Super tandem along silvery Tay for luscious fresh farm strawberries at Port Allen and visit to new Pickled Peacock cafe at Cairn o’Mhor Fruit Winery

This “old lady” tandem and the silvery Tay – sensational views on NCN Rt 77.

This blog is the story of my dynamic crew having lots of laughs and fun on a super Sunday #tandem along the banks of the silvery Tay on The National Cycle Network Rt 77 for luscious fresh farm strawberries from Mains of Errol Fruit Shack at Port Allen and a visit to the new The Pickled Peacock café at Cairn o’Mohr Real Fruit Wines.

Another epic day out started with an early alarm call and after breakfast the “old git” and “old gal” headed to Dundee and parked Matilda Transport at the Tay Road Bridge Kiosk car park over the water from the city.

You can check out the details of our tandem route by clicking on the Strava map below.

After crossing the Tay, Team Matilda tandemed out of the city on the waterside Sustrans Scotland NCN 77 path – part of the The Green Circular cycle path which circumnavigates Dundee. After passing the airport Rt 77 passes thru Invergowrie where the River Tay opens up in front of you showing its true width and majesty. More of that on the way back!

With just a little breeze it was great conditions for tandeming along the quiet and relatively flat rural roads. Great to see so many other cyclists out – tho we failed to spot any other tandems!

We pedalled thru Errol Village before turning down a signposted track to our picnic destination of Port Allen. The “old gal” spotted the Mains of Errol Fruit Shack – an honesty mini hut shop selling freshly harvested strawberries.

It truly was from farm to fork in zero food miles – and as a result the strawberries were just lusciously sensationally fresh and flavorsome … providing the perfect accompaniment for one of my dynamic crew’s signature prosecco picnics in a true natural alfresco habitat!

The “lesser spotted” rose prosecco hiding in its “natural” habitat – complete with fresh strawberries.

Indeed the “old git” immediately added one of the smaller strawberries into the prosecco, so not only was it farm to fork, but farm to glass! “Extremely decadent – but very yummy” was the “old gal’s” verdict from the taste test! But only after exhaustive repeat testing just to make sure!

The “old gal’s” taste test of the ultra fresh strawberries from Mains of Errol Fruit Shack …

… the luscious zero food miles strawberries mixed perfectly with the pink prosecco! …

… and the “old gal’s” verdict after much tasting! – extremely decadent but very yummy!

Port Allen offered the idyllic picturesque picnic spot, sitting on a lovely bench featuring the wording “For what in Scotland can compare with the Carse o’Gowrie.” (The Carse o’Gowrie being the name for the renowned soft fruit growing area) And at that beautifully serene picnic moment – complete with those strawberries and the sun breaking thru – Team Matilda couldn’t agree more!

Luscious fresh farm to fork strawberries – the very best the Carse o’Gowrie can offer!

Cheers! Prosecco with a fresh strawberry from Mains of Errol Fruit Shack in the glass!

Amazingly given its solitude now, Port Allen historically was a bustling local harbour offering  a ferry crossing of the River Tay to Lindores in Fife. Records show that back in its heyday large quantities of grain were shipped from the port and around 200 people lived there in 1700s. The area is now a nature reserve with the reed beds proving the perfect venue for wildlife, in particular birds.

Enjoying the tranquility at Port Allen, with its reed beds now a nature reserve.

Team Matilda at picturesque Port Allen outside Errol – hard to believe it was once a bustling port.

After a most relaxing picnic Team Matilda pedalled on to the amazing idiosyncratic Cairn o’Mhor Fruit Winery just outside Errol to sample the delights of the new – and wonderfully named – Pickled Peacock café. The café has new owners along with a new name – with a sideways reference to the possibility of getting a little bit typsy from the fruit wines and cider made on the premises!

The “old gal” eyeing up the wooden “totem” sculptures at Cairn o’Mohr Real Fruit Wines!

And the menu looked fabulous – with great sharing plates – tho after their picnic my dynamic crew had to restrict themselves to sampling a slice of cheesecake with a nice strong coffee! And the whole winery and café is ultra bike friendly – and is therefore a favourite with cyclists.

