New Tourist Route The "north East 250"

Never knew it existed Dougie, a part of Scotland I've never seen and it's just up the road from me

Why am I always drawn to the West coast when I go for a run ???...I don't know.... creature of habit me

 

There's a Borders 500 too!

 

Where’s that castle ?

 

Carelaverock Castle, just south of Dumfries.
They have a full size trebuchet, but unfortunately they built it aimed directly at the castle!!!!! , so therefore cannot be fired

 

Did most of the 'North East 250' last year, with an over night on Portsoy bunkhouse. Cracking route on mainly empty coast roads.

 

Cheers that’s a cracker and not one I’ve been too...one for this year I reckon

 

Dougie, have you tried going as far as Findhorn/Kinloss/Forres and then over to Grantown? I was gonna but didn't have time after spending too much time in Findhorn. It's on my to-do-list next time in the N.East.

 

These are my work roads, I know then well I like to get up early and head out Dont ask me to comment cos Ive stayed here all my life so they are just local roads to me.
It was Forres, Dougie a good day out, I like the Dufftown Huntly road, and most of its downhill

The NE doesnt have the mountains its mostly flat farmland. Im realy trying to think of something to say only this is my home, most of these roads, I know every curve and bend.I dont know if you would find then good or not, All I know is, If Ive been on holiday and I get back here Its like putting on an old slipper and sometimes the best part of the run.
Good quiet roads which to alot of you guys in the south must sound like bike heaven. Come and visit.

 

There are so many little things like that,The Pennan road is again a twisty corkscrew, only I know it so well I forget how technical it must be.I played in the rock pools there as a kid.
I wouldnt live anywhere else through choice.Quiet law abiding friendly with beaches and forests, walk the dog for a few hours and meet no-one,honest. Empty roads. I consider this a forgotten corner.We dont have the dramatic scenery,we do have the sunny disposition, and approximately 1/2 the rainfall.
50% of the population are English, who soon loose everything that made them move away in the first place.

 

At the risk of sounding cynical (moi?) ALL of these routes pre-existed any tourist office invention to promote them as a ‘route’ at all. They were there before any highlighter pen got near them. They now risk becoming victims of their own success by attracting volumes of traffic to formerly quiet roads.
One of the real joys for those of us living in or near the more scenic spots is to vary them with well chosen detours even if grass or gravel up the middle and passing places reduce the Cadwell Park dimension of fast swooping curves and elevation changes; less Speed Triple more Tiger!

 

The roads are good fun even if the scenery isn't as dramatic as West Coast and Highlands.