 | Francis Shephard (L) | 0 | M40 |
15 | 188 | 0:55:47 | David Cope | Howgill Harriers | M |
16 | 95 | 0:55:52 | Robert Brookes | Cosmics | M40 |
17 | 46 | 0:56:09 | Jill Stephen | Hunters Bog Trotters | F |
18 | 98 | 0:56:15 | Brian Marshall | HELP | M40 |
19 | 53 | 0:56:52 | Liam Braby | Carnethy HRC | M |
20 | 55 | 0:57:02 | Hamish Battle | Metro Aberdeen | M |
21 | 77 | 0:57:32 | Alan Smith | Deeside Runners | M50 |
22 | 131 | 0:57:32 | Stephen Winter | Shettleston Harriers | M40 |
23 | 130 | 0:57:44 | James Callender | Westerlands | M |
24 | 86 | 0:58:17 | Gregor Davidson | Lochaber Athletic Club | M |
25 | 75 | 0:58:51 | Francisco Javier Cabrera Valdes | Highland Hill Runners | M |
26 | 42 | 0:59:06 | James Harrison | Corstorphine AAC | M |
27 | 103 | 0:59:20 | Clare Whitehead | Deeside Runners | F40 |
28 | 15 | 0:59:27 | Alex McVey | Carnethy HRC | M |
29 | 24 | 1:00:17 | Stuart Malcolm | Highland Hill Runners | M50 |
30 | 80 | 1:00:39 | Andrew Gilmore | Carnethy HRC | M |
31 | 47 | 1:00:47 | Craig Freshwater | Hunters Bog Trotters | M |
32 | 76 | 1:01:00 | Stephanie Provan | Deeside Runners | F |
33 | 4 | 1:01:28 | John Tullie | Teviotdale Harriers | M60 |
34 | 168 | 1:01:30 | Matt MacDonald | Lochaber Athletic Club | M |
35 | 20 | 1:01:31 | Andrew Barr | Forres H | M |
36 | 125 | 1:01:48 | Iain Fraser | Tri Buchan | M50 |
37 | 152 | 1:02:24 | Bruce Smith | Carnethy HRC | M50 |
38 | 11 | 1:02:36 | Nigel Shekleton | Carnethy HRC | M |
39 | 115 | 1:02:40 | Iain Mackellaig | Lochaber Athletic Club | M50 |
40 | 61 | 1:02:45 | Stuart Pringle | Deeside Runners | M |
41 | 151 | 1:02:53 | Peter Kennedy | Lochaber Athletic Club | M40 |
42 | 99 | 1:02:54 | Stewart Wilson | Highland Hill Runners | M50 |
43 | 39 | 1:02:56 | Peter Melville | 0 | M |
44 | 78 | 1:03:15 | Donald MacPhie | 0 | M40 |
45 | 5 | 1:03:20 | Iain Pender | Shettleston Harriers | M |
46 | 159 | 1:03:29 | Barrie MacKinnon | Lochaber Athletic Club | M |
47 | 96 | 1:04:12 | Ruaraidh MacKenzie | Lochaber Athletic Club | M |
48 | 18 | 1:04:42 | Mike Stewart | Keith and district aac | M50 |
49 | 145 | 1:04:54 | Simon Titmuss | Carnethy HRC | M40 |
50 | 172 | 1:05:06 | Matthew Heger | Lochaber Athletic Club | M |
51 | 147 | 1:05:27 | Gareth Duncan | 0 | M |
52 | 135 | 1:05:35 | Scott Seefeldt | Keith and district aac | M |
53 | 85 | 1:05:36 | Iain Maclennan | Highland Hill Runners | M40 |
54 | 60 | 1:05:37 | Craig Wallace | Highland Hill Runners | M |
55 | 177 | 1:05:40 | Christopher Busby | Carnethy HRC | M |
56 | 13 | 1:05:46 | Philip Kammer | Cosmics | M60 |
57 | 3 | 1:06:03 | Don Reid | Westerlands | M60 |
58 | 195 | 1:06:22 | Niall Till (L) | Skye & Lochalsh running club | M |
59 | 162 | 1:06:27 | Gilles Contier | 0 | M50 |
60 | 12 | 1:06:31 | Gordon Pryde | Lomond Hill Runners | M60 |
61 | 67 | 1:06:45 | Keith Blackhall | Lochaber Athletic Club | M40 |
62 | 97 | 1:07:02 | Yan Valentine | Lochaber Athletic Club | M40 |
63 | 199 | 1:07:20 | John Coghill (L) | 0 | M |
64 | 116 | 1:07:37 | Pawel Cymbalista | Lochaber Athletic Club | M |
65 | 100 | 1:07:51 | Stuart Forrest | Highland Hill Runners | M |
66 | 118 | 1:08:00 | Robert Maclean | Lochaber Athletic Club | M50 |
67 | 155 | 1:08:15 | Crisdean Macrae | RFBR | M |
68 | 73 | 1:08:35 | Gordon Mccaffrey | Westerlands | M60 |