The new The Pickled Peacock café  was worth a visit for fab cheesecake and coffee.

Naturally the “old git” had to visit the shop at the winery and purchased a bottle of Pictish cider for consumption at home at a later date! Well it would have been rude not to buy anything!

Here I am having a chat with the delivery vans at Cairn o’Mohr Real Fruit Wines!

After interrupting my very interesting chat with the smartly designed wine delivery vans, it was time for the “old gal” and “old git” to pedal back to Dundee – into a modest headwind as the tide was rushing back into the Tay estuary. There was a stop for pictures just before Invergowrie where the photos showed off the reality of the words from the famous poem by McGonagall about the “silvery Tay.”

The “old gal” reflecting on the words from the famous poem by McGonagall about “the silvery Tay”.

By the banks of the silvery Tay – Team Matilda enjoying the view across the river.

Despite the sun, the return crossing of the Tay Bridge was a bit blustery back to Matilda Transport. After I was safely packed away, the “old git” checked Strava which officially recorded the ride as being worth of a staggering 50 gongs – made up of a very pleasing 15 personal bests; 21 2nd bests and 14 3rd bests.

The detailed Strava figures showed my dynamic crew tandemed a distance of 33.9 miles with a moving time of 2 hours 33 minutes. The average speed was a healthy 13.3 mph given the wind. Elevation was just 689 feet as it was mainly along the banks of the river. The maximum speed was 35.6 mph and Team Matilda managed to burn up 1,489 calories and produce an average power output of 145 W.

As always the route is brought to life in our Relive 3D mapping video – so click here to view or on the image below.

Quite simply another great fun day out on a bicycle made for two!

Blowin’ a hoolie on the Salmon Run NCN Rt77 Dundee to Errol for fab soup and cake At AliBob Cafe at Cairn O’Mhor Fruit Winery

Amazing light formations on the River Tay Salmon Run on NCN Rt77 – 4.5km wide at Invergowrie.

“Do you fancy going to one of our favourite cafes and I’ll treat you to Sunday lunch with views of the Salmon Run along the River Tay?” the “old git” casually inquired of the “old gal.”

The “old gal” had been caught this way before and instead of imagining a warm drive in the car immediately knew that the “carrot” on offer was to soften her up for a Sunday pedal! Don’t say my Captain doesn’t know how to treat my stoker!

But the “old gal” readily agreed as some fresh air was required – though she wouldn’t have known just how much blustery fresh air she was letting herself in for!

The weather forecast said it would be pretty windy (with winds averaging 15mph) but remaining dry, and it was certainly blowin’a hoolie – as we say here in Scotland – as my crew set out from the Tay Bridge Kiosk car park across the bridge to Dundee.

You can check out the details of our route by clicking on the Strava map below.

After a blustery pedal across the Tay Road Bridge – protected in the middle section from the traffic – Team Matilda headed out of Dundee, the City of Discovery, on Sustrans Scotland The National Cycle Network #NCN Rt 77 – on our route to Errol, passing thru Invergowrie.

This part of the NCN – which links Dundee with Pitlochry – is nicknamed “The Salmon Run” as it hugs the mighty River Tay – famed for its salmon. And it also offers some magnificent views across the 4.5km wide river at Invergowrie.

Rt77 is nicknamed The Salmon Run with spectacular views across the mighty River Tay.

My dynamic crew were enjoying the relatively flat and stunning Carse of Gowrie countryside. However, the wind was pretty much directly in my Captain’s face – with some gusts significantly stronger than the forecast 15mph – as we pedalled along the near 15 miles along to Errol where my crew had booked a table at the wonderful – and very bike friendly – AliBob at Cairn O’Mohr Café at Cairn o Mohr Real Fruit Wines.

The bike friendly AliBob café at Errol – served up fab soup and a sandwich plus yummy cake!

It was great to see the café open for business again and thriving – despite the obvious Covid-19 restrictions. But full marks for all the safety precautions and it felt very safe.

