Tag: Killearn

Cycling from Killearn to Rowardennan

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Just to think I was sure, I was not going to get any more cycling in during my time in Scotland. Well I was wrong. I found the time to cycle from Killearn to Rowardennan. Bring my total number of miles while up in Scotland to 144.21. So not to bad for just four cycles. It’s also only the second time, I have ever done this cycle. Vlog to follow soon..

I will now leave you with the route map, elevation graph, route statistics and photos.

Route map:-

Elevation graph:-

Route statistics:-

  • Distance: 30.82 miles.
  • Time: 2:36:56 (h:m:s).
  • Avg Speed: 11.8 mph.
  • Max Speed: 27.1 mph.
  • Elevation Gain: 542 meters.
  • Min Elevation: 12 meters.
  • Max Elevation: 98 meters.

Data from: Garmin Connect.

Photos from the cycle:-

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Great day driving about the National Park

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Yesterday I had a great day with a friend called Gavin. Not got to see him since October, when I was last up in Scotland. It was great to catch up with him again.

When we met up last time, it turned out he said he not never been to Loch Lomond. So of course I had to change that one. It was not the best weather in the world to go for a driving trip around the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park. But the good thing about it, is we just about had the place to ourselves.

Looking at the map below you can see all the places we went to. We covered a good number of miles. Need to try and out just how many at some point. Think it will be at least 100 to 150 miles.

I will now tell you a bit more about the route we went. I picked Gavin up from Milngavie train station at 11:25am.  Then we had a quick stop at some supermarket that I will not name. Since I am not a fan of it. But I needed something to eat and drink.

We then left Milngavie on the A81, which we stayed on till Blanefield, then we turned left onto then B821. Which I have cycled over many miles, but think it may be the first time I have driven over it. Then once we got to the A809, we turned right. Then followed that road, till we get to the junction with the A811, where we turned left. Then stayed on that road till Balloch.

Once at Balloch, we stopped at had a quick look around Loch Lomond Shores (number 1 on the map). Which is a small shopping centre on the banks of the loch. Did not stay for 2 long, since it was so windy and wet.

We jumped back into the car, then took the A82 up the west side of the loch. We had a quick stop at Duck Bay Marina. Did not even get out the car this time. Was way, way to wet :(.

After the wee stop we joined the A82 and stayed on the road, till Tarbet (number 3 on the map). Where we joined the A83 Rest and be Thankful road. Which is one of my favourite roads in the Scotland. You can some really great views from it. Well when the weather is good, which it was anything but today!

Below is a view from near the top of the Rest and be Thankful. Thanks to Google Street View.

[streetview width=”100%” height=”250px” lat=”56.225745″ lng=”-4.852346000000011″ heading=”-231.5322580645161″ pitch=”-0.14516129032257385″ zoom=”1″][/streetview]

We stopped at a car park at the start of the B828 (number 2 on the map). We stayed there for a good while, just chatting about stuff. But again never got out the car, it was still just to wet :(.

Then we set off on the A83 back the way we came till we got back to A82 (number 3 on the map), then we turned left and even higher up the west side of Loch Lomond. We kept on that road till we got to Inveruglas (number 4 on the map) and stopped in a car park for a while. Before getting back on the A82 and the long ish drive back to Killearn (number 5 on the map).

Once in Killearn, Gavin got to meet up Mum and Dad for the very first time. My Mum even cooked dinner for him. I love my Mum.

Then we just chilled out for a while. Before he had to get the train back home.

…

So that was our day, hope are all had fun reading about it! Oh and sorry we got no photos at all, it was just to wet and windy. But next time I am up, going to make sure we do much the same trip again. But in better weather and get lots of photos :).

Updated cycling maps

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I have just updated my cycling maps section by updating the Killearn and Little Bytham maps, which show the places I have cycled to from each village.

Killearn cycling map

Place's I have cycled to from Killearn (updated 20/04/2011)

Little Bytham cycling map

Place's I have cycled to from Little Bytham (updated 20/04/2011)

More maps can be found at www.gordon-valentine.com/zenphoto/cycling/

Went a nice walk up the Campsie Fells

blog Travel 1 Comment

If you have watched my three vlogs below then you will already know most of this… It was a really, really nice day… like 19C which for Scotland in April is very good indeed. So my plan was to go out a nice cycle maybe to Loch Lomond and back. I got all geared up in my sexy cycling gear. Then went outside, to get my bike. Only to find it had a flat tyre. If I had been in England, it would have been OK. Since I have the tools to fix it. But I did not have anything at all to fix it. So all I could do, was put the bike back away. Then think of something else, to do in the great weather.

So I went back inside, half changed out of my cycling gear. In other words I kept my cycling shorts on, just put “normal” shorts on over the top of them and changed out of my cycling top. Then I set off out towards the Campsie Fells, which was just a very short walk from my Mum and Dads house in Killearn.

The plain was only to go a short walk, but ended up doing 8.14 miles. I know this since I took my cycle GPS with me :). Now I will bore you with some of my walking stats. I spent 2:16.39 (h:m:s) walking. Avg speed was 3.6 mph, not 2 bad for hill walking if you ask me. Max speed was 12.7 mph, yes I did a bit of running also. Min elevation was 87 meters and max elevation was 535 meters. So well pleased with myself. In the whole time I lived in Killearn, it’s the highest, up point I have ever got to up the Campsie Fells.