69 | 21 | 1:08:39 | Iain MacDonald | Forres H | M50 |
70 | 148 | 1:08:47 | Brian Macdonald | Lochaber Athletic Club | M40 |
71 | 142 | 1:08:48 | Stuart Simpson | Stornoway RAC | M40 |
72 | 81 | 1:08:53 | Kenneth O'Brien (L) | 0 | M |
73 | 31 | 1:08:54 | Veronique Oldham | Cosmics | F50 |
74 | 140 | 1:09:10 | Tom Barker | 0 | M |
75 | 117 | 1:09:23 | Robert Hall-Mcnair | 0 | M40 |
76 | 68 | 1:09:32 | Craig MacColmson | Dumfries | M50 |
77 | 40 | 1:09:33 | Rachel Normand | Carnethy HRC | F |
78 | 107 | 1:09:35 | Dougie Macdonald | Highland Hill Runners | M40 |
79 | 150 | 1:09:41 | Matt Deamer (L) | 0 | M |
80 | 83 | 1:10:14 | Allan Lamont | Lochaber Athletic Club | M |
81 | 74 | 1:10:17 | Gordie Taylor | Highland Hill Runners | M50 |
82 | 66 | 1:10:21 | Amanda Blackhall | Lochaber Athletic Club | F40 |
83 | 28 | 1:10:41 | Ben Spence | 0 | M |
84 | 22 | 1:10:46 | Morgan Windram-Geddes | Fife AC | F |
85 | 134 | 1:10:50 | Clive Coffey | NIMRA | M50 |
86 | 49 | 1:10:51 | Remik Strzyzewski | 0 | M |
87 | 32 | 1:10:58 | Ewan Paterson | Highland Hill Runners | M60 |
88 | 2 | 1:11:06 | Andrew Shepherd | Carnethy HRC | M50 |
89 | 79 | 1:11:29 | Harry Gilmore | Carnethy HRC | M50 |
90 | 44 | 1:11:35 | Roderick Pugh | Kilmarnock Harriers | M60 |
91 | 50 | 1:11:38 | Nick Mardell | Deeside Runners | M50 |
92 | 41 | 1:12:49 | Will Normand | Carnethy HRC | M |
93 | 43 | 1:13:10 | Ross McGauchey | 0 | M |
94 | 119 | 1:13:41 | John Ryan | Carnethy HRC | M |
95 | 29 | 1:13:42 | Michelle Hetherington | Carnethy HRC | F50 |
96 | 129 | 1:13:47 | Stephen Murchison (L) | 0 | M |
97 | 179 | 1:14:00 | David Jamieson | Skye and Lochalsh Running Club | M50 |
98 | 23 | 1:14:03 | Lee O'Connor | Dundee RR | M40 |
99 | 132 | 1:14:12 | Alastair Combe | 0 | M40 |
100 | 138 | 1:14:56 | Richard Morris | 45 Recce | M |
101 | 139 | 1:14:57 | Lee Howell | 45 Recce | M |
102 | 146 | 1:15:37 | James Mann | 0 | M |
103 | 17 | 1:15:46 | Gerald Angus | Keith and district aac | M50 |
104 | 165 | 1:15:48 | Andrew MacDonald (L) | 0 | M |
105 | 187 | 1:15:50 | Bruce Elliot (L) | 0 | M40 |
106 | 19 | 1:16:25 | Christopher Mitchell (L) | 0 | M60 |
107 | 92 | 1:16:51 | Brian Campbell | Lochaber Athletic Club | M50 |
108 | 106 | 1:16:55 | Karen Lyons (L) | Highland Hill Runners | F40 |
109 | 144 | 1:17:14 | Jean Mclennan | Dunoon Hill Runners | F50 |
110 | 93 | 1:17:32 | Colin McTavish | Lochaber Athletic Club | M60 |
111 | 149 | 1:17:40 | Vikki MacKinnon | Lochaber Athletic Club | F40 |
112 | 166 | 1:17:57 | Stuart Hunter | Cosmics | M50 |
113 | 57 | 1:17:58 | Hilary Ritchie | Fife AC | F50 |
114 | 167 | 1:18:16 | Richard Chatburn | Highland Hill Runners | M40 |
115 | 112 | 1:18:23 | Trevor Shaw | Lochtayside | M50 |
116 | 89 | 1:18:36 | John Donnelly | Westerlands | M50 |
117 | 154 | 1:19:01 | Jamie Hamilton (L) | 0 | M |
118 | 184 | 1:19:11 | Ally Macleod (L) | 0 | M50 |
119 | 160 | 1:19:25 | Sarah Sutton (L) | 0 | F |
120 | 69 | 1:19:58 | Douglas Milligan | Solway RC | M70 |
121 | 88 | 1:20:09 | Sean Walker | Carnethy HRC | M40 |
122 | 126 | 1:20:16 | Rhian Evans | Strathearn Harriers | F |
123 | 196 | 1:20:42 | Ian Stewart (L) | Skye and Lochalsh Running Club | M50 |
124 | 10 | 1:21:10 | Gordon Cameron | Carnethy HRC | M60 |
125 | 136 | 1:21:23 | Lucy Mallinson | Wharfedale H | F |