My Captain had pumpkin soup (what else with it being so close to Halloween!) and a chicken bacon and lettuce sandwich – washed down with a yummy glass of freshly squeezed apple juice made at the neighbouring winery – and removed before the cider process begins! My dynamic crew managed to make space for a coffee and some home-made carrot cake to finish their splendid lunch treat off!

As for me, this “old lady” found plenty of bags of apples waiting to be processed at the winery, which would have been extremely useful for “dookin for apples” this Halloween – if we were allowed to be in people’s houses, which of course we are not!

Before we left the winery, the “old gal” looked very pleased with herself when she found the home delivery van for the wines!

I certainly found enough apples at the winery for “dookin; for apples” this Halloween!

The “old gal” looks quite proud of herself that she found the home delivery van for the wines!

My dynamic crew were really looking forward to the return journey – given the wind forces they faced on the outward leg – and it did not disappoint. Team Matilda fair whizzed along the return leg – with the “old gal” heard to say: “This must be what an e-assist #tandem ride would be like!”

It was certainly a fun turbo-charged run back – with the “old git” nearly losing his hi-vis jacket at a photo stop to get an Autumnal shot of a perfectly symmetrical tree lined avenue. The wind was gusting so strongly he had to keep a firm hold of it as it was acting very like one of those wind socks you see at airports!

The “old git” had to keep a tight hold on his jacket which was acting like a very lively wind sock!

Centre of a tree-line driveway – with what looks like a light source homing in on the “old git’s” helmet!

Back into Dundee in record time – as the Strava gongs prove! – and time for a quick reviving coffee at the café at Discovery Point and RRS Discovery just beside the stunning architecture of the relatively new V&A Dundee Design Museum on the waterfront.

Discovery Point and the V&A Design Museum made an impressive backdrop at Dundee waterfront,

The imposing £80 million building – which opened in 2018 – has been designed to look like a giant ship by the acclaimed Japanese architect Kengo Kuma.

It is built beside Discovery Point with the three masts of the wooden Royal Research Ship Discovery, which was captained by Robert Falcon Scott on his first journey to the Antarctic in 1902, creating an interesting old and new juxtaposition.

Team Matilda having fun at the coffee stop!

The coffee (and loo!) break was to give my crew strength for their nemesis of a head-wind battle across the Tay Bridge – but amazingly it didn’t seem as bad as my dynamic crew had been dreading.

However, it was good to get back into Matilda Transport and out of the blast of the wind. The “old git” checked Strava which officially recorded the ride as being worthy of a spectacular total of 31 gongs – made up of 13 personal bests, 10 second bests; and 8 third best times. Whisper it, but most of the PBs were on the return leg with the wind pushing Team Matilda along!

The detailed Strava figures showed my dynamic crew tandemed a distance of 29.3 miles with a moving time of 2 hours 19 minutes. The average speed was a healthy 12.6 mph – which given the strength of the wind was perfectly acceptable! Elevation was a relatively flat 404 feet given we were pedalling alongside the river. The maximum speed was 39.4 mph and Team Matilda managed to burn up 1,296 calories and produce an average power output of 139 W.

As always the route is brought to life in our Relive 3D mapping video – so take a look below.

Another great fun tandem day out in the late October sunshine for Team Matilda on a bicycle made for two!

My spokes are firmly crossed for some mild and dry late Autumn and Winter weather so we can keep up those miles … and Smiles!

Errol to V&A Dundee then headwind back for steamin’ scones at Cairn O’Mohr winery!

Team Matilda in front of the new V&A museum at Discovery Point in Dundee.

Some unexpected November sunshine was forecast and Team Matilda took advantage of the mild weather for a tandem ride to admire the stunning architecture of the new V&A museum in Dundee.

I was very excited because the “old git” informed me that the V&A Dundee was designated Scotland’s first design museum – and being a bit of a design icon (of a tandem!) myself I thought it would be right up my street (or cycle path!) You never know – they might want a new exhibit for their displays!

And just to make the trip more interesting the “old git” decided on starting the trip at Errol – at the Cairn O’Mohr fruit winery – giving a nice round trip of just over 25 miles with the “old git” promising the “old gal” a carrot of ending back at the winery for a civilised afternoon coffee at the AliBob Cafe. Don’t say he doesn’t know how to treat my stoker!

