Trip 1: Falls of Dochart

Saturday 13 April 2013

View Trip 1 – Falls of Dochart in a larger map

My 5K for £5K Challenge is underway and this is my first trip (woohoo!).

Last weekend the weathermen forecast a heatwave for this weekend. By Friday, the prediction had changed to strong winds and heavy rain. As I lay in bed yesterday morning thinking I really must get my 5K for £5K Challenge underway, it was low cloud and drizzly. However, a challenge is a challenge, so I dragged myself out of my cosy nest and headed over to my friend’s to pick up the bike.

What should have been a quick stop at the petrol station turned into a ridiculous fiasco. As I walked into the shop to pay for my fuel, I suddenly realised I’d left my wallet at home. The man behind the counter was very understanding but still made me fill in an “Inability to Pay” form. Jumping on the bike I rode home only to discover I’d left my house keys in my other jacket back at my friend’s house. So then I had to ride back to her’s, get the keys, ride back to mine, pick up my wallet, ride back to the petrol station again and pay. Fourteen miles and forty minutes later, I was ready to go.

As this was the first ride of the season and I was starting quite late in the day, I decided to make it a shortish trip to the Falls of Dochart. I followed the A81 from Milngavie up to Aberfoyle. A quick stop for a cup of tea and a cheeseburger in the car park there, and I headed over the Duke’s Pass towards Callander where I picked up the A84 up to Killin.

Duke’s Pass

The clouds had lifted by this stage and I was surrounded by stunning, snow-clad peaks but by Balquidder it was starting to get very cold. Fortunately, Killin was only a few miles further north so I was able to warm up when I stopped there to see the Falls of Dochart.

Falls of Dochart, Killin

Coming back the temperature really dropped so I made a quick detour north to the Green Welly Stop at Tyndrum for a cup of tea before heading back along the A82 down the side of Loch Lomond.