126 | 59 | 1:21:43 | Fionna MacKinnon | Carnethy HRC | F40 |
127 | 161 | 1:22:07 | David Hall (L) | 0 | M |
128 | 70 | 1:22:17 | Chloe Valentine | Lochaber Athletic Club | F40 |
129 | 105 | 1:22:33 | David Oliver | Deeside Runners | M50 |
130 | 52 | 1:22:36 | Alistair Boyer | Westerlands | M |
131 | 45 | 1:23:07 | Graham Arthur | Highland Hill Runners | M70 |
132 | 143 | 1:23:20 | Bryony Fearnley | 0 | F |
133 | 62 | 1:23:32 | Marie Entwistle | Deeside Runners | F40 |
134 | 56 | 1:24:25 | Stephen Johnston | Milburn Harriers | M50 |
135 | 30 | 1:24:38 | Joanne Anderson | Carnethy HRC | F40 |
136 | 128 | 1:25:39 | Cheryl McIntyre (L) | 0 | F |
137 | 186 | 1:25:56 | Ewan Murray | RFBR | M |
138 | 94 | 1:26:06 | Bruce Davie | Lochaber Athletic Club | M40 |
139 | 193 | 1:26:13 | Alasdair MacSween (L) | 0 | M50 |
140 | 64 | 1:26:20 | Michael Milner | 0 | M |
141 | 51 | 1:26:38 | Neil Turner (L) | Skye and Lochalsh Running Club | M40 |
142 | 158 | 1:26:42 | Ross Nicolson (L) | 0 | M |
143 | 175 | 1:26:56 | Nicholas Riddell | Watlington HB | M |
144 | 133 | 1:27:27 | Helen Cassidy | NIMRA | F40 |
145 | 90 | 1:27:49 | George Douglas | Westerlands | M50 |
146 | 101 | 1:27:49 | David Scott | Ochil Hill Runners | M60 |
147 | 54 | 1:28:27 | Charles Ritchie | Cambridge & Coleridge | M60 |
148 | 113 | 1:28:30 | Digby Maass | Carnethy HRC | M60 |
149 | 87 | 1:28:35 | Lesley Malarkey | Keswick AC | F60 |
150 | 114 | 1:28:36 | Tay McCluskie (L) | 0 | M |
151 | 194 | 1:28:57 | Dave Till (L) | Skye and Lochalsh Running Club | M50 |
152 | 63 | 1:28:59 | Morten Hansen | 0 | M40 |
153 | 111 | 1:29:12 | Brian Brennan | Westerlands | M60 |
154 | 122 | 1:29:21 | Iain MacGilp | 0 | M |
155 | 65 | 1:29:33 | James Hamilton | Lochaber Athletic Club | M50 |
156 | 157 | 1:30:23 | Alexander Tindall (L) | 0 | M |
157 | 34 | 1:30:41 | Jeremy Mackin | 0 | M50 |
158 | 6 | 1:30:48 | Kate Tuer | 0 | F |
159 | 35 | 1:30:51 | Jocelyn Scott | Fife AC | F60 |
160 | 36 | 1:31:29 | Lindsay Wilson | Fife AC | F |
161 | 176 | 1:31:35 | Katherine Kirk | 0 | F50 |
162 | 14 | 1:31:57 | Katie May | Howgill Harriers | F |
163 | 156 | 1:32:00 | Ros Evans | Westerlands | F60 |
164 | 7 | 1:33:05 | Herbie McLean | Lochtayside | M70 |
165 | 91 | 1:34:32 | Klara Campbell | Lochaber Athletic Club | F40 |
166 | 120 | 1:35:39 | Gordon MacPhie (L) | 0 | M |
167 | 104 | 1:36:46 | Jane Oliver | Deeside Runners | F50 |
168 | 38 | 1:36:48 | Andrew Fullwood | Westerlands | M50 |
169 | 8 | 1:38:11 | Alan Campbell | 0 | M60 |
170 | 178 | 1:38:12 | Harry Martin (L) | 0 | M |
171 | 174 | 1:38:26 | John Riddell | Watlington HB | M50 |
172 | 170 | 1:39:29 | Murray Bishop | Watlington HB | M50 |
173 | 9 | 1:40:01 | Ninian Christie | 0 | M40 |
174 | 37 | 1:40:53 | Elizabeth Bloomfield | Fife AC | F50 |
175 | 185 | 1:41:00 | Elinor Young (L) | 0 | F |
176 | 180 | 1:42:35 | Hamish Riddell | Watlington HB | M |
177 | 201 | 1:44:49 | John Donald McSorley (L) | 0 | M |
178 | 1 | 1:45:15 | Hugh McPherson | Tinto Hill Runners | M70 |
179 | 26 | 1:46:40 | Peter Midgley | Westerlands | M60 |
180 | 181 | 1:48:20 | Matthew Soanes | Watlington HB | M |
181 | 121 | 1:49:05 | David Manson | 0 | M |
182 | 72 | 1:50:34 | Robert Cranston | Teviotdale Harriers | M50 |
183 | 171 | 1:51:19 | Lisa Poole (L) | 0 | F |
