Location 1: The Bothy Experience

The first day begins in style at The Bothy Experience where you will learn how award-winning gin is made and enjoy a memorable tasting experience.

You are free to explore the bothy at your own pace and can even enjoy a self-guided tasting on certain days. But, for the full bothy experience, book a space on a gin tasting session to sample popular Gin Bothy gins and liqueurs in the cosy and rustic bothy rooms.

The Bothy Beginnings room takes you through the entire Gin Bothy journey, while the Bothy Tales room gives you an in-depth history of bothies across Scotland, with fascinating stories and songs to enjoy.

The Bothy Larder shop has locally-sourced food, drinks, gifts, and hot and cold drinks to take away. You can also pick up some treats from the Bothy Bakery before you leave.

• ​​Location: Kirkwynd, Glamis, By Forfar, DD8 1RT
• Opening times: Thursday to Sunday, 11am to 5pm
• Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible with accessible toilets

Location 2: Lunch at Glamis Castle’s Victorian Kitchen

The Victorian Kitchen Restaurant offers lunch or afternoon tea in the magnificent surroundings of Glamis Castle’s original Victorian kitchen space. Enjoy freshly prepared food that uses the best of seasonal produce and locally-sourced ingredients, including some from the estate’s own farms and gardens.

The famous Glamis Castle Kitchen afternoon tea includes a mouthwatering selection of savoury delights such as Scottish smoked salmon and prawn on oatcakes, delicious Angus beef and horseradish sandwiches, and a very special venison bridie. Sweet treats on the afternoon tea menu include a scone with clotted cream and jam, lemon posset profiterole, and locally-made gingerbread. Note 24 hours notice is required for afternoon tea bookings.

The main menu includes an impressive choice of lunch options, including homemade soup of the day along with open sandwiches with the most delectable fresh filings. From salad platters to a hearty Glamis venison burger, there’s a dish for all appetites.

Or why not opt for the incredible three-course menu. Starting with soup of the day, options for the main course include slow cooked Angus beef in thyme with a red wine jus followed by homemade ice-cream served with fresh fruit from the Walled Garden.

• ​​Location: Glamis, Forfar, DD8 1RJ
• Opening times: Daily, 10am to 5pm
• Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible with accessible toilets

Location 3: Ogilvy Distillery Tour

Ogilvy Distillery, based at Hatton of Ogilvy Farm just two miles outside Glamis, produces award-winning Ogilvy Scottish potato vodka.

Take the Ogilvy Distillery Tour to experience first-hand how the distillery’s ground-to-glass, single-estate vodka is made. Jump on board the Tattie Box Tours trailer to go behind the scenes and learn how their vodka is made from scratch using farm-grown potatoes.

You’ll get to see where the distillery cook, ferment and distil their vodka, and discover how they add the finishing touches to the process by bottling and labelling each product by hand.

The tour takes around 1.5 hours and finishes with a tasting of their award-winning vodka after exploring their new visitor centre. You’ll find the singular spirit warm, welcoming, smooth and sweet.

• ​​Location: Hatton of Ogilvy Farm, Glamis, DD8 1UH
• Opening times (booking required): Saturdays and Sundays, 2pm
• Entry:

Adult (18+): £18.00
Concession (16/17 years): £16.00
Visitors must be 16 or over

• Accessibility: Fully accessible but with limited, bookable accessible spaces available on their trailer

Location 4: Dinner at Drover’s Inn, Memus

Delicious Scottish bar food and fine dining await you in Memus, a small village within the heart of the beautiful Angus countryside, 10 minutes from Kirriemuir. A traditional inn with a special atmosphere, Drovers Inn offers rustic charm and character.

Enjoy up to four mouthwatering courses in the elegant dining rooms or a relaxing drink and something from the bar menu in the quaint and cosy bar with its fires and welcoming atmosphere. Popular dishes with locals and visitors include steak, monkfish, and cauliflower and red pepper curry.

With a passion for food and drink, the Drovers believe in exceptional service and hospitality, sourcing food locally and wherever possible from farms and producers they know and trust. The inn has a great wine list and some fine beers.

• Location: Memus, by Forfar, DD8 3TY
• Opening times: Monday to Sunday, 12pm to 9pm
• Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible with accessible toilets

Location 1: Kinnettles Tea Garden or Forfar Farmers’ Market

Kinnettles Tea Garden

Start Day 2 with one of the finest cups of tea available in Angus. Believe it or not, tea can be successfully grown in Scotland! See for yourself at Kinnettles Tea Garden, a working family farm situated in the beautiful countryside between Glamis and Forfar.

Kinnettles Gold Tea is Scotland’s first 100% pure black tea, grown, plucked and handmade on the Kinnettles farm. The tea is produced from specially selected tea seeds imported from Nepal and Georgia. These cold-tolerant seeds have good tap roots that can cope with the Scottish climate.

