Legendary children's entertainer Timmy Mallett has praised Dundee's Tay Road Bridge as a "cycling dream" as he passed through the city as part of a bike tour of the UK.
The veteran presenter, 66, is cycling around the entire country and painting landscapes as he goes, having turned his hand to fine art following an illustrious career in telly on shows like Wacaday and Wide Awake Club. He passed through Dundee on Monday, and took time to praise locals for their kindness and hospitality.
He said on social media: "Cycling over the Tay Bridge from Dundee to the kingdom of Fife is one of the great cycling pleasures of Britain. It involves a lift, a brilliant cycle lane, a slope, and one of the longest spans in Scotland....It's a cycling dream."
Mallett says he has been inspired to "live in the moment more" by his older brother Martin, who had Down's Syndrome and lived in Aberdeen's Newton Dee supported community for most of his life. Sadly, Martin died in March 2018 after a battle with dementia.
The pair would often make trips to Dundee, and Timmy has previously shared a poignant snap of them standing atop the Law online. He passed through Angus over the weekend on his southbound descent of the UK's east coast, having reached John O'Groats on June 23, 79 days after setting off from Land's End.
After spending a day off in Broughty Ferry and striking a pose in front of V&A Dundee, he set off again yesterday and is now passing through Fife, on the way to England. Even now, he remains instantly recognisable, thanks to his brightly coloured clobber and signature glasses.
Mallett added: "The new flood relief scheme in Broughty Ferry had been open a matter of days and the new flood gates look the business. Cycle route 1 goes along the Grassy Beach (great name most descriptive) and through the harbour past the giant wind turbine blades and the oil refinery.
"To get into the Tay Bridge requires a specific bike lift and when we emerged it was into the central lane between the opposing lanes of traffic. I was thrilled to arrive in Newport on Tay.
"It's my fourth Newport on this trip, Isle of Wight, Gwent, Cardiganshire and now Fife. Are there any more? I await with interest..."
Mallett recently auctioned off a painting of Dundee as seen from the other side of the Tay for Sense Scotland, raising £275 for the charity. He has been a frequent visitor to Tayside, and has even been spotted visiting Tannadice with Dundee United fan Lorraine Kelly in recent years.
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