Anyway, mine duly arrived and thanks to a last minute day off work to cash in on a fab weather forecast I planned to get going Friday Lunchtime, bag as many as I could be bothered that afternoon, bivvy somewhere and do the rest the next day. Thanks to Lazarus's ace map appraisal, he picked out 7 spots (two were optional) that I knew well and in fact bar one had been to dozens of times. Ace, no route planning needed just head out and grab 'em all. Better yet they were all accessible either off road or on quiet back roads.
So off we go then - first stop Culross (pronounced cooross) on the Forth estuary coast. Rolling down the village main street I could see Ben Cleuch (my highest GR) bathed in Sunshine. Of course a sprinkle of rain came in soon after... But this didn't sour the easy run downhill via various back roads, a bit of the west Fife cycleway and the odd trail to my first GR.
A very nice place although the irony that the best view is enjoyed by the Council house tenants rather than the posh old house residents does amuse me. Many of the old houses have pan tile roofs. The pan tiles came over from Holland and were used as ballast in the ships that would return full of coal from Lord Elgin's various mines that were dotted around the area. He (and his descendent) was a model Scottish large landowner - hidden away in a big posh castle that no-one could get near, horribly exploited the locals to extract his coal for maximum moola for him and minimum moola (and terrible working conditions) for them. He also tried to block access rights from applying to any of his property....
So from sea level I was off to 725m! Lazarus had given me an option of a GR on the West Fife way if I didn't want to go to Culross but I bagged this anyway as it's on-route to Tillicoutry and the long old climb up into the hills. After a steep pull out of Culross I followed various trails, Devilla forest, cycleway then more nice trails pretty much to the start of the climb.
GR2 (more or less)
In the spirit of the undertaking I went for the direct route up the hill which on any bike is a solid push. In theory this is the best way to tackle a big climb on singlespeed as you'd be pushing anyway so best go via the shortest route. Or something.
Heave ho - this goes on for some considerable length of time. A brief pedal on a nice bit of singletrack before a final heave to the top.
Summit of Ben Cleuch with the West Highlands laid out in the background. In theory you can spot some of the bigger peaks of the Cairngorms from up here (I have) however today they were shrouded in cloud - hopefully dumping snow on them!
I followed an oft used route along the ridge via hills, Andrew Gannel, Skythorn, Tarmangie and Innerdounie before a lengthy descent, more climbing then a final plummet to Muckhart
Looking back along the ridge
Near the bottom - the rounded lump on the right of the picture is my final GR.
The Inn at Muckhart, in Pool of Muckhart (just down the road from Yetts o' Muckhart) my next GR. I suppose I could have had a pint here as it's a good boozer that I've not been to for years but it looked quite busy so onward I went, dusk approaching. The next GR was at Milnathort. I could have climbed back into the hills to get there but I couldn't be arsed. Instead my route took me via more backroads and a bit of cycleway. Crook of Devon proved a small shop but it didn't have much so I grabbed a cheap coffee to wash down a ham roll and crisps. Milnathort provided a far better offering - a Nisa which had a Stuarts bakery counter (there appears to be a bakery war going on in Kinross-shire and West Fife - this used to be the preserve of Stevens or Baynes!) Anyway more pies were purchased and a couple of beers for the evening. But next up was the next GR!
GR5 - Burleigh Castle which I've been past a few time but not stopped - basically a fortified manor house dating back to the 1400's. Then my ever reliable nose got me onto a trail which took me down to Loch Leven and the trail around it. I was now 7.30 and I was considering my options. Round the loch was another sizeable climb over to GR6 / castle number 2 at Lochore Meadows. After this was Blair Adam Forest which would provide plenty of bivvy spots. I'd only got my bivvy bag as shelter but despite much dryness I was thinking of a cop out. This took the form of one of the bird hides beside Loch Leven - in theory it's most remote so least likely to be used the next morning. I arrived just after 8 thanks to the ham roll taking its revenge on my digestive system and figured on eating more food and having a beer before rolling out the bag, just in case a late night dog walker turned up. They didn't and the temps were dropping so I did my bivvy standard of eat, drink beers (Stewarts Radical Road
) and read until nigh on 11 when I my eyelids started to droop. Now all evening, I'd been aware of much honking, screeching, flapping and splashing from nearby. Peering out of the window revealed very little but I figured the geese / ducks / swans or whatever would knock it on the head later on. Except they didn't so my nights sleep was somewhat interrupted. Just after 7 I figured on making a move in case any early morning bird watchers turned up.
Quite salubrious really and made for a luxury bivvy.
So much for a flock - 4 swans (actually mum, dad and two kids) who promptly took off and flew away, finally leaving me in piece. Various other duck-esque birdies remained but these were quiet.
Must remember this for future bivvies.
Anyway, after using the well appointed loos at Vane Farm nature reserve (open 24 hours - I could have had a heated bivvy!) I stomped up the climb over Benarty hill and took an easy option for the descent. I passed the Lochore Meadows Conservation Volunteers (me and various other reprobates) extensive coppice areas and into the fine Oak woodland of Harran Hill. Somewhere on the fun descent I picked up a hole - I seem to be plagued with punctures at the mo. It sealed but on pedaling around the loch it kept letting go. At the castle (GR6) I set to with a plug but in my haste forgot to take a pic. It's just a lump of masonry so no loss! Then back round the other side of the loch and up again through Blair Adam then out onto the moor for the final heave up to Drum Glow, the final GR.
Soft focus unintentional - the camera must have fogged up... Anyway if it was clear you could see my hilly route of the previous day. Near home now so off down the precipitous descent (which I bottled as I could only get my seat down a couple of inches) plough through the woods, one final tussock fest and then the quiet road home.
Total distance about 120k in 10 and a half hours of riding with 2500m of climbing so a good ride by any measure. Whilst it didn't take me anywhere new I really enjoyed a different focus to one of my usual local rides so cheers Shaff for organising and cheer Lazarus for the GR's!
- I now know that you go across the corridor first and then climb the stairs. But, Phils references were alot more digits than what I sent Jon.
. Teeth brushed. Coffee packed but no cooking done. Missed the heavy rain and slept in the joiners doorway... £21 raised (and counting 
