How exciting, a new path to run along...

Today I set out in very thundery weather to go for a familiar, regular and a little bit boring route up the Edinburgh Road out of Penicuik towards Silverburn. It is not an unpleasant route but after running for 20 years up and down the same old routes it is quite unusual to find a new route to run, I pretty much know all the routes around Penicuik with a variety of different distances from 5K up to 20 odd miles. But Andy recently told me about a new path he had come across when he was running.  Whilst I was running up the hill contemplating how long it would be before the thunder and lightening would start up and pour down I noticed a sign for the new path. The sign on the path said the path had been created by the Friends of the Pentland Hills. So off I went down the new path to a little bridge.

Over the bridge there were a set of steps which took me further up the hill. This was looking like an interesting wee run unfolding. Once over the bridge and up the steps the path suddenly was overcome with overgrown ferns. They were soaking wet after the rain that we had earlier. The air was really warm and sticky so actually the cool water around my legs and in my shoes was wonderful. 

Once through the ferns the path took me over two stiles and then up a steep slope. It was a really nice path. Down the hill there was the Silverburn with a few little waterfalls (not accessible by the path) and to the otherside there was a field of sheep. A really nice little path. After quite a few more steep slopes the path took a turn down the way. After a quick stop to look at the gorgeous view Carnethy and Scaldlaw (by this point the sun was out and it was lovely and sunny and warm) I headed down a really steep slope back towards the road.

The route I normally take up to Silverburn is predictable and I know how long it takes me and just how long it is but this was an interesting, different detour from the usual route. A little hidden gem!

A quick turn towards Silverburn to take a picture of Scaldlaw and Carnethy and I then picked up the route back down the hill and the sun was shining, the shire horses were still there munching the field as usual but I had a great new route to run and was quite happy with myself.

Jaggy Thistles..

So it just shows that there is always a new route to be found even when you think you know all the routes there are to know! This was a good run.

don't worry, be happy :)

Day two on the Fife Coastal Path. Pittenweem - Anstruther - Cellardyke - Pittenweem - St Monans.

4 July 2013

I had planned to try and run to Crail but due to wedding plans I had to cut short the distance but wanted to make sure I ran as far as Cellardyke (famous for the dead swan which was found a few years ago with Bird Flu).

The sun was shining, but it was quite windy, not uncommon on this coastline. As I left Pittenweem I noticed several bikes which were decorated with flowers. Lovely.

The path towards Anstruther was as clear as the other sections of the path along the coast. After a section high up on the cliff the path dropped down onto the golf course at Anstruther. A bit of golf ball dodging took me onto a lovely stony path which had lovely wild flowers on either side of the path.

The views from the coastal path are absolutely stunning. Some parts reveal sandy beaches which are remote and hidden away with hardly any visitors. One around the golf course the path goes up into Anstruther. By this point it was really sunny and warm. There were loads of people walking along the slim paths, which made running a little tough but soon I was able to come off the main road and run down towards the harbour. I took a little detour off the actual coastal path as I knew where I was going and the detour took me across the beach and down into the harbour. 

The harbour was very busy with visitors eating ice cream and chips from the famous Anstruther chippy. Dodging my way around them I ended up next to the Anstruther Reaper - a beautiful old fishing boat. 

After exploring the harbour for a bit I headed off along the coastal path to Cellardyke. Nicknamed "the lang toon", Cellardyke sits about a mile out of Anstruther. You leave the busy streets of Anstruther and run through very close streets towards the Tollbooth which is right in the middle of the little town. After about 3/4 of a mile of running through the streets which were very warm I found myself at the open space that was the harbour. It was very quiet. There were no boats in the harbour and the only thing moving was the washing lines on the platform next to the harbour. There wasn't a lot to Cellardyke, probably the most exciting thing to happen to Cellardyke was the dead swan which washed up a few years ago with bird flu - hit the BBC news if I remember rightly. 

Because I was short of time the plan was to run back to Anstruther and then onto St Monans. The sun by this point was heating up nicely and the run back through Cellardyke was really nice. Like running abroad. Back through Anstruther. Took a little detour before I went back to the golf course to look at the view over to the May Isle. 

Back along the coast to Pittenweem, enjoying the sunshine and the views. Once I was back into Pittenweem took time to look at the bikes with flowers. Pittenweem is a lovely fishing village with a great wee ice cream shop and a pretty harbour. The bikes I found out were part of the town's bid for Pittenweem in Bloom. There were bikes with flowers everywhere.

