Route

Quiet roads, including a number of steep hills.

Distance

22km or 14 miles.

Directions

From Tourist Information Centre: A977 into Kinross, at mini-roundabout, turn left to Milnathort. Left at mini-roundabout onto A91 Stirling Road.

Parking

Milnathort, Stirling Road car park on right beside the A91 Road.

Hazards

Descents - exercise caution there is often gravel on the road between Stronachie and Path of Condie.

M90 - exercise caution passing the on and off-ramps. A91 at times traffic can be “fast and close."

Choice of route

I usually ride this route in the clockwise direction, which cuts down on the amount of climbing, however if you want to make things harder for yourself then feel free to ride this route in the anticlockwise direction and enjoy the 4 km descent to Milnathort - you've earned it!

Reid Memorial School

The old School bell is mounted at the entrance to the car park which is the starting point for this run. The car park was built upon the site of the school following its demolition a number of years ago. From the car park, turn left onto the A91, passing the Service Station and then left again at the mini-roundabout sign posted Path of Condie and Tillyrie. As you pass beside the Town Hall look at the bridge parapet on the left. A set of well-worn stone steps leads down to the water, built for the townspeople to get access to the Fochy Burn for drinking and washing. Continuing up North Street one will notice the buildings are amongst the oldest in the town.

Great North Road

North Street was part of the old coaching route along the Great North Road. The road followed a more direct route north than today’s motorway; passing through Milnathort, direct to Glenfarg and onwards to Perth, Aberdeen or Inverness.

Orwell Parish Church, built in 1729 dominates the top of North Street. After crossing over the motorway, turn left, sign posted towards Tillyrie. Follow the road all the way out to the cross roads, turn right towards Stronachie.

Alternative Start

An alternative to North Street is to use the A91 Stirling Road. This route has one disadvantage – namely the traffic. The gradient is easier which may make it attractive to some, though I prefer the lung-busting charm of North Street compared to the lung-choking charm of the A91.

Instead, turn right onto the A91, towards Stirling, continue over the motorway. On the right, shortly after the Hilton House and just before a small stone bridge, is a road on the right sign posted Stronachie, turn right exercising caution. Take the next road on the right, continue to the next cross roads and cross over. This is the road to Meikle Seggie and Stronachie - route continued below.

The way up...

The climb starts at Meikle Seggie Farm and continues for three kilometres (two miles). Stop just before the forest on the left and admire the view. One can see most of the county from this vantage point. Almost all the climbing is done by the time you reach the trees on the right, which I am sure will be welcome news.

The road descends to a car park, which is the starting point for the Blackhill off-road routes. The road continues to Stronachie, take care — the roads from this point to Path of Condie descend sharply and can be strewn with gravel.

Path of Condie.

The road ends at a T-junction take the right hand turn and climb the 1:8 hill. Unfortunately there are no good views to admire on the way up, so you will have to make up your own excuse for stopping.

Shire End.

Continue along the road, passing the very aptly named Shire End House. The shire in question is Kinross, the old county border runs between the House and the road.

Shortly after the entrance for Plains Farm is a short, sharp climb before the road descending to Newhill Farm and the Great North Road.

Great North Road revisited.

At the T-junction, turn right rejoin the Great North Road, climbing the penultimate hill. Perhaps one of the best views of Kinross-shire can be had from the top of this hill. Descend, past Middleton Farm towards Milnathort; re-cross the motorway bridge and return to Milnathort, retracing your tracks back to the car park.}