Cycling in Kinross-shire

These routes utilise as much of the county's quiet roads as possible, except for the Loch Leven Circular where there is no alternative. Moves are being made to establish a safe offroad route around the loch but this is far in the future.

Off-road cyclists should note that none of these routes are "official." I have used these routes for a while and have not met with any objections. Regard yourself as a guest, please do not abuse the hospitality of the landowner and remember to obey the Country Code - which is only common sense.

Safety - I leave the final judgement to the safety of each of these routes to the reader.

Eating and dining out

Balgedie Toll, near Kinnesswood has the Balgedie Toll Tavern.

Near Cleish is the Nivingston Country House Hotel and Restaurant.

Crook of Devon has The Inn and a shop.

Gateside has the Gateside Inn.

Glenfarg has a shop and two hotels; the Glenfarg and the Lomond Hotel.

Kinnesswood has a shop and a hotel the Lomond Country Inn.

Kinross has seven hotels and public houses, (north to south) The Muirs Inn, Windlestrae Hotel, Green Hotel, Kirklands Hotel, Salutation Hotel, Lochleven Inn and Millers Bar.

Restaurants and Cafes: Mr. Chan's Chinese Restaurant, Sun Rise Chinese Takeaway, Baynes the Bakers cafe', Cafe' 98, Raj Mahal Indian Restaurant, Central Café (& chip shop) and Carlin Maggies Restaurant.

Granada Motorway Service Station has a fast food outlet, a café and a shop. Nearby is the Grouse and Claret Restaurant.

Milnathort has a shop, Murphy's Chip shop (the better of the two) and two hotels; the Thistle Hotel and the Jolly Beggars. There is a cafe' but I can not recall its name!

Scotlandwell has the Well Country Inn.

Vane Farm RSPB Nature Centre has a café.

Cake stops

A here are of few of the cake stops that are favoured by cyclists:

Kinross - the Church Centre, can be found in the High Street beside the traffic lights. This one is popular with the Fife & Kinross DA CTC.

Lochleven leisure Centre, a regular meeting point by members of the F&K DA. The Centre is situated between Kinross and Milnathort, the cafe' is also used by cyclists

Powmill - the Milk Bar, situated just off the A977 on the Crook of Devon side of the village, this one is also popular with the F&K DA.

Let me know if you can suggest any more, being so close to home I do not use them much.

Local bicycle Shop

Milnathort Cycles, Stirling Road, Milnathort, (01577 -865251). Follow the A91 out of Milnathort towards Stirling, turn left at Webster's Building Supplies, and next right into the Drysdale's.

Leslie Bikes used to have a shop in Kinross, they have relocated back to High Street Leslie. (01592 - 741786) Andy has an extensive stock and one of the best bike shops in Fife.

Public toilets

Apart from the Granada Motorway Service Station, there is only one public toilet in the whole county situated on The Muirs, in Kinross, opposite the Green Hotel all the others have been closed.

Safety

As with everywhere else, road traffic is unpredictable, though I personally do not like the B9097, south loch road. It is used by heavy lorries and "fast" cars as a route to and from Glenrothes.

For solo riders going off-road, I would strongly recommend using a route card. Tell someone trustworthy where you are going and when you expect to be back and where to start looking if you do not return on time. If the worst does happen at least someone will know where to look for you.

Horses are something that deserves respect if for no other reason than it is a ton of unpredictable animal. A horse does not like being surprised especially when it is approached suddenly from behind. It could be well and truly "spooked" by the time you pass it and in a good position to knock you off the bike. Let the rider (and horse) know you are approaching in good time and slow down when approaching the beast. As for the riders, they are some decent riders out there and some that are in dire need of a personality transplant.

If the worst happens…

No one ever believes it will happen to them, but if the worst does happen it is worth knowing that the local doctors' surgery can be found beside the swimming pool, on the road between Kinross and Milnathort. Just do not tell them that I sent you!

There are two hospitals nearby with Accident and Emergency Departments.

To the north is Perth Royal Infirmary and to the south (and nearest) is Queen Margaret Hospital in Dunfermline.