To the Tower !

After a shorter tempo effort mid-week, I was eyeing the weekend with interest as the weather looked like it was going to be favourable, certainly on Saturday. Finally, an almost guaranteed dry and sunny day.

Although I considered a number of options, I decided not to do a longer run particularly after the 45 mile fastpack last weekend. I certainly wanted to be on trails but didn’t feel compelled to go very far afield.

If you have read previous training blogs, you will know that I am a huge fan of the Sidlaws, the range of hills that sit to the north and west of Dundee. They are quite simply a little haven of wildness on the doorstep of the city.

Having done the Sidlaw Ultra last November, I was now familiar with the best route from the heart of the Sidlaws near Dundee to Kinpurney Hill which sits sentinel-like above Newtyle and the sprawling Strathmore valley. Atop the hill is Kinpurney Tower.

So, I went onto Garmin Explore and plotted the route, finding it to be a nine-mile round trip. Rather than a straight out and back, I added a slightly different leg on the return journey to keep it varied. I expected some very wet and boggy sections and possibly some ice too. In any event, it was going to be proper off-road running on a variety of gradients and surfaces. Great stuff!

I headed up early, arriving at the Community Woodland carpark just before 0900. Given the excellent blue-sky weather, there were already quite a few cars in the car park.

I put on my trail shoes and pack etc and headed off without delay.

Despite the sun, it was a cold start and as I climbed, I believe the temperature could have been around zero or even just below. There were already hard ice and frost binding the mud of the paths on the way up Auchterhouse Hill.

I powered up Auchterhouse Hill, using a blend of running and power walking. It was great to be out in the sun and despite the haziness in the air, the views were opening up in all directions as I gained height.

Finally, I approached the summit of the hill (as I think I have mentioned in a previous post, this used to be an Iron Age fort) and paused to take in the views.

The wind was biting cold, so I headed off the top, backtracking slightly off the east side of the hill until I reached the path which skirts around the hill to the north. There are some stands of trees here and I disturbed a couple of Roe Deer as I made my way around the base of the hill.

The wind was less here but there was still a lot of semi-frozen water on the paths and I was crunching through the icy crust as I ran. My feet were already wet by this point so there was no pretence of trying to maintain dry shoes.

To the north of Auchterhouse Hill, a path junction is reached, requiring a left turn over a low fence followed by a very short climb adjacent to a water course. By this point, I was now on the same route that the Sidlaw Ultra had followed so I knew exactly where I was going without the GPX.

The narrow path winds across the hill through trees and heather and as expected, this was by far the wettest section of the day. However, the semi frozen ground mitigated some of the slipperiness of the muddier parts and it was good running.

Eventually, a viewpoint is reached looking northwest over a wind turbine to the forest and hills beyond and with a faint glimpse of the top of the tower on Kinpurney Hill ahead.

After a descent through the heather, the path improved as I passed the wind turbine, heading down a little more to join the forestry track below. The next mile or so follows the track and much of the track was still covered by snow where the trees had maintained a permanent shade. First clear views of the tower were also to be had.

It was still cold too, a good reminder that despite it being nearly mid-March, winter is still very much clinging on by its fingertips.

Finally, I reached the turning off point and headed off the forest track, into the trees and down a narrow heather covered path through the fire break. I was very much enjoying the running and the alertness it required given the terrain. The shoes I wore were light, streamlined and grippy, perfect for the conditions.

Crossing a fence at the bottom of the fire break, the path moved out onto more open ground and looking left, Kinpurney Hill was now in full view and only about half a mile distant. I covered the ground quickly and was soon powering up the hill itself to the tower. The tower is not terribly impressive close up, but it is still a striking and commanding presence atop the hill with fantastic 360-degree views in all directions.

I paused to take in the views, gulp down some calories and water and obtain a couple of photos. Then, without delay, I was charging down the grassy hillside, back the way I had come.

On the return and renewed with a calorie top-up, I applied myself on the return leg. I undertook to run wherever possible and to reserve walking for only the short steepest sections. Once back on the forest road, I made good time.

I reached the turn off once more and turned up the heather-clad hill towards the wind turbine.

Next came the winding path through the heather and again, I made short work of this section despite the water in places. Before long, I was coming back down to the fence crossing, with a great view ahead of Craigowl.

Turning up towards Auchterhouse Hill, I came up behind a couple of walkers, the first I had seen since leaving the carpark.

I met them as we arrived collectively at a gate. The lady asked if I was Graeme Murdoch which came as a bit of a surprise. I didn’t deny it and it turned out they were both former work colleagues. It was one of those awkward moments when you do recognise people, but you have no recollection of their names. I find this to be quite a significant problem the older I get! I apologised for not recognising them initially, blaming headwear. Although I still have no idea who they are, I pretended I did and I might have got away with it. If you ever read this guys – sorry! I am getting old, what else can I say.

After that short glitch in the matrix, it was back to the running and I was by now on the different loop for the final leg of the return. This started with a nice fast downhill with views across Auchterhouse and as far as the Tay and Fife beyond.

I sped downhill then turned left to negotiate the last little rise before the final downhill sprint down through the trees to the carpark.

I was running like a man possessed by the time I reached the car park, a little to the alarm of some of the dog walkers just setting out for the day.

What a great run though. One of those days when you congratulate yourself for your choice of route.

The surfaces, gradients, views and solitude all contributed to a fantastic trail run. At nine miles, substantial enough to feel valuable from a training perspective but aside from that, simply one of those runs that absolutely confirms why I enjoy trail so much more than the road.

All only about 15 minutes’ drive from the centre of Dundee.