184 | 71 | 1:51:23 | Patrick Sanchez | 0 | M |
185 | 200 | 1:52:23 | Liz Brookes | 0 | F40 |
186 | 182 | 1:54:49 | Tom Batchelor | Watlington HB | M |
187 | 190 | 2:00:50 | Richard Ross (L) | 0 | M |
188 | 189 | 2:00:50 | Gareth Rosi | 0 | M |
189 | 123 | 2:00:55 | Andrew Pattie | 0 | M |
190 | 164 | 2:01:58 | Sarah Jane MacDonald (L) | 0 | F |
191 | 197 | 2:01:58 | Donald Macdonald (L) | 0 | M40 |
192 | 33 | 2:03:48 | Ian Macleod | 0 | M50 |
193 | 108 | 2:08:49 | Luca Cachza | 0 | M |
194 | 16 | 2:17:38 | Shelagh King | Gala Harriers | F60 |
195 | 27 | 2:29:59 | Eliza Mclachlan | Fife AC | F60 |
196 | 110 | 2:38:04 | Lluka Yohznni | 0 | F |
197 | 109 | 2:43:55 | Zach Bartold | 0 | M |
198 | 191 | 2:46:18 | Joanne Wallaston | Saltwell H | F40 |
199 | 192 | 2:46:19 | Andrew Swanston | Saltwell H | M50 |
Lammermuirs handicap
Very warm and exceptionally fly ridden evening for a very runnable course. Unusual to find a marshal on the course in the person of Billy – keeping us on the path at the top due to the presence of shotguns in the heather. A BBQ at the reservoir dam wafted cruel odours at us and set us up for afters at the Goblin Ha. I can report that the soup was very good, though points lost for floury bread and no butter. Still no perfect score! Good beer too, if driving allowed. Leaving early bought the reward of an amazing sunset.
Digby
Mon lunchtime Arthur’s Seat handicap July
Runner | Start Time July | Actual July | Fin Time | Time Order | Fin Order |
Claire W | 12:15:04 | 00:33:47 | 12:48:51 | 5 | 1 |
Mark D | 12:21:27 | 00:35:52 | 12:57:19 | 6 | 2 |
James B | 12:31:00 | 00:26:32 | 12:57:32 | 1 | 3 |
Peter G | 12:29:06 | 00:28:29 | 12:57:35 | 2 | 4 |
Cameron M | 12:29:00 | 00:31:12 | 13:00:12 | 3 | 5 |
Mike J | 12:28:45 | 00:31:55 | 13:00:40 | 4 | 6 |
Gordon C | 12:18:23 | 00:42:21 | 13:00:44 | 7 | 7 |
This month’s winner was Claire Ward with an impressive 12 minute PB. I suspect not running in snow and ice had something to do with this, well done! Claire sends her apologies for having to disappear quickly at the end, she had to get back to work.
Reports of good conditions with fewer tourists this month, although Cameron found some descending the gutted haddie as he was approaching the top. Let’s hope they made it down in one piece!
Normal service to resume next month with Neil back at the helm.
Jill Stephen
Carnethy Crusade Run
On Saturday 30th June I led a new route that I’d titled A Carnethy Crusade due to tenuous links to Knights of Templar (we passed through Temple). Crusading must be like baking as 13 started out and a dozen made it to Cross Borders Brewery after losing one to the heat. It really was quite warm out on Saturday as you may have noticed! However, that just made the first beer taste even nicer when we eventually arrived after 34km (2km further than advertised, not that anyone brought this up during the final mile). The route starts by going up Dundreich before dropping down to the source of the River South Esk, which is then followed all the way to Eskbank, round reservoirs, across fields, through woodland, and along a few tracks and quiet roads.
Watch out for part 2, The Taproom Special, that will start from Cross Borders and finish at Campervan in Leith… another 30km or so.
Jeff
Mike’s pics –