You can check out the details of our route by clicking on the Strava map below.

The winery has been producing its well-known brand of Scottish fruit wines since 1987 and is a key visitor attraction in the area – offering various tours and tastings. The cycle-conscious owners have even created their own cycle path to make it easier for visitors to get there.

My dynamic crew soon picked up speed as we tandemed away from Errol towards Dundee on the quiet country roads which make up Sustrans Scotland NCN Rt77. The “old gal” and “old git” were enjoying the tail wind and we were soon pedalling into Dundee on the riverside esplanade with the new V&A museum in our sights right on the waterfront.

The amazing new V&A museum building occupies a site directly on the Dundee waterfront.

The imposing £80 million building – which opened in mid September – has been designed to look like a giant ship by the acclaimed Japanese architect Kengo Kuma.

It is built beside Discovery Point with the three masts of the wooden Royal Research Ship Discovery, which was captained by Robert Falcon Scott on his first journey to the Antarctic in 1902, creating an interesting old and new juxtaposition.

The architecture of the building is incredible including this tunnel thru the middle!

The V&A Dundee is the first design museum in Scotland and the first Victoria and Albert museum outside London. At the heart of the museum, the Scottish Design Galleries feature 300 exhibits drawn from the V&A’s rich collections of Scottish design, as well as from museums and private collections across Scotland and the world.

At the entrance to the new V&A design museum.

Surely there will be space in the new V&A design museum for an iconic design like me?

As Scotland’s first design museum, V&A Dundee describes its aim as telling “a global story, investigating the international importance of design alongside presenting Scotland’s outstanding design achievements.”

I must say this “old lady” did manage to catch a bit of attention from those visiting the new V&A.

It is expected to attract 500,000 visitors in its first year, providing the city of Dundee with a big economic boost. It was good to see the area looking so busy with tourists. This “old lady” even managed to catch a bit of attention from those visiting! But my dynamic crew didn’t venture inside – deciding to leave that for another occasion when not wearing cycling gear!

It really was interesting touring round the fab new building which is built to look like a ship.

After touring the outside of the eye-catching new V&A museum it was time for the return journey back to Errol. But guess what? Yes, my dynamic crew now found themselves pedalling into a rather fierce headwind. “Why do we always hit a headwind on our return journey?” asked the “old gal.” But for once the “old git” didn’t have an answer!

The wind certainly slowed our speed as we headed back along the waterfront, past the airport and out through Invergowrie. Here the route  gives impressive views of the River Tay which is some 4.5 kilometres wide at this point. Interestingly the NCN Rt77, which links Dundee with Pitlochry, is also known as the salmon run – and it was easy to see why at this point.

The unexpected November sun created some interesting long shadows of Team Matilda in action!

The afternoon sun created some interesting long shadows of Team Matilda in action, which the “old gal” managed to capture as we pedalled along enjoying the relatively flat and stunning Carse of Gowrie countryside – including a perfectly symmetrical tree lined avenue where the “old git” had to stop for a photo opportunity.

An Autumnal scene as the “old git” poses at a tree lined avenue on the return to Errol.

After battling the headwind, returning to the Cairn O’Mohr fruit winery provided my dynamic crew with a perfect sanctuary to refuel and recover – the fantastic AliBob Cafe which offers an amazing range of memorable and tasty treats. And the the temperature was so mild Team Matilda were able to sit outside and enjoy the late afternoon sunshine!

Believe it or not it was so mild that my dynamic crew were able to sit outside for coffee and scones.

The “old git” and “old gal” decided they had to sample the local speciality of steamin’ scones. Yes they were served warm but the steamin’ relates to the fact that the raisins are soaked in the wine before baking! And I am told they were very yummy! There was also a far too tempting range of cakes on offer – which my dynamic crew decided it would have been rude not to taste! So naturally they opted for a slice of carrot cake … so loved by tandemers everywhere!

Selfie time while sampling the steamin’ scones at AliBob cafe at Cairn O’Mhor winery!

