Book Reviews

Wondering what to do with those Book Tokens Santa brought you? Here are a couple of suggestions – armchair reading in the snow and ice and to encourage you to get out once the spring days come along.

The Kingdom of Fife : 25 Cycle Routes
Erl B Wilkie (Mercat Press, £8.99)

This, the latest in the ‘25 Routes’ series from Mercat Press, presents 25 rides of varied length (from 8km to 46km) and of differing ability (from easy to demanding). Fife Council has already established the Millennium Cycle Ways, consisting of the 105-mile Kingdom Route from the Forth to the Tay and back, plus 11 circular country routes and local networks in the main towns, and there are leaflets to support each of those routes. The rides in this book are complementary to the Millennium Cycleways - they do not aim to follow them, but obviously use them occasionally.
Most routes use the vast network of minor roads. Where they go off-road, the author suggests an on-road alternative. Each route consists of a route description, some notes on local history and places of interest, brief outlines of distance, hilliness, and refreshment stops, and most important, a route map. The maps are very clearly drawn.
The routes are designed to start and finish at a railway station where possible to avoid the ‘bikes on cars’ syndrome, but to achieve the necessary variety some begin from a car park.
The layout of the book is very clear and there are some fine photographic illustrations. There are some errors, however - eg on p.8 a whole section of the ride, between Saline and Comrie, seems to have been lost; p.17 “then turn right into Townhill Rd” must surely be left ; and some ambiguity, eg “At the junction where the B912 turns to the left, following the road to the General Hospital, carry straight on down...”. The problem here is, who (or what) does the ‘following’ - is it the junction, the B912, or the reader? Fortunately, where the description fails, the map often makes the intention clear, and vice versa.

Scotland : the National Cycle Network
Harry Henniker (Mainstream Press £9.99)

When I tested some of North Germany’s cycle routes a few years ago, I discovered one could follow the routes from signage and map in combination, but not separately: the signage was unreliable, and the map scale too small at key places, especially in towns. And the same with the Sustrans routes; I can guarantee that you will not succeed in following them by relying on signage alone. Sustrans do produce maps of most of the routes, but the alternative is Harry’s book, which not only covers all the Scottish routes but includes route descriptions, maps and some local history and places of interest. In addition, an introductory chapter gives concise advice on cycling and using the network, and an appendix has a list of some accommodation.

The maps, which are drawn by the author, are excellent. They give detail where it’s needed (eg in towns and cities), and less detail where the route is obvious, e.g. minor roads and old rail paths. They also distinguish on-road from off-road sections, a very useful feature. Each route is described in one direction only, but as they’re divided into sections it isn’t difficult to read the route in the opposite direction. The book is ring-bound and it’s a pity each route can’t be detached, to save carrying the whole book around.

It seems a shame with such an excellent production, but there are several minor criticisms. One is the presentation of alternative routes, which is fine as long as they don’t interfere with the account of the main route. But the alternatives given in Galloway (p.43ff) are confusing, especially when they include ‘old’ routes, ‘new’ routes, ‘temporary alternatives’ and ‘off-road alternatives’, all mixed in! Even worse, the section from Gatehouse to Castle Douglas (p.49) is described from the opposite (east-west) direction, except for the first paragraph, and in “going east from C.D.” the actual direction is slightly west of south! Harry seems to like confusing east and west, as a little later we get “east of Newbie the coastal route is not rideable” (should be west).

The maps are clear, but not always accurate. Colinton Tunnel (p.66) is shown further north than it should be (and described in the text as “at the east end” - it’s actually at least a mile up) and one wonders why “footpath over road river under” is mentioned (at Currie), as there’s no doubt about the line of route here.
These niggles can be corrected in the next edition. If you’re planning to do the National routes, get the book. You will, as they say, be lost without it!

SNIPPETS

THE BIRTHDAY RIDE
August 16th saw John Jackson celebrate his 70th birthday in the company of 14 other DA members by completing a ‘century’ ride. Only 3 members were under 60 years old, and three of the company were ladies. The route was from Edinburgh to Peebles, Traquair, St Mary’s Loch and Moffat to the club hut – where the party and presentation took place – and then back home. Shown in the picture are some of the group going up the Megget valley.
Corn stubble – good for cleaning chains report from the jungle by one of the explorers At least that’s what Peter Martin claimed as he led us across almost half a mile of soggy stubble between the canal and Duntarvie Farm on a November ride to South Queensferry. Having been slowed down by two punctures (each one a complex affair) we were a bit late for the meeting with the Fifers at SQ. So instead of going all the way to Philpston we turned off at ‘the third bridge after Winchburgh’. Unfortunately this led us up a very muddy track where some forestry work had recently been done, through some woods, down a steep slope, over a fallen barbed-wire fence, and finally through the ex-corn field. It’s good to have you back with us again, Peter! [Third bridge? Try the Fourth bridge next time, Peter – Ed.]				New Links for Old or “How to get through Dalkeith without touching the sides” From the Sheriffhall Roundabout there’s now a tarmac surface over the Glenesk Viaduct (though watch out for a lot of slimy leaves on the way down to the Viaduct) off to the right and through Eskbank Station all the way to Hardengreen. At that point one can turn right and go a few yards on an unmade cart-track to join the Roslin/Penicuik rail path or turn left and about 150m down the other bit of unmade track join Dalhousie Road just before the roundabout on the A7. No need for all the roundabouts, traffic lights and hills!
FORFAR RALLY More than 30 Lothians members attended the Tayside DA Cyclists’ Rally based at Forfar in August. Soloists, tandemists and baby-seat occupants all seemed to enjoy the variety of runs and events from visits to the sea-side, to Fettercairn Distillery, trip over the ‘Minister’s Path’ to the more hardy who completed the 95 mile Thursday run to Pitlochry. The camp and surroundings are excellent and the organisers spared no effort in making it a great success. Certain male members appreciated the excellent evening al fresco meals prepared by ‘the lovely Lothian lassies’ for the cost of a few bottles of wine and an ‘odd’ dance at the ceilidh.

 

Path Maintenance