Distance: 51.73 miles

Time: 4:44

Elevation: 2846 feet

It had been a thoroughly successful overnight at home, my clothes were washed, batteries recharged, kit repacked – with a few items less than before – and furthermore I’d managed to put a new chain and brake pads on the bike. I’d also enjoyed my Lamb Biryani, and managed to watch a film I’d worked on – The Road Dance – through the Edinburgh Film Festival streaming service.

Inevitably all of this took time, so I wasn’t too surprised that it was almost 3 in the afternoon before I was back on the road. I had planned accordingly, however, and although I had been hoping to get about 50 miles to Dunkeld, I was aware that there was a campsite at Scone, and as that was only 30 miles away, it might be more attainable.

I headed north on Pitdinnie Road, making it a matter of personal pride that I should get up the short steep section on the way to the cycle path. Once there, there was a lady from Sustrans interviewing people about the quality of the bike path, but as she already had a couple of victims, I carried on by.

Skirting passed Dunfermline, I continued over Cleish Hill, at 290 metres, one of my favourite climbs in the area, when I’m not carrying panniers. It was another glorious day and the view north towards Kinross and Loch Leven was superb as I flew down the sweeping single-track descent.

Carrying on towards Kinross on quiet country roads, I passed the spot where my friend Neil and I had seen professional cyclist Lizzie Deignan riding a single-speed bike on the Edinburgh to St Andrews charity ride. These roads were so familiar, and yet, now I was enjoying them as a stand out part of a ride running the whole length of Great Britain.

Through Kinross where a Beer Festival looked appealing, I turned onto the Argask and Dron cycle route, on quiet roads, never too far from the M90. Passed Glenfarg, the route veered uphill and two cycle tourists flew passed me heading South.

Aware that the Motorway crested a pass around here, I wasn’t surprised to find myself dropping sharply to cross over the M90 once more, and then came a thunderous 12% percent descent over the edge.

A short climb to Perth followed, then, while passing the Ice Factory night club, a brief chat with a cyclist on his way to Comrie for the weekend ensued. Afterwards, I was expecting to cross over the Tay and head round by Scone, but the route hugged the west bank of the river on an excellent bike path, passing the North Inch park and golf course and continuing for miles through parkland and forest. Eventually, the path followed the course of the Almond river, upstream all the way to Almondbank, where I realised that I was already way past Scone, and would now, definitely, be heading for Dunkeld, now only 14 miles away.

Off the beaten track I went, through the picturesque little haven of Pitcairngreen, where I promised myself I would return for a beer one day, and then to Bankfoot, no longer just a name on a sign, but where I picked up a Double Caramel Magnum at almost 8 o’clock on a sunny Saturday on my way round by ‘Waterloo’ to Dunkeld, another place that, speeding passed on the A9 had stopped me from getting to know; well it was now where I’d be going for breakfast.

Arriving at the Inver Mill campsite, it was now quarter to 9, and as I approached I was a little concerned to see how busy it was. But, the friendly ladies at reception got me to jot down my details, while one of them went to seek out a spot for me, as she said, ‘we always try to fit in a cyclist’, and that was something of which I had to approve.

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