Cycling to Blair Atholl: map & data
Total climbing: 194 m
Total time: 02:54:41
17 mile cycle out, 3h – average 5.7 mph
It was Day 3 of our wild camping trip. We had cycled here from Blair Atholl on Friday and we had climbed two Corbetts on Saturday.
Today we were cycling back to Blair Atholl after breaking camp.
8.35 – Our beloved second home, Bumblebee & Mounty
When we got up, the sun was out and the view was gorgeous.
9.04 – Basking in the sun
That sun was a luxury we hadn’t had the day before, so we hang our jackets and waterproof trousers to dry.
9.04 – An Dun and our drying jackets
When I was emptying the tent, I noticed that Simon had put a small bag with some chocolate in one of the pockets. The bag looked chewed up and I joked about his night-time chocolate eating.
Then we saw what had happened.
A rodent, we guessed, had had a go at the tent to get to the chocolate. It’s the second time in a row we’ve had a rodent attack.
9.31 – Our gnawed tent
We broke camp and set off at about 11.30.
By the lodge we met a estate worker and we chatted for a bit. We also saw a group of about six hikers heading for the Corbetts.
The ride out was easier than in. Somehow I hardly noticed the gravel and rocks.
11.59 – Cycling out in no hurry
The views all around us were spectacular.
12.11 – Looking back at our path and hills
13.07 – Back on the smooth and easy path
We went back to Blair Atholl the same way we came, past the bridge and along the river Garry.
13.19 – Gliding back to Blair Atholl
13.26 – The picturesque river Garry
We had time to spare, so we went to Calvine. First we saw this awesome bridge:
13.44 – Old metal bridge near Calvine
Then we found the Struan Inn. It looked lovely, but unfortunately it closes on Sundays.
13.46 – The Struan Inn, for a future trip
We rode past Blair Castle, which looked majestic in the spring sun.
14.12 – The majestic Blair Castle in the sun
We got to Blair Atholl by 2.30 and parked ourselves at the Watermill Cafe.
We knew it had rained very little the previous weeks, and this announcement at the Watermill Cafe confirmed it:
15.05 – Curious sign at the Watermill Cafe
We had lunch at the Watermill Cafe, outside.
Simon had a soup and bread, and I had smoked salmon with cream cheese and salad. We also had a Victoria sponge and a Mars crispy.
Plus, we bought a sourdough bread for dinner to take with us.
15.40 – View of Blair Atholl from the Watermill Cafe
After lunch we went to the Atholl Arms hotel and sat outside while we waited for the train.
16.43 – Lazing around in the Atholl Arms hotel garden
It was a lovely afternoon. We even got a double rainbow just before the train arrived.
17.56 – Blair Atholl saying goodbye with a double rainbow
On the way back we had tickets to Stirling, where we had to change trains. The train wasn’t too busy. At Stirling we took the train to Waverley from the same platform and got home at about 10pm.
It was a fabulous trip. I loved the mixture of familiar places and new hills, the glorious sun and navigating inside a cloud.
I took all the photos with the Panasonic.