Undiscovered Scotland

 

Angus is one of the 32 unitary council areas into which Scotland has been divided since 1996. It extends inland from the North Sea coast north of the Firth of Tay and includes the Angus Glens on the south side of the Cairngorms. Set within its southern edge along the Firth of Tay is the City of Dundee which covers the urban area of Dundee plus a narrow fringe of countryside to its north-east and north-west. For accommodation in Angus & Dundee see the links in the "See and Stay" menu above. See the map below for an outline of the area and links to surrounding areas.

Our description of the area starts at its north-eastern corner, in Montrose. This is an attractive mix of active port, market town and seaside resort. The town sits intriguingly between the North Sea to its east and the Montrose Basin to the west. It offers a wide range of tourist services and benefits from lying on the main railway line to Aberdeen. At the north end of Montrose is the site of Britain's first operational military airfield, established by the Royal Flying Corps in 1913, and reopened in WWII. Part of it is now home to the Montrose Air Station Heritage Centre.

 

Head inland from Montrose and, after passing the House of Dun, you come to the ancient town of Brechin, complete with Brechin Cathedral. Brechin is bypassed by the A90, the main dual carriageway from Dundee to Aberdeen. North of Brechin is the attractive village of Edzell, and the nearby Edzell Castle, complete with its magnificent walled garden.

Following the A90 from Brechin back towards Dundee brings you to Forfar, the administrative centre of Angus. This was at the heart of an important area in Pictish times. A mile and a half east of Forfar are the remains of Restenneth Priory, originally founded here by King Nechtan of the Picts. At Aberlemno, half way between Forfar and Brechin are the Aberlemno Stones, three Pictish stones alongside the main road. Another Pictish Stone can be found in the kirkyard of Aberlemno Kirk.

Travelling south along the coast from Montrose brings you to Lunan Bay, a stunning swathe of sand beneath dunes and low cliffs which concludes at Boddin Point. Lunan Bay comes complete with its own ruined castle, the superbly located Red Castle.

The main coastal settlement south of Montrose is Arbroath, about fifteen miles north-east of Dundee. The town is home to the historically important Arbroath Abbey, and the superb St Vigeans Museum of Carved Stones, as well as the Arbroath Signal Tower Museum, though to some its name is best known for the Arbroath Smokie, a smoked haddock still produced in smokehouses around the old harbour. The smokie originated in the small fishing village of Auchmithie, a few miles up the coast from Arbroath.

If you head south-east from Arbroath you come to Carnoustie, a town that largely revolves around its world famous golf course. Just to the west of Carnoustie is Barry Mill, a rare example of a working water powered oatmeal mill.

Dundee is Scotland's fourth city and known historically for its shipbuilding and whaling, for its jam, and for its jute industry. It is also known for journalism and for comics: Dundee remains the home of D.C. Thomson, publishers of the Beano and the Dandy.

The city lies on the north bank of the Firth of Tay and is linked to Fife by the Tay Road and Tay Rail bridges. Don't let Dundee's industrial past put you off. There's a shopping centre here that is as good as anything you will find elsewhere in Scotland, and a wide range of activities for visitors. These include the Verdant Works, an award winning museum in an old jute works. On the shore, close to the main railway station, is Discovery Point, complete with Royal Research Ship Discovery, in which Captain Scott sailed to the Antarctic. Nearby you can find the HMS Unicorn the oldest British-built warship still afloat. Dundee is also home to two universities: with all that implies for the availability of restaurants, pubs, and book and record shops.

A little east along the coast from Dundee is Broughty Ferry, now a suburb, but with a distinct and attractive feel, plus Broughty Castle, in an excellent location overlooking the harbour. Just off the A90, four miles north of the city, is the village of Tealing, where you find the Tealing Doocot and the Tealing Souterrain, both cared for by Historic Environment Scotland.

Further north you come to Kirriemuir. Located at the head of two glens, Clova and Prosen, Kirriemuir is a pretty town with narrow winding streets and an olde worlde charm. It is famous as the birthplace of J.M. Barrie, creator of Peter Pan: and a commemorative statue is located in the town square. There is a museum run by the National Trust for Scotland at J.M. Barrie's Birthplace, and the NTS also care for Kirriemuir Camera Obscura, which was paid for by J.M. Barrie.

North of Kirriemuir the foothills of the Cairngorms are pierced by the Angus Glens leading deep into the mountains. The most easterly is Glen Esk, with its main settlement of Tarfside. The glen comes complete with no fewer than three churches, the Lochlee Parish Church, the Maule Memorial Church and St Drostan's Episcopal Church. It also boasts an impressive tower house in Invermark Castle. Not far west and overlooking the coastal plain are the Brown and White Caterthuns, twin hillforts of different ages.

West again, and you come to the mouth of Glen Clova, the best known and most popular of the Angus Glens, with most settlement focused on Clova. To its west is Glen Prosen, and its main settlement, the hamlet of Glenprosen.

A few miles south of Kirriemuir is the village of Glamis, where you find Glamis Castle, childhood home of the late Queen Mother. The castle and its the extensive gardens and grounds are open to the public and are well worth a visit. Also in Glamis is St Fergus Kirk and the excellent Angus Folk Museum, while in the village and surrounding area are three unusually fine Pictish symbol stones, St Orland's Stone, Hunters Hill Stone, and the Glamis Manse Symbol Stone. Two miles west of Glamis are the remains of Eassie Old Church, home to another magnificent Pictish cross slab.

Driving Tours: Parts of Angus & Dundee are visited on our Montrose & Forfar Driving Tour.