There is a steep climb out of Pittenweem which takes you onto the path to St Monans. This part of the path is a little rougher than other parts but is still very passable and very pretty views, particularly in the sunshine. At the end of the path from Pittenweem is the Salt Pans with the fantastic windmill in St Monans (the tower building was renovated by my brother in law). Almost tempted to dive into the open air swimming pool at St Monans but didn't have time. 

Swim anyone? The open air swimming pool at St Monans.

So that was the end of my coastal path adventure for the moment. The path was really good and has really whetted my appetite for more. Next time I would like to try and head for St Andrews from Cellardyke. Next time we are through at Granny's. 

don't worry, be happy :)

Fife Coastal Path - Day 1 - Shell Bay to Pittenweem.

3 July 2013

When I am out running at lunchtime at Cramond I could always see the coast line of Fife on the other side of the Forth Estuary. There is a direct route on view from the Forth Rail Bridge to the East Neuk of Fife. We also have relatives who live along the East Neuk of Fife so I knew it was a lovely route to run. So for the past year a plan to run the Fife Coastal Path (or at least bits of it) has been brewing in my head.

The chance to check out a few sections of it arose with the wedding of our niece, Vicky to James in July this year. We had rented a flat for the few days surrounding the wedding in Pittenweem, giving me the perfect base to explore the path.

A few days before Andrew asked if he could come with me. I had planned to start at Lower Largo which would have made the distance around 15 miles but as Andrew decided he wanted to come I dropped the distance to 9 miles (as he hadn't done any training to take him up to 15 miles). It wasn't so much about the distance I just wanted to run the path and reckie it for a future longer run.

We decided on a starting point of Shell Bay Caravan Site. Alistair and Rhona dropped Andy and I off at the caravan site and we set off in search of the path. The path was really well marked and although I had a map with me we hardly needed it as there were clear signs for the Coastal Path.

The first challenge we faced was a short, steep climb up Kincraig Hill to a viewpoint over Shell Bay, Earlsferry and Elie.

Earlsferry with Elie in the background.

We passed some wartime buildings which took us to the very top of the hill. Beyond this there was a huge set of steps which took us down to the beach at Earlsferry. When you pass the sign for Earlsferry on the road you don't imagine this beautiful beach. It was absolutely stunning and quite remote. Andy and I took the actual coastal path which went down onto the beach rather than the re-route along the golf club.

We then ran around the edge of the golf course which led us into the town of Earlsferry. We ran through the high street in Earlsferry which leads into Elie. We ran past the Elie Golf Course and down towards the beach.

A quick toilet stop and then a wee look at the beach and harbour and we were off on the next part of the path heading for Ardross.

We followed the coastal path signs which led us to Wood Haven (locally known as Ruby Bay). We ran past the lighthouse built in 1908 and then stopped for a quick photo shoot at Lady Tower built in 1760 by Lady Janet Anstruther who liked ot have a tower and a grotto to change in when she came to the beach.

Moving on we headed around the coast to Ardross. The beaches are just stunning. We ran along the sand dunes which was quite tough as it was fairly undulating.

At this point I could feel Andrew champing at the bit to go scampering off at his own pace as he could see St Monans in the distance (where Granny lives - food!). So I let him go off at his own pace and watched him disappear to a wee dot on the landscape. I was quite happy though, nice to have time to explore on my own for a bit. Next stop along the path was Newark Castle. 

The path up the side of the Castle was quite steep and it was quite warm so it was quite a tough bit. I could see Andy waiting on me at the top, but by the time I got there he had scampered off again. As I got around the corner I could see St Monans church in the near distance. It is quite an unusual shape of a church and stands by the Inweary Burn which you have to cross to get up into St Monans.

After a quick pit stop at Granny's, bit to hot and sweaty to stop for long. Andy and I headed off onto the last section of our journey for day one. The path heads off to Pittenweem. This is a section of the path which I have run many times but normally it is a short 3 mile run there and back to St Monans but today it was at the end of a longer run and felt just a bit tougher to run along.  Still good views all the way to Pittenweem.

Our holiday flat.

So that was our first day on the Fife Coastal Path. It was quite challenging at parts but on the whole it was a really well maintained path which had easy to follow signs and great view points along the way.

I am doing day two myself (one day was enough for Andy). I had planned to run to Crail but wedding plans have meant that I can only go as far as Cellardyke. So the plan for day two is to run to Anstruther, Cellardyke, back to Anstruther, Pittenweem and then back to St Monans to Granny's for lunch and wedding stuff. 

Day two blog to follow....