Not to miss this part of National Cycling route 1. Loch Level and Falkland Palace is the “must see” places.

Out of Edinburg by National Cycling Route 1

Cycling out of Edinburg wasn’t like from other big cities, through industry suburbs and development, but through parks mostly.

Around Loch Leven

Once cycled over the bridge and passed a piece of highway under renovation by aside path, you are on the beautiful route to the Loch Leven and around it.

For those, like myself, who new Maria Stuart from Stefan Zweig novel and forget that she was actually Mary Queen of Scots: Loch Leven was a place where she was prisoned. The castle on the lake is it.

Around Loch Leven

A restaurant Loch Leven’s Larder with friendly staff serve farm food and is quite big to spend a rainy afternoon under it’s roof. When they were closing, I relocated a half a mile further, to Balgedie Toll Tavern. Its owner was so “friendly”, that I rather cycled under the rain to the next “roof” with sockets and wifi.

Complimentary “bedroom”

It was The Tavern in Strathkinness. They let me inn with my wet  bike, and one family invited me to stay overnight in their workshop space so I would be dry in the morning.

Scotloo

The route through the beautiful forest and fields brought me soon to Pillars of Hercules – another organic farm with shop and restaurant.

Pillars of Hercules

Why I like organic? Because that how they call raw milk, fresh bread, and other not over-processed food.

I just don’t don’t like the word organic as it’s just another part of chemistry.

Falkland Palace

Falkland is a small sweet town. Hurry up to the Palace before it closes.

Falkland Palace

It was a Royal hunting residence. Here I got a link between Zweig’s heroen and Mary Queen of Scots. There was just a few visitors in a big palace and a garden, so your imagination can go as far as you let it go. And this impression was much more “impressive” then in Edinburg Castle.