Film Friday is a weekly recommendation of one video to watch this weekend.
Is there a more beautiful place in the world than the Western Isles of Scotland?
Yes probably.
But on a nice day the Western Isle are hard to beat. Hebridean Sea Swimmer has great videos which should inspire any swimmer to take a visit up North.
Toddman is the annual competition to decided who is the greatest Todd.
The entry requirement is simple. You have to be called Todd. Surname only. If you’re first name is Todd then you aren’t getting in.
This year, many Todd’s entered…actually just two. Andrew and I. Which guaranteed we would both finish on the podium.
Last year Andrew cheated his way onto the top spot (https://twinbikerun.com/2020/06/19/toddman-2020-iain/) This time I was determined I would be declared Toddman!
The route was a new improved Toddman route featuring an altered bike and swim course than the 2020 version.
Swim
We started with a 1km swim in Carron Valley Reservoir. There is no set route so I did some 200m laps back and forth until I hit the race distance. Even though Andrew started five minutes before me, I still finished before him.
I think our GPS watches have very different ideas about how far 1Km is. I’ve noticed even if I swim, bike or run right next to him we will often have very different distances logged.
But in this instance I’m sure my watch was 100% accurate and therefore I declare myself the winner of the Swim leg. 1-0 to Iain.
Bike
The new bike route comprises a climb of Crow Road and Tak Me Doon. Which we have renamed Todd Me Doon. The fastest to the top of both climbs would be declared Todd of the Mountains and he would be awarded the Polka Todd Jersey.
Andrew beat me to the top of both climbs.
BUT I let him win. I had a camera with me as I was filming the competition as we did it. Did Chris Froome have to film his own Tour De France wins? No! Someone did it for him. I lost all the time having to cycle slowly so that I could get Andrew in the shot. If I’d cycled at my normal pace he’d have been left behind and I wouldn’t have had any shots of him.
That’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it.
I think, even though he came first, I should be declared the winner. 2-0 to Iain.
Run
The last leg was an out and back run to the Summit of Meikle bin. I knew from the start of the run that I would win. Each time I pushed the pace a bit faster Andrew would struggle. I was feeling great so I was confident I’d outpace him at the end.
With 1KM to go. Andrew’s shoe lace came undoe. He claims he shouted at me “Hey, wait a sec, I need to tie my shoelace!”
All I heard him say was “Hey Champ, run on. You deserve the win. You truly are Toddman!”
Who knows who was correct? All I can say is “I am Toddman !”
Mangersta bothy was built into the side of the Mangersta cliffs, on the Isle of Lewis, almost 30 years ago by two locals, John and Lorna Norgrove.
John and Lorna are the parents of Linda Norgrove who was involved in a terrible accident in Afghanistan in 2010. She was killed by US soldiers. You can read the details about the case here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Linda_Norgrove
Her parents setup a foundaton in Linda’s memory. You can read more about how to stay in the bothy at https://lindanorgrovefoundation.org/mangersta-bothy/
The bothy is in a very remote part of the Isle of Lewis but the walk out to it is relatively simple. Park at the end of Mangestera village and follow the fence westward. The both is tucked into the cliffs near the end of the fence line.
I would not recommend the walk to anyone with young children or anyone who is uncomfortable with heights. Their are allot of steep cliff drops in this area.
I would be scared to spend a night in the bothy in case I needed the loo during the night. I might head out, trip and then never be seen again!
MAPS
Review
The both is in a spectacular location
Parking
There is space, at the start of the walk, to park a couple of cars.
Facilities
None
Nearest cafe
There is a cafe and shop within 15 minutes drive.
Run Surface
100% trail
Dog Friendly
I wouldn’t recommend it.
Elevation
0m
Walled gardens are great for gardeners as they provide shelter from bad weather to allow the creation of a perfect growing environment.
They are not great places places to visit on the hottest day of the year.
The walls made it feel like I was trapped in an oven and that the chef had forgotten to take me out whn my time was up!
The video does not do justice to how hot it was!
MAPS
Review
I didn’t walk far but it looked like a nice place for a run/walk.
Parking
There is a car park next to the castle.
Facilities
Toilets
Nearest cafe
There is a cafe next to the castle.
Run Surface
100% trail
Dog Friendly
Yes
Elevation
0m
Film Friday is a weekly recommendation of one video to watch this weekend.
The only time I’ve ever seen a YouTuber in the flesh was in Strathblane. A man walked past me wearing a stripey hat. I turned to my wife and said “Do you know who that was? It was Stripey Hat Guy!”
She gave me a look that screamed seriously underwhelmed.
She doesn’t watch as much YouTube as I do.
Anyway, here is Stripey Hat Guy. He makes great videos about Scottish hills, trails and walks.