Back in Matilda Transport, before we headed back to Matildas Rest, the “old git” checked Strava which officially recorded the ride as being worthy of no less than 25 gongs – which given the fierce headwind on the return journey is nothing short of astonishing! The total was made up of 11 personal bests and 14 second bests.

The detailed Strava figures showed my dynamic crew tandemed a distance of 25.2 miles with a moving time of 1 hour 56 minutes. The average speed was a healthy 13.0 mph while the elevation was a modest 386 feet. The maximum speed was 23.5 mph given the relatively flat terrain and Team Matilda managed to burn up 1002 calories and produce an average power output of 129 W.

As always the route and pictures are brought to life in our Relive 3D video – so take a look below.

Another great tandem day out in November sunshine for Team Matilda. My spokes are crossed for a mild and dry Autumn and Winter so we can keep up those miles (and smiles).

City of Discovery penguins and discovering a winery on ride to Errol

Penguin spotting at Discovery Point in Dundee with RRS Discovery and the new V&A museum.

More penguin spotting … a fabulous picnic spot … and the key attraction of exploring a winery – it sounds like another perfect schedule for a Sunday #tandem ride for Team Matildas Musings!

Another day of warm sunshine and fabulous blue skies was forecast so my dynamic crew decided on a new route south from the Tay Road Bridge to Errol on  Sustrans Scotland NCN Rt1 and NCN Rt77.

“Did someone say we are visiting a winery” asked the “old gal” – trying hard not to sound too enthusiastic – as we drove to Dundee. “Yes, and you’ll get to sample their produce!” responded the “old git” before adding: “And on a day like today you will be able to close your eyes and think you are in the vineyards of France!” … Well almost!

But first there was the business of continuing our penguin hunt by p-p-p-p-icking up a penguin … or two … on the new Maggie’s Penguin Parade charity art trail of 80 giant individually designed penguins! The 5ft-tall penguins have been decorated by local artists with designs ranging from golfers to footballers and has been set up in aid of cancer charity Maggie’s.

This ride – and some of the recommended stops – recently featured in Scottish Cycling magazine – which is well worth a read. Check out the details of our route by clicking on the Strava map below.

After parking up opposite the city of Dundee we had to battle a bit of a headwind on the “downhill” crossing of the Tay Road Bridge, before taking the lift down to Discovery Point where we spotted our first penguin of the day – Fundeeland at Discovery point.

This is a real hub of the City of Discovery with the three masts of the wooden Royal Research Ship Discovery, which was captained by Robert Falcon Scott on his first journey to the Antarctic in 1902, creating an interesting old and new backdrop with the soon-to-be-opened V&A Dundee design museum which has been built to look like a giant ship.

We headed south out of Dundee along Riverside Drive at the start of the NCN Rt77 but quickly stopped at the eye-catching Yoda Pengiun – from the Star Wars movie franchise – which has been imaginatively sponsored by Specsavers!

Here I am with the eye-catching Yoda penguin – sponsored by Specsavers!

I Believe I can Fly penguin with me and the “old gal” at Dundee Airport!

We tandemed on towards Dundee Airport where the “old gal” couldn’t resist having her photo taken with I Believe I can Fly penguin – suitably painted in old-fashioned flying gear!

Into Invergowrie – passing the station – before the path comes out beside the Tay giving impressive views of the river which is some 4.5 kilometres wide at this point. Interestingly the NCN Rt77, which links Dundee with Pitlochry, is also known as the salmon run – and it was easy to see why at this point.

The spectacular Firth of Tay is 4.5 kilometres wide at this point near Invergowrie!

On out into the Carse of Gowrie – one of the country’s prime growing areas for strawberries and raspberries – where the “old git” and the “old gal” found themselves pedalling hard against that headwind. But it was a lovely relatively flat route though and the scenery is amazing. We passed the old Errol airfield before an uphill stretch into the village of Errol itself – which retains a feel from years gone past. We tandemed on for another mile to our planned picnic spot at Port Allen.

Little remains of what was once a principal local harbour in the Victorian times at Port Allen.

Although nothing but a picturesque bridge remains now, Port Allen was one of the principal local harbours in Victorian times. Given how quiet and tranquil it was on our visit, and its rural location, it is hard to imagine it as a bustling port area.