While doing the walk, I also got some great photos. Please check them out at www.gordon-valentine.com/zenphoto/me/2011/page/5/.

Oh in that photo above did not go 2 far into the water, since it was a bit on the cold side. Also had no idea how deep it was. I have a feeling it’s a lot deeper than it looks. But next time, I go up will make sure I have my wetsuit with me, to find out :).

Monday – 3rd January 2011

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I did the long boring drive back Killearn to back to my village of Little Bytham a journey of around 320 miles. Think I did it in record time! Will not say how I did that! 🙂 I also went a new way, for a section of the journey. I used what years ago was the A74, which is now called the B7076, mainly used it, since I am so bored on the A74(M), also did it, since I used that road while doing the End to End cycle back in August 2009. So it was nice to get to see it again!

Once back in I had all the fun of unpacking everything. Then I had fun setting up my Sony BDP S370 Blu-ray Player which I got from my Mum and Dad has a Christmas present. The video quality is so good, reminds me of when I first went from VHS to DVD. Also great to get to watch HD stuff on my HD ready TV in my bed room at long last. So looking forward to watching one of my Blu-ray films in the next day or so. I already have a good list to pick from The Dark Knight, Sherlock, Top Gear: Polar Special, Newcastle – Australia and Torchwood – Children of Earth.

Wednesday – 8th December 2010

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First of all I would like to say a big thank-you to everyone that looked at the new look Killearn on the Web. It’s now the most popular it’s been in years. Think I have just about copied all the information and photos over from the old website. Also been using twitter.com/killearnUK a lot more. With all the snow, don’t think I could have timed the new look website any better. Since people have been checking it out for the latest local school information which I have been posting via twitter. Now I have started working on a cycling page for routes from Killearn, please check it out at https://killearnontheweb.co.uk/transport/information-for-cyclists/.

The rest of the day, I spent just watching TV and doing some other stuff around the house. Before going to work in the evening.

Tuesday – 30th November 2010

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The main thing I started doing was the long job, of getting my Killearn on the Web site, a much needed new look. I have been meaning to do it for a long time. But it had to be had, since the number of people looking at it at dropped, some times, only getting 10 people a month. When it use to get around 300 every month. So I just hope all the work, pays off! If you could check out the website, and post comments about what you think of it, that would be great! 🙂 If you have any comments about the new look website, please post them here killearnontheweb.co.uk/2010/11/new-killearn-website-here-soon/.

Monday – 11th October 2010

Cycling No Comments

Today I went a great cycle from Killearn to Rowardennan on the east side in Loch Lomond. I may have lived in Killearn well over half my life, but it’s the first time I have ever cycled to Rowardennan, most times, I just cycled to Balmaha and turned back, mainly since just after Balmaha, they’re is a 15% hill to get up. Also the road just ends at Rowardennan. So it’s like cycling up a road to no where. Just got a car park for the people walking up Ben Lomond and hotel.

Thursday – 14th October 2004

Driving No Comments
The route from Killearn to Little Bytham

Today I had the fun job of driving my car all 321 miles back down to Little Bytham. The journey started at 9:15am when I set off, from my parents house in Killearn. I left at that time to make sure that I missed the rush hour in Glasgow City centre and also on the M8. Which is busy at the best of times and would be hell on earth at rush hour.

Lucky by the time I joined the M8 in Glasgow most of the fog that had been with me since leaving Killearn had gone. I did not really like the idea of having to drive in fog on the motorway.

I was glad when I had got the motorway section around Glasgow out of the way. I joined the M8 motorway at junction 16. I stayed on the M8 for about 8 miles. Before joining the M73, then I stayed on M73 for about 2 miles before joining the A74(M).

I stayed on the A74(M) all the way to Gretna Green service station. Where I stopped at 11:00am (100 miles into the journey) to get a drink, something to eat and text my Mum and Dad to keep them updated, on how my journey was going to far. I was only at the service station for about 10 minutes, before getting on my way again.

Just after leaving Gretna Green you go over the bother and into England. Then the A74(M) goes down to the A74 which is not a nice section of road at all, because it’s only dual carriageway. But lucky it’s only like that was about 6 miles. Before it becomes motorway again and your on the M6.

I then stayed on the M6 till junction 40, which is just passed Penrith. Then I joined the A66 which is a great road that goes over the top of the Pennines. I really like the A66 before you get very really great views from it, on a clear day, which lucky it was. Most of the A66 was clear from any holdups. There was one section that had some roadwork’s, but lucky it only added about 15 minutes to the journey.

I was happy when I had cleared the A66 section of the journey and was safely at the service station at Scotch Corner. I got there at 12:45pm (181 miles into the journey). While I was there, I texted my parents again, while to the loo, had more to drink. And also filled my car up with fuel to make sure that I did could do the rest of the journey, without running out.

Once I left the service station. I joined the A1 which I would stay on for 135 miles. Before coming off at Morkery Lane then onto Little Bytham and home.

So over all it was a very good journey. In total it was 322 miles and I got to Little Bytham at 3:25pm.

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