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THE ANGUS GLENS
This is the start of the real walking country with
small hills and glens before the higher mountains beyond. There are
many attractive towns and villages but, for us, the real attraction
would be the glens. To explore you need strong boots, waterproof
clothes, warm jumpers, a warm drink and some high energy food, an
Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 scale map and a compass. You need to know how
to use them to find your way or go with someone else who can. In
winter, in the hills it is quite another story and you need full
winter walking equipment and an experienced guide. A pleasant winter
day in Glen Clova could surprise you with bitter Arctic conditions
higher in Glen Doll.
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To visit Glen Shee, take the Coupar Angus road out of
Dundee then follow signs for Glen Shee and Braemar To reach Glen Isla,
take the Forfar road out of Dundee, turn for Kirriemuir and at Kirriemuir
follow signs for Glen Isla and Glen Shee. To get to Glen Prosen, Glen
Clova and Glen Doll take the Forfar Road from Dundee, turn for Kirriemuir
and then at Kirriemuir, follow signs for Clova. To reach Glen Esk, you
need to stay on the Forfar road, travel beyond Forfar in the direction of
Aberdeen then take the turning for Edzell. Roads to the North and West
from Edzell lead into Glen Esk and a number of smaller steep-sided glens.
I remember finding some rather pleasant waterfalls beyond Loch Lee. To see
them, follow a path from a small ruined castle up the right hand side of
the Loch. Look at the map, there are other waterfalls nearby.
It is not advisable to plan walks in this area during the
hunting season.
If you like to trek for a few days along long distance
footpaths, it is possible to do so in this area. For example we once took
the Kilbo path from Glen Isla to Glen Clova, then continued up Jock's road
via Glen Doll to Braemar. You can continue from here further into the
Grampian hills which can be quite spectacular. Others like to follow the
smaller roads by bicycle. Hills here can be very steep!
If you want to plan hill walking trips, why not go to the
Central Library in Dundee where you can see all the Ordnance Survey maps.
You cannot take maps away from the library so once you have decided where
you want to walk you will have to buy the right map from a bookshop.
If you would like to try exploring in Angus and beyond,
it may be worth joining the Scottish Youth Hostelling Association so you
can stay overnight quite cheaply at their Youth Hostels. There are Hostels
throughout the U.K. both in remote areas and big cities so it is worth
joining if you wish to tour around cheaply. To join, write to SYHA, 7
Glebe Cresscent, Stirling FK8 2JA, telephone (01786) 891400.
In winter, it is often possible to go downhill skiing at
Glen Shee or Cross Country skiing in Glen Isla. Check weather forecasts
and road traffic reports before setting out. If you think you will need a
lot of clothing to keep warm, take more, as you will probably need more
than you think! University skiing clubs and Ancrum Road centre organise
buses. It is also possible to hire ski equipment for a fee.
THE
COAST
Another feature of Angus is the coastline, with cliffs,
beaches and dunes. There are several seaside towns and a few fishing
villages. Lunan Bay is one of the most beautiful places, with a long sandy
beach surrounded by areas of dunes and cliffs. One landmark is the red
castle - the local sandstone is red. It is hard to get there by public
transport. However, if you cannot get as far as Lunan Bay it is easy to
take the bus to Arbroath and follow the cliff path, taking care not to
fall over the edge!
BARRY
MILL
This water mill was built in the19th century. You can see
the water wheel driving a variety of machinery which is still in use
grinding corn. We find this a fascinating place and the guided tour is
excellent. Knowledgeable guides explain how each of the machines work. The
mill is well worth visiting. It is open during the summer from Easter to
September then at weekends only until October. It is North of Barry and
clearly signposted from the A92 road from Dundee to Arbroath.
ANGUS
FOLK MUSEUM
If you would like to find out more about the traditional
lifestyle in this rural area, then visit this museum at Glamis. It is open
from Easter to October.
GLAMIS
CASTLE
This was the childhood home of the Queen Mother. It is a
beautiful home and many students like to visit it. We think it is a rather
expensive place to visit, so take plenty of cash to get in.
EDZELL
CASTLE
This is an interesting and attractive castle with a
traditional formal courtyard garden set out with hedges. There are
interesting carvings in the bright red stone. It would be a long way to go
to Edzell just to see the castle, but it makes a good day out if combined
with a visit to the village of Edzell and a walk in Glen Esk.
