Canicross weekend with two hills thrown in!

[KatTai]

It was our final canicross races of the year at Strathallan Castle at the weekend Beautiful setting for a canicross race, the Saturday was glorious sunshine the Sunday...well that wasn't quite as nice We came 2nd in the female 2-dog category on the Saturday and 3rd on the Sunday ending our season with another two medals

Racing at Strathallan with Coinneach and Zena

After the race on Saturday we headed the short distance round to head up Torlum. There was already one other car parked at the forestry entrance opposite a cottage but easily space for us to park in front of them and there would have been space for another car in front of me too.

Torlum route

We set off along the forestry track, going straight on when the main track turned to the right to take the most direct route for the ascent rejoining the main track further up and following it through what once would have been a gated section of forest, but the gates have long gone. The track loops round continuing uphill until we reached a path on the left to the summit. The bracken was still to grow back, but I can imagine this path might be less fun in the summer when the bracken is high (and probably crawling with ticks!). There is a short rocky bit and then the summit trig point was in sight, it was only about 30 minutes to reach the top.

Bracken path

Heading up

Coinneach and Zena at the summit

Want to see a magic trick where I make myself disappear?

Ta-da!

Heading down we took the grass path which joined the main track a bit further along from the bracken path, and followed the track back down. At the gate that is no longer there into the forest we came across a couple of people walking a horse up the hill, not something you see every day! We took the longer V of the main track route back down to add a bit more to the walk, bit of a mistake as I slipped on loose gravel twisting my knee- twice! Not what I was wanting when I had another race the next day! Fortunately no real harm was done and we headed back to Dunning.

Grassy path downhill

I still had a few hours before dinner, so we did another walk from the hotel along Pitcarins Glen. This was supposed to be a circular walk and we followed the low route first, but the path at the top end that leads up to take the higher path was badly damaged the steps not really much use and the remains of a boardwalk/bridge had been sent partway down the slope by a landslide, so sensibly we returned the same way!

After the race on Sunday we detoured to Crieff to head up the The Knock of Crieff parking where it was suggested on the route description - https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/perthshire/knock.shtml - following the first part of this to reach the summit, and then instead of turning right on the main track turned left to follow a route down to Hosh. I had planned to add a walk around Loch Monzievaird but unfortunately there was a metal ladder style to cross and that was a no with the dogs so we headed back and through the distillery to follow the Culcrieff path back to the car park.

The Knock route

Soggy viewpoint on The Knock

Summit of The Knock

This thing

Culcrieff path

All in all it was an eventful weekend, sad it is our last canicross races of this season but looking forward to next season! Guess it will be back to hiking again now

[rodderss]

Very impressive, from your dogs and self.

Didn’t know there was such a thing as canicross

[KatTai]

Very impressive, from your dogs and self.

Didn’t know there was such a thing as canicross

Me neither until Coinneach came along, would never have thought I'd ever take up running