Take the Kinnettles Tea Tour to see the beautiful walled garden, polytunnels and greenhouse and learn more about how the tea is grown, plucked, and rolled. This two-hour educational tour includes a tea tasting session afterwards.

• ​​Location: Walker-Munro Farms, Kinnettles, DD8 1TR
• Entry: £45.00 per person. Minimum of four people per booking. Tours available by prior arrangement only.
• Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible with assistance (contact in advance and staff will be happy to help)

Forfar Farmers Market

If your visit to Angus happens to be on the second Saturday of the month, then a visit to the Forfar Farmers Market is highly recommended.

Discover a range of fantastic local produce at this vibrant market. There’s so much on offer here, including food, drink, crafts, fresh meat, fish, and vegetables.

This popular market is not just about food. It also provides a platform for ‘makers’ of items like soap, jewellery, woollen clothing and artwork.

• Location: Lowson Memorial Parish Church, Jamieson Street, Forfar, DD8 2HY
• Opening times: Second Saturday of each month, 9am until 1pm

Location 2: Meffan Museum

Head into Forfar’s town centre to visit the Meffan Museum and Art Gallery where you will learn more about the town, including the history of the Forfar bridie. There is also a diverse range of impressive artwork on display from local, national and internationally-renowned artists.

Your visit here will let you take a stroll back in time along The Vennel, the Meffan Museum’s recreation of an old, narrow cobbled street. Peer inside several traditional shops, including Peter Reid’s sweet shop, a clock maker’s workshop, a baker’s shop with bread and bridies on display, and a shoemaker’s where you can watch shoes being made and mended.

You will also discover the Forfar witches and learn more about the mysterious Picts, thanks to the museum’s collection of enigmatic sculptured stones.

• Location: 20 West High Street, Forfar DD8 1BB
• Opening times: Wednesday to Monday, 10.30am to 4pm (closed Tuesday)
• Entry: Free
• Accessibility: Full disabled access with lift to upper galleries. Accessible toilets.

Location 3: Lunch at Saddlers of Forfar

After hearing about the famous Forfar Bridie, you might be keen to try one for yourself so head to Saddlers, a popular bakers and tearoom, for lunch.

A Forfar Bridie is a simple (but delicious) hand-held meat pie made in a horseshoe shape using shortcrust pastry, with a filling of steak mince, secret seasoning, and sometimes onion.

Saddlers also offer tasty light lunches, including homemade soup, quiche, and sandwiches made to order. This bright and welcoming bakery shop also offers a large selection of cakes, including homemade biscuits and oatcakes.

And if you want to enjoy another bridie while having a wander around the town centre, pop into McLaren Bakers on Market Street or The Cross. Established in 1893, they also have a long tradition of baking the Forfar Bridie.

Saddlers of Forfar

• Location: 35 East High Street, Forfar, DD8 2EL
• Opening times: Monday to Saturday, 7am to 5pm
• Accessibility: Partial disabled access with accessible toilets

McLaren Bakers

• Locations:
  • 22-26 Market Street, Forfar, DD8 3EW
  • ​​8 The Cross, Forfar, DD8 1BX
• Opening times:
  • Tuesday: 8am-2pm
  • Wednesday: 8am-2pm
  • Thursday: 8am-1pm
  • Friday: 8am-2.30pm
  • Saturday: 7.30am-2pm
• Accessibility: Both shops have a step at the entrance but staff assistance is available

Location 4: Newton Farm Tour

Spend the afternoon sampling daily life on a Scottish farm and soaking up the tranquil, rural Angus landscape. Newton Farm is a real working farm offering an award-winning and authentic farm experience.

You’ll be welcomed by farmers Graeme and Louise, who will introduce you to their animals and take you on a fun and educational tour of the farm. You can hand-feed cows, sheep, goats, and Lucy, the micro pig during your visit and even collect eggs from the henhouse. And why not take the friendly alpacas for a memorable walk for the full, authentic Angus farm experience.

Dogs are welcome on the standard tour around the farm; however, advance notice is required when booking your place on the tour.

• Location: Inverarity, Forfar, Angus, Scotland, DD8 2JU
• Opening times: Farm tours and experiences available most days (booking required)
• Entry: Prices vary per experience – check the website for details
• Accessibility: The farm is relatively level and accessible to all and has an accessible toilet

Location 4: Dinner at Sinclair’s Kitchen

Set in the picturesque Angus countryside just outside Forfar, Sinclair’s Kitchen offers modern Scottish dining at its best. Enjoy a la carte dining in the elegant restaurant and hearty meals in the cosy bar.

The restaurant showcases some fantastic local produce, including wild game from the glens, Angus beef, locally-sourced fruit and vegetables, and some homegrown produce too. The chefs create flavourful dishes showcasing the best ingredients Angus has to offer.

