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Ralph Cox•Follow
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August 29, 2022

Corner to Corner, Day 29: Dunblane to Pitlochry

https://www.cycling4charity.org.uk Stayed with friends last seen in person 33 years ago!!! I declined a dram of freshly purchased single malt last night to be prepared for today's ride. Good route, except for massive climb in last hour only to ride down beneath main road. Climb with no purpose. Will revise THAT section! That's what I wrote at the time. With the benefit of mapping software and time, there seems no practical alternative and it seems the last hill isn't that "massive".
Distance
65.1 mi
Elev Gain
3,278 ft
Time
6h 50m
Location of the golden pillar box, in recognition of Andy Murray's 2012 Olympic success as gold medal winner in men's tennis singles
With another star.
And Dunblane's cathedral, which I will spend more time on next visit, when not pressed for time to cycle 63 miles, which turned out to be more.
Informative 6m50s YouTube tour and history video about Dunblane Cathedral, built from 1100 onwards. Significant restoration 1889-1893. It was dedicated to 6th century St Blane. Dunblane = hill of St Blane. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdVWRKtmxHc & https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunblane_Cathedral
According to Wikipedia, one of at least 7 churches in Dunblane.
Looks like a Banksie on the shop wall.
Dunblane's emblem in the middle of the roundabout linking Glen Road, High Street and B8033
B8033 after Kinbuck and before Braco, where a Komoot cyclist indicated there was a good coffee cafe.
And to our right side, with dramatic clouds
First red squirrel sign I have seen. By this time, Lorraine had seen red squirrels, which are common in Canada, in Scotland. I only ever saw a split second of one.
Approaching Braco via the B8033. The tower, with a clock paid for by public subscription, is all that remains of Braco Free Church, opened 1845 and struck by lightning sometime thereafter after which the rest was demolished for H&S. https://ardochparishchurch.org/church-history/
Ardoch parish church, erected 1780. https://ardochparishchurch.org/church-history/
I knew from the Komoot cyclist who recommended the route to Bridge of Earn that Braco has a coffee shop down there. Braco Coffee. https://www.braco.coffee. Shortly after this - in the opposite direction, we crossed over the River Knaik and after the road bends left, on its right is the location of Ardoch Roman Fort, though only visible now from the sky as series of grass troughs. https://imperiumromanum.pl/en/curiosities/roman-fort-ardoch/
Landscapes and clouds in the next few photos. This is north of Braco, first right down Orchill Road, a long quiet road which went through Gleneagles to Auchterarder
Orchill Road
Orchill Road
Orchill Road
Orchill Road
We had passed a sumptuous golf course which seemed to go on for miles, reaching Gleneagles which has four, so perhaps we passed more than one. Gleneagles open in 1924. Its shooting school opened as the Jackie Stewart Shooting School in 1988. https://gleneagles.com
Auchterarder's emblem. About the town: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auchterarder
Award winning Sugar and Spice. I vouch for the strawberry and cream tart - I went back to acknowledge this wondrous creation, and spelt and honey cob and mince pie slice, which I had this evening - equally superb. Regular queuers were locals and tradesmen refurbishing Gleneagles. Round Britain WhatsApp messaging: Ralph: "I can personally vouch for the strawberry and cream tart". Lorraine: "And I can vouch for the nicely flavoured Scotch Pie!"
Ochil Hills
Looking behind us, with the Orchil Hills on our left. Having been concerned about climbing high over the Scottish hills and mountains seen in photos, I realised today that roads follow valleys, by the flattest available route. That realisation calmed me further. There were a few exceptions coming up, e.g. between Tongue and Durness where the road was feet from the top but they were rarities.
Maggie Wall Witch Monument. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maggie_Wall
4 kudos
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