It was overcast when I woke and still dark. By the time I’d finished
breakfast and packed my stuff away it was light enough to see OK. I
was on my way shortly after 7am. I was on the busy B7086 heading
towards Kirkmuirhill and with no cycle lanes I put my rear lights on
even though it was daylight. I crossed under the M74, through the
town and out on the B7086 which was had much less traffic on it.
Lanark water tower
It was an interesting and winding route down to the infant River
Clyde. I knew I had a long climb out of the valley to Kilmarnock but
didn’t know how steep the climb would be. Thankfully it was steady,
though long, into Kilmarnock and beyond. Through the town I stopped
to photograph the water tower which I thought looked rather
attractive. I continued to Carstairs which is a small village with
nothing much to show its importance other than the railway and
Carstairs Juncion.
Carstairs
Carstairs bridge
Carstatairs
As I left the area I passed a large site with a sinister appearance.
The entrance called it the
State Hospital but it didn’t look like a hospital to me. In a
small car park adjacent was a vehicle and two uniformed men. I asked
about the hospital and was told it was a high security establishment
similar to Broadmoor in England. Further up the road I turned right
on to the busy A70 and into Carnwath. It was a fairly typical
looking Scottish town with a long straight main street.
Carnwath
At the top of the hill I turned off the
A70 and on to the A721 which I followed to the village of Newbigging
where I turned off to the NE and a very quiet minor road. There was
a village hall with adjacent green and tall stone cross. I stopped
for a sit down and something to eat.
Newbigging
The sky was clearing and I had a helpful tail wind as I continued
into the countryside. I was at the southern end of the Pentland
Hills and they were up ahead and very picturesque.
East of Newbigging
I thoroughly enjoyed my ride through the
lanes but when I reached the very busy A702 I just wanted to ride as
fast as I could to West Linton where I could escape the constant
stream of lorries. I turned down a minor lane down to Lyne Water.
There was a ford here and a wooden footbridge for me to wheel my
bike over. Across the river is the village green that was being mown
by a tractor mower.
West Linton
Along a narrow lane I reached the Co-op to
buy some water. There was an interesting stone column with a clock
on top that I was about to photograph when a woman just abandoned
her car at the base then wandered off somewhere. She wasn’t away
long then drove away and I was then able to get my photo. I set off
again along Deanfoot Road out of the village and out to Auchencorth
Moss.
Engine on the line above
Reuben Boyes
Before starting the steady climb to the summit I saw a man
approaching towards me. I was cycling out of West Linton in the
Scottish Borders on the minor road across the moors to Penicuik when
I saw a lone walker approaching. He was man-hauling a small caravan
behind him. I couldn't possibly ride on without talking to him and
finding out his story. He was Reuben Boyes on a sponsored caravan
tow from Dumfries to Edinburgh and back. Reuben was originally from
Penrith but moved to Dumfries many years ago. Four years ago he
suffered a double brain hemorrhage and was rushed to hospital in
Dumfries where he was in a coma for three weeks with a 20% chance of
survival. The medical team managed to save his life and after Reuben
battled his way back to fitness he decided to show his appreciation
by building his own self-contained caravan that he would haul along
for charity. It has rear lights with solar charging and all the
amenities he needs. He completed the outward journey to Edinburgh a
few days ago and is now on the return leg. I made a donation as I
left and wished him all the best as we continued our separate ways.
I continued steadily up the hill with a nice tail wind to help me. I
was on another delightfully quiet road with great views of the
surrounding hills dappled with sunshine. Over the summit I stopped
to look at some peat harvesting workings. A mobile conveyor belt was
set up to bring the peat in and up on to a large stockpile.
Peat harvesting
I continued with the plan of camping near
the Ramsay’s Monument this side of Penicuik town. The map appears to
show an access track through a farm but before I got to the farm I
noticed a tractor mowing the grass in a field near the monument. I
cycled across the field to ask if I could camp but as I approached
the driver ignored me and continued mowing. I wheeled my bike across
the field where I could see the monument. Through a gate the ground
was very rough and fenced off from the main field. I set my tent up
behind the wall and hoped I would be out of sight.
Ramsay's Monument built in 1759 by Sir James Clerk of Penicuik
(1709-82) It is dedicated to Clerk's friend the poet Allan Ramsay
(1686 - 1758).
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Whittle Wanderer
