the usual

Sunday 15th December and a ten miler circuit around Gullane. Pretty glorious weather. Not that much about in terms of wildlife - a few deer and some geese overhead. Mainly landscape photos and enjoying the absence of people on the beach. 

Last visit to the harlequin ladybird pupae, before the bushes were hacked down to 8" high.

on the JMW a solo hawk hovered and dove
while the deer strode leisurely through the field next door

back lit rushes 

 

 

lovely 10 miles over 2hrs

Jeff's taproom special

Friday 13th December. 

Nick and I were looking to do something interesting on a dull day and Nick suggested Jeff's taproom special route which Jeff carefully planned to pass as many places brewing/selling beer as possible. I wasn't sure whether we were drinking or not and was happy with either. Nick was driving later so no beer on this occasion. Big thanks to Jeff for an inspirational route and just doing something different on a day that wasn't terribly inspiring weather-wise.

We ran up to Waverley then caught a train to Eskbank, the 4th stop on the Tweedbank Borders line. We had the gpx file put into our watches which was just as well as there were a few twists and turns that weren't terribly obvious.

now that sounds cheerful?
About the worst sounding name ever.

this is one of my favourite running spots for visual dynamism
only ever pass it on the annual Eskapade run (until now)

A bit too dull today and only took the B camera - so not great shots.

but an amazing ridge with trees all about

then over this massively tall bridge

who?

if doing this route note the brown arrow in this photo and path to the right;
we should have gone this way but went straight on,

then after a bit of climbing and bushwacking, returned to find the right way 😭

steady climbing into the Pentlands from here

Nick went ahead and made watery stuff come out my face.

nice to see the sun come out although a bit sploshy and lumpy underfoot

very wet at the Swanston turnoff below Allermuir

I did some work last year for the good people who own the white car and cottage here.

From Swanston we followed the Scurry route to
the Hermitage then cut into the Grange

then through town and onto the Water of Leith

Not sure why I didn't take more photos of the bottom of the route. I was trying to switch my Suunto from sat-nav mode to show the distance we had gone. I knew it was getting towards the 19 miles from Eskbank (so 20 in total). When I eventually got the read-out it said I had to run along the road a bit, to round it up to 20, which I did. Nick did more as he was dropping off and picking up his car from the garage. Good route - thanks Jeff, maybe do it with beers next time!

19 miles, 3hrs20ish