HOUSE
OF DUN
This Georgian house designed by William Adam is rather
beautiful to visit.
LOCH
OF KINNORDY
The nature reserve here has a number of hides - huts
built for bird watching - so you can see many of our native birds. In
summer you can see the Ospreys ("fish eagles") catching fish in
the Loch.
CALEDONIAN
RAILWAY
Steam trains run from the Victorian terminus in St
Ninian's Square in Brechin along a preserved railway track to Bridge of
Dun. The trains do not run every day. Get details before you go.
EARTH
HOUSES
Close to Carnoustie you can find the Earth houses at
Carlungie and Ardestie. We have never been to see them, but the pictures
look interesting!
TEALING
EARTH HOUSE AND DOVECOTE
The earth house near Tealing dates from the Iron Age.
Originally there would have been a wooden hut here and the tunnel
underground would have provided a cool place to store grain and food. The
wooden structure has gone so the earthhouse no longer has its roof but you
can make out the passage and gallery. There are also earth houses at
Carlungie and Ardestie, north of Carnoustie and many examples of far
better preserved prehistoric buildings throughout the rest of Scotland.
Tealing is a village 9 miles north of Dundee. Turn off the road to Forfar
for Tealing. A sign points through a farm gateway. There is a small car
parking area. Walk ahead along the right hand path. A sign points to the
right through a gate. Walk through a small wood, climb over a stile and
find the earth house in the field. Although very little remains here for
us to see today, this is a very ancient dwelling.
Beside the car parking area and the farm buildings is a fine Dovecote (a
house to keep doves or pigeons) dating from 1595. The door is open, just
look in.
THE
CATERTHUNS
Two Hill forts stood here. The so called Brown Caterthun is the older of
the two, dating from around 2500 B.C. It is called "Brown"
because it was constructed of peat and earth. Five concentric ramparts
ring the top of a hill. Although some of this can still be seen, the White
Caterthun is the more impressive. It gets its name from the stone which
was used in its construction and it dates from around 500 B.C. It is sited
on an adjacent hill to the Brown Caterthun. The photograph shows some of
the ring of stone remaining at the White Caterthun. Access to the site
really needs a car, but once there, it is possible to park easily and a
fit person could very easily visit both sites in an hour or so. Even with
small children accompanying us, we managed to visit both sites in a
morning. The scenery in the area is attractive in any event and from
either fort you can enjoy pleasant views on a clear day. The photograph at
the top of this page entitled "Angus Glens" was taken from the
Brown Caterthun. We have no idea where the name "Caterthun" came
from. If you find out, please let us know. The forts are between Balrownie
and Pitmudie 5 miles from Brechin.
ANGUS
MARKET TOWNS
Kirriemuir is a pleasant town in the middle of farming
country. It is worth stopping here when visiting the Glens. Likewise, you
will like Coupar Angus and Alyth. Forfar is a larger town, but still quite
attractive and famous for the Forfar Bridie sold in baker's shops in the
town. I don't believe I've ever been to Brechin. Perhaps you will get
there first. I hear there is a Cathedral and an ancient round tower.
Blaigowrie is also an attractive town surrounded by arable land and berry
farms. If you go through the town and continue in the direction of Glen
Shee, you may want to stop at MacDonald's Swiss Cheese shop - one of the
last buildings in the town - the cheeses are truly delicious.
MONTROSE
Montrose is one of the larger seaside towns in Angus. An
interesting feature of the town is the large tidal Montrose Basin. If you
can get hold of a pair of binoculars, this is a good place to watch wading
birds.
ARBROATH
In some ways this is a typical British seaside town with
all the usual attractions: good fish and chips, Kerr's Miniature Railway,
crazy golf. I think I like it rather better than the bigger resorts. The
smaller scale makes the place more friendly. We always walk around the
harbour to see the boats when we are in Arbroath. This is the place where
fish are smoked over beech fires in the smoke houses. The ruined abbey is
an interesting feature of the town centre.
AUCHMITHIE
This is a dramatic place, with a small harbour at the
foot of high cliffs. It's one of my favourite places. Don't attempt to
take a feeble vehicle down the steep path - it may not get back up.
CARNOUSTIE
The home of the famous golf course.
