http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Going somewhere en Tue, 23 Jun 2026 15:09:24 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=14900#post-189832 Mon, 01 Jun 2015 14:50:17 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 189832@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>My problem is I stop too much... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=14900#post-189829 Mon, 01 Jun 2015 14:29:01 +0000 ARobComp 189829@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Glad you had a lovely time. Certainly beats marquee shopping and wedding prep. However I know my choice got me more Relationship Points to be spent elsewhere. </p> <p>Will be well up for the next one. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=14900#post-189824 Mon, 01 Jun 2015 13:57:59 +0000 amir 189824@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Other brochs "nearby":</p> <p><a href="http://www.odysseyadventures.ca/articles/brochs/brochs_map.htm" rel="nofollow">http://www.odysseyadventures.ca/articles/brochs/brochs_map.htm</a><br /> <a href="http://brochs.co.uk/articles.php?cat_id=27" rel="nofollow">http://brochs.co.uk/articles.php?cat_id=27</a></p> <p>One near Linlithgow</p> <p>Tapoch Broch near Falkirk<br /> <a href="http://canmore.org.uk/site/47004/torwood-tappoch-broch" rel="nofollow">http://canmore.org.uk/site/47004/torwood-tappoch-broch</a></p> <p>Toorwoodlee Broch near Galashiels<br /> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torwoodlee_Broch" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torwoodlee_Broch</a></p> <p>Bow Castle near Galashiels<br /> <a href="http://brochs.co.uk/articles.php?article_id=49" rel="nofollow">http://brochs.co.uk/articles.php?article_id=49</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=14900#post-189819 Mon, 01 Jun 2015 13:22:23 +0000 amir 189819@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>And more photos at <a href="https://flic.kr/s/aHskchLmco" rel="nofollow">https://flic.kr/s/aHskchLmco</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=14900#post-189817 Mon, 01 Jun 2015 13:19:07 +0000 amir 189817@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Hopefully a follow-up will be arranged (Magical Mystery Tour - with hills). </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=14900#post-189816 Mon, 01 Jun 2015 13:14:29 +0000 earthowned 189816@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Thanks for the write up. Looks like you had a blast on your adventure. I'm bad at not stopping at interesting places too. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=14900#post-189814 Mon, 01 Jun 2015 13:02:44 +0000 steveo 189814@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Nice one guys, I must admit I'm bad for not stopping unless I really need to. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=14900#post-189811 Mon, 01 Jun 2015 12:49:13 +0000 amir 189811@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Part 2:</p> <p>After seeing the Broch, we returned to the bikes and freewheeled to A St B's. There is a nice cosy restaurant there. Though the menu is three courses, the owner is happy to serve as much or little as you want. They could do with simple cakes/scones though. The service is great and there are interesting paintings on the walls. We just had some gorgeous soup with coffee.</p> <p>The way back was gorgeous with the first bit to Oldhamstocks on largely new roads for me. We passed Nether Monynut (not Monkeynut) where James Hutton stayed, in a lovely valley with the gorse in full bloom.</p> <p><img src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/440/18088322489_c3ea782c70_n.jpg"></p> <p>We struggled back home against a stiff breeze, hiding in the hedge-lined lanes of deep East Lothian</p> <p>View of Dunbar from Spott Loan<br /> <img src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8865/18274426595_867c6e395f_n.jpg"> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=14900#post-189808 Mon, 01 Jun 2015 12:39:35 +0000 amir 189808@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Often on long training rides and events, it's been said that it would be nice to go back to interesting places that we pass. This doesn't usually happen - cycling is about momentum (flipside inertia).</p> <p>Last Saturday, cyclingmollie and I decided to something about it and set out deep into the Lammermuirs.</p> <p>Our target was Edin's Hall Broch, a mysterious place seen on maps and directed to by signposts on the road between Preston and Grantshouse. The trouble is that a non-negilible walk is required - roadies aren't always very good at walking.</p> <p>So we throw off our weight-weenie shackles - cyclingmollie with a rucksac and me with a Carradice - both filled with extra kit such as shoes and cameras.</p> <p>The ride there was not unexpectedly hilly but with a good tailwind. We went via Johnnie Cope's Road (new to me) and through to Garvald, past the White Castle fort.<br /> <img src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7770/18086438810_0b9ce1585e_c.jpg"></p> <p>After Whiteadder Reservoir and Cranshaws, we took the disappointingly steep left to Abbey St Bathans (disappointing because the Whiteadder Water takes a much easier route). We stopped before A St B at Toot Corner, locked the bikes to a tree and set off on foot.</p> <p>The path to the Broch is lovely - It starts with a steep downhill in a wood, crosses a burn (footbridge) then leads in to open countryside. There are wild flowers and hares. Down over the other side of the Whiteadder, there is a curious house (the Retreat) which cylindrical.</p> <p><img src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8895/18275406701_94a43763ba_n.jpg"></p> <p>The Broch itself is certainly interesting. It's a big site with ramparts (an older fort), roundhouse remains, great views to the south and of course the "Broch" itself.</p> <p><img src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7751/18088692649_95fe647821_n.jpg"></p> <p>The building must have been massive - exactly what it looked like is a mystery. Like the brochs in the north, it has massive walls (5 metres thick?) with rooms inside and a staircase. But the ruins are less than 2 m high and the area enclosed is apparent much larger than a broch usually is. </p>