I’ve previously written about swimming in Carron Valley Reservoir in winter https://twinbikerun.com/2020/12/05/outdoor-swim-review-carron-valley-winter-iain/
Carron valley is very close to my house which means I can finish work and be in the water 30 minutes later. At present (Aug 2021) the water temperature is perfect for swimming without a wet suit. It must be 18-20C.
Usually I’d see noone else here but this year has been much busier. There’s occasionaly another swimmer group present or a bunch of Paddle Boarders. What is the collective noun for Paddle Boarders? I’d suggest, due to the pumps they need, that they should be called a blowup of boarders.
The only downside to summer swimming it that the water is currently a little bit peaty. This leaves a slight residue on my skin. Which makes me feel very slimy. I normally throw water over myself, at the end of the swim, to wash it off.
It’s not as bad as the White Loch. After swimming there I come out feeling like Swamp Monster.
REVIEW
Ease of Access: https://goo.gl/maps/vkcjfRm5cx6dYWt7A Park at the gate next to the loch. Its 10m to the waterside.
Water quality: The water level is low at the moment which means there is a rocky “beach” to walk across before you get to the water.
Swim Quality: Perfect. Nice flat calm water
Other People: Not a soul.
Would I go back: Yes. It’s my default swim location.
When I was young my next door neighbor stood in a general election as the Liberal Democrat candidate for the western isles.
Unfortunately the western isles wasn’t interested in the party of Paddy Pantsdown. My neighbor struggled to get any support. Eventually he became so frustrated at his lack of coverage at hustings and in the press that he started inventing wilder and wilder election pledges.
His wildest was a promise that if he was elected he’d build pyramids in the moors of the Isle Of Lewis. His reasoning was logical – building pyramids would create jobs and once they were built they’d increase tourism thus creating even more jobs.
Unfortunately his radical idea failed to win any votes! The island was not yet ready to build a Gaelic Tutankhamen tomb.
He probably thought his idea was original but Scotland already has a homemade pyramid. It is hidden away on a hillside on Balmoral estate on a path known only to instagrammers and people who google “how to find balmoral pyramid?”
When I die I’d be happy with just some flowers and some cards. I don’t like to make a fuss.
To access the cairn you can either pay money to enter the estate or you can walk a bit further and start at Easter Balmoral estate. From here there is free access to the estate. At least I hope it’s free. Maybe the queen sets the SAS on you if she spots you sneaking in. If you get shot don’t blame me.
MAPS
Review
A nice forest walk but a bit samey after a while.
Parking
There is a big car park next to the estate.
Facilities
Toilets
Nearest cafe
THere are a couple of cafes next to the car park.
Run Surface
90% trail, 10% concrete
Dog Friendly
Yes but I think there was a note asking they be kept on a lead.
Elevation
300m
Film Friday is a weekly recommendation of one video to watch this weekend.
What do you get if you have a spare 80 million pounds and you want to spend it all on just one house? A MEGA MANSION.
This is proof that all the money in the world can’t buy good taste.
I wrote about Bayble beach last year. https://twinbikerun.com/2020/06/29/outdoor-swim-review-bayble-beach-iain/
Nothing has changed since then 🙂
Although it has got a little bit busier. Previously, I did not see anyone swimming here but on my last couple of visits there has been at least one other group swimming.
Its a great sport for a quick dip within easy access of Stornoway.
REVIEW
Ease of Access: There is a car park next to the beach (by the pier)
Water quality: The water was clear and I could see a good distance under the water.
Swim Quality: 12C in August. You can swim from one beach to another just a few hundred meters away along the coast. The Pier blocks the worst of the waves. It was flat calm during my visit.
Other People: There was another couple of swimmers splashing about.
Would I go back: Yes. Nice spot for a swim and easy to access.
Lochnagar is the second highest mountain in Scotland….I thought.
It isn’t.
But whilst I was hiking it I was convinced it was. I’d miss read an article and it was only afterwards when my wife checked my “fact” that we discovered the truth.
Lochnagar is only number 7 on the list of highest Scottish hills. This explains why, when I reached the top, I thought to myself “that was surprisingly easy for the 2nd highest mountain!”
Lochnagar is not a technical hike. In good weather it’s a long slog on good paths. We did the route in the classic anti-clockwise direction. I think the views are better this way. Although it ends with a long walk along the loch.
It was one of the hottest days of the year when we did it but it was hard to notice the heat due to the wind. It was so windy that later in the day some poor soul was blown over and broke a leg!
MAPS
Review
A nice plod with nice parts but there are some long boring sections with not much to see.
Parking
There is a car park next to the start but it can fill up quickly especially at weekends. It was full by 0830 on the day we visited. The car park has a charge.
Facilities
There are toilets and a stall selling cakes, cofee’s and ice creams.
Nearest cafe
There is one at the car park.
Run Surface
100% trail
Dog Friendly
Yes but there is not much water stops until the second half of the route.
Elevation
937m
Twin brothers swimming, cycling and running in Scotland 