The beautiful old bridge is all that is left of any harbour area at Port Allen.

The area – known as the Tay reed beds – form the largest continuous area of reeds in the UK and are an internationally recognised habitat for breeding and overwintering birds. It certainly provided a tranquil spot for my dynamic crew to enjoy their picnic on a lovely hand crafted bench.

Ideal hand-crafted picnic bench – deep in the Carse of Gowrie by the Tay at Port Allen.

Re-fuelled by the picnic – and a bit of warm sunny relaxation – it was time to start the return journey … with the additional carrot of the visit to the winery! Tandeming back thru Errol we took a detour to the Cairn O’Mohr fruit winery. The cycle-conscious owners have even created their own cycle path off NCN Rt77 to their farm base to make it easier for visitors to get there.

That’s a big bottle! There is no doubt about the kind of operation going on at Cairn o’Mohr.

The operation has grown in recent years and now has huge vats to mature the fruit wine.

The winery has been producing its well-known brand of Scottish fruit wines since 1987 and is a key visitor attraction in the area – offering various tours and tastings. The AliBob Cafe offers a huge range of memorable treats – and of course the opportunity to sample the produce.

The “old git” and “old gal” treated themselves to sample the range of sparkling wines – including a very tasty strawberry fizz! Naturally there was also a sozzled fruit scone – with the raisins soaked in the wine before baking! And a far too tempting range of cakes – which my dynamic crew decided it would have been rude not to taste!

Fruit fizz, scones, cakes and coffee! What’s not to like?!

Having consumed far too may calories (but very enjoyably!) the “old git” upped the pace on the ride back to Dundee in a vain attempt to burn some of them off! It really was blissful tandeming in the warm sunshine, and with the wind behind us, as we pedalled across some fantastic countryside.

The scenery we tandemed past was stunning – like this impressive tree lined avenue.

We flashed thru Invergowrie and past the airport back into Dundee via Riverside Drive where we took a few minutes to stop at the impressive Tay Bridge Disaster Memorial. It is a moving tribute to the victims of the disaster back in 1879 when the central navigation spans of the Tay Bridge collapsed into the Firth of Tay, taking with them a train, 6 carriages and 75 souls to their fate.

A shot looking towards the Tay Rail Bridge – from just beside the memorial stones to the 1879 disaster.

Just time to tick off two more penguins on our pedal back to the lift onto the Tay Road Bridge. First up was Poppy the penguin and the last one of our ride was The Baltic Builder penguin – complete in Bob the Builder artwork clevery placed beside all the construction work which is being finished off near Discovery Point.

The “old gal” with Poppy the Penguin easily spotted from the cycle path.

The Baltic Builder penguin – aka Bob the Builder – with the “old git”.

The last part of our ride was the “uphill” crossing of the Tay Road Bridge – a stretch which always seems to come at the end of a long ride and therefore not one to bring shouts of enthusiasm from my dynamic crew! In truth it always seems a bit of a grind. But today the wind was blowing in the correct direction and the “old git” set the “old gal” a challenge of trying to break Team Matilda’s record for the “Killer Tay Bridge” segment of 6 minutes 46 seconds set just the week before!

And my dynamic crew were euphoric when they reached the other side of the Tay – well they would have been if they weren’t so out of puff – to discover that they had smashed their own record by over half a minute to a new Team Matilda record of 6 minutes 12 seconds. I was most impressed and am now wondering if they can beat that the next time we do this route!

After calming down and getting his breath back at Matilda Transport the “old git” checked Strava which officially recorded the ride as showing my dynamic crew tandemed a distance of 34.4 miles with a moving time of 2 hours 52 minutes. The average speed was a healthy 12 miles an hour while the elevation was 983 feet. The maximum speed was 30.9 mph and Team Matilda managed to burn up 1682 calories and produce an average power output of 146 W.

As always the route is brought to life in our Relive 3D video – so take a look below.

Again a fantastic de-stressing memorable day out and escape for my dynamic crew in glorious sunshine. I guess with the weather and the winery we really could have been tandeming on one of Team Matilda’s fabulous Tours de France …

Well almost!