Our Winter 05 run saw 15 hardy souls (pictured on the right) braving the elements and running the 10 miles over the hills from the Carlops village car park to Balerno High School. It was a chilly morning when we all meet at the Carlops, for some this was their first social run outing and some worried brows could be seen when the route was explained to them. Starting from Carlops the route took us up the steep climbing road/track to Fairlehope Farm. The route then follows the "Route of the Cows" know for its extremely boggy under foot conditions. This was the point when some of less experienced runners wished they had maybe keep under the warm dry downy. We then continued over burns and bridges and onto North Esk reservoir. We then went up over the heather moors to the Bore Stane where the views are worth all the hard effort.

It was then the fast decent down to Listonshields Farm and further down to Buteland Road passing the old Steading of the farm until reaching Cockburnhill Road. It was then along past Cockburn farm, Goodtrees farm reaching Johnsburn Road and turning down past the watering station of the Johnsburn pub and finisihing at BHS.

Once everyone had scrubbed up and got all the crud from their toe nails it was up to the Johnsburn for some excellent food and soft drinks!!! ( the Deuchars/IPA  had as usual been beautifully kept by Martin ). We were joined by family and friends which swelled our ranks to 32, a healthy turnout and once again re-enforced what a social pastime running is.