Durisdeer Ride

I was out mountain biking again around the Buccleuch estate at Durisdeer. Set off up the track past a solitary cow which was baying. Memories of my run in lat year came back as it started to trot across towards me; this spurred me on to climb faster.

Further up I arrived at the gate to find it off it latch, the cow presumably had pushed it way through but been unable to get back with the way blocked and was now stressing and calling to its mates on the opposite hillside.

As has been usual this week wind and constant showers were the order of the day. Well at least the jackets I’m testing are getting realistic use, though I’d much prefer to be out in warm, dry, sunny weather.

Close call!

This whole area is a big shooting estate and the climb up to Kettleton Byre bothy is littered with grey and red partridge. The other side to this is they attract a lot of raptors, I’ve since looked up the silhouettes and I think they were hen harriers or goshawks as I didn’t recognise the outline.

Kettlon Byre bothy

Good tracks thread the glens around here providing short challenging climbs and fast descents on stony hard pack.

After passing a bothy being done up I noticed I’d picked up a clicking sound. Thinking I’d broke a poke I stopped to inspect only to find a 4” nail protruding out the side of my tyre. Fortunately it had only gone through the knobble. Lucky me!

Heading back I had toyed with the idea of a hike a bike to Daer reservoir but I didn’t really have time and so retraced my original outward journey with a 2 mile climb back up the Roman road and back to the car. No sign of the cow either.