Ride - Scotland - Tarfside to Fungle Road, Glen Esk, Angus
Where
I’ve decided to re-visit the Mounth Passes as I try to figure out how to access the remaining, further-afield Caledonian Pinewood remnants. Today I drove to Tarfside in Glen Esk where the Fungle Road from Aboyne in Deeside ends. I’ve ridden part of the Fungle Road before from a mid-point towards Aboyne but today tried it from its southern-most point.
I parked and unloaded the car in the car park next to the camp site in Tarfside. From there I followed the Fungle Road north out of the village, east of the Water of Tarf and past Shinfar cottage. By the time I reached Shinfar, the hail had started and begun to strengthen. The climb up beyond Shinfar wasn’t too strenuous and I originally intended to attempt the steeper climb up towards Linnbeg. However, the combination of mixed hail, rain, descending mist and complete lack of waterproofs convinced me that discretion should be the batter part on this occasion. I tried to introduce a tiny element of exploration by peeling off to the east again to the north of Cairny Hill then completed the loop back to Shinfar via the Glentennet farm buildings.
By the time I made it back to Tarfside, the weather was decidedly cold and wet and I was soaked through. I headed west from Tarfside along the trail between Hill of Milton and Hill of Rowan just to see what it was like. Next time I’m here I’ll extend the ride out along the north shore of Loch Lee and into Glen Lee as far as I can.
I came across a Larsen trap containing a decoy crow. I’d never seen one of these things before and wish I’d known what it was at the time to see if I could figure out how it worked. Presumably its there to catch crows or magpies that might otherwise kill lambs or other young birds.
Gallery
Gear and Nutrition
No change to a routine of breakfast, coffee, electrolytes before- and during-ride, plenty of water during and post keto fat bomb drink with protein.
I was woefully under-dressed for the weather I encountered shortly after starting. First I was hailed upon for half an hour or so (see picture of black grouse above) and then rained upon for most of the remainder of the ride. I thought I’d be out and back before the rain and didn’t take any waterproofs.