There is a carefully-curated wine list, locally brewed ales, locally distilled vodka and flavoured gins from The Gin Bothy.

• Location: Foresters Seat, Arbroath Road, Forfar, DD8 2RY
• Opening times:
  • Wednesday to Saturday: 12pm to 11pm
  • Sunday: 12pm to 9pm
• Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible with accessible toilets

Location 1: Arbroath Smokie Trail

Where better to start than with the area’s most famous delicacy, the Arbroath Smokie. Spend a pleasant morning following the Arbroath Smokie Trail, a sensory experience featuring five key destinations between Arbroath and Auchmithie that tell the story of the world-famous Arbroath Smokie.

This trail boasts magnificent views of the Angus coastline and introduces you to some of the best places to enjoy the Smokie. We recommend you download the audio guide and podcast to act as a tour guide while you experience the trail.

Signal Tower Museum
The first stop on the Arbroath Smokie Trail is the Signal Tower Museum, where you’ll hear the fascinating stories of Arbroath’s maritime heritage and world-famous Smokie. The Signal Tower was the shore station and family accommodation for the Bell Rock Lighthouse, Britain’s oldest surviving rock lighthouse.

• Location: Ladyloan, Arbroath, DD11 1PU
• Opening times: Wednesday to Monday, 10.30am to 4pm (closed Tuesday)
• Entry: Free
• Accessibility: Partially suitable for visitors with limited mobility with some accessible parking available

Arbroath Harbour
Take a walk around this bustling harbour to see working fishing boats land their catch or prepare for sea. Enjoy locally-caught fish from the many fish and chip shops while admiring the boats in the marina and watching harbour life go by.

Visit a local restaurant to experience menus full of locally-caught langoustine scampi, monkfish, scallops, mackerel, and family favourites like haddock and cod. And of course, don’t forget to try a freshly cooked Arbroath Smokie for a truly unique and authentic Angus food experience.

• Location: Ladybridge Street, Arbroath, DD11 1PD
• Accessibility: Mostly smooth flat surfaces with accessible parking bays alongside the harbour

The Fit o’ the Toon
The Fit o’ the Toon is the old part of the town where the Brothock Burn meets the sea. This land was given to attract fishermen to Arbroath in the 1800s and is where fishing families once lived in traditional cottages.

Today, you’ll find local fisheries selling fresh fish and seafood. Enjoy the authentic aroma from the Smoke Houses as they prepare Smokies using the traditional methods passed down through generations.

• Location: 1 High Street, Arbroath, DD11 1BH

Arbroath Cliffs
Experience some of the most spectacular coastal scenery in Angus by walking the coastal path along the Arbroath Cliffs to the small fishing village of Auchmithie, the birthplace of the Smokie. This clifftop trail offers four miles of stunning cliff-side scenery with breathtaking natural sea caves, secret coves, impressive blowholes, steep cliffs, abundant wildlife, and secluded beaches.

You’ll see many unique red sandstone formations here, such as the Deil’s Heid, a dramatic sea stack formed by differing erosion rates. These cliffs are also one of the best locations in Angus to spot a bottlenose dolphin.

• Location: Victoria Park, Kings Drive, Arbroath, DD11 5BL
• Accessibility: Most of the path is relatively level with a firm, even surface; however, towards Carlingheugh Bay, the path is narrow and close to the cliff edge in some places

Auchmithie
Auchmithie was first mentioned in parish records in the 13th century and would have been part of the Abbott of Aberbrothock lands that were tied to Arbroath Abbey.

Auchmithie’s natural harbour had supported a fishing industry long before Arbroath was seen as the primary location for the fishing fleet. The story goes that ships and raiders from Scandinavia often came to Auchmithie and some even settled here. These settlers may have brought their own ways of preserving their catch, including smoking the haddock over a whisky barrel, a method still used in Scandinavia today.

This traditional method of smoking the fish originated in Auchmithie and is still used today to give Arbroath Smokies their delicious smokey flavour.

• Location: Auchmithie, Arbroath, DD11 5SQ

Location 2: Redcastle

Redcastle is a family owned producer of award winning spirits and liqueurs, distilled, bottled and labelled in Angus.

At their Arbroath base, they have a retail shop with a carefully curated selection of local products alongside their own range of gins, rums, vodka & liqueurs. Their Tasting Room and Gin & Rum Blending School are available for pre-booked experiences. For larger groups, tastings can be held at their Redcastle Suite at Gayfield Park, home to Arbroath FC.

Join them to explore the history of spirit creation in Scotland, understand the various methods used and discover a range of botanicals. Create your own gin or rum recipe using our extensive library of flavour compounds. You will label and wax dip your very own gin or rum and leave with a gift set containing 2 x 20cl of your very own creation, an engraved glass and a certificate.

• Location: Unit 18, Matthew Kerr Place, Arbroath, Angus, DD11 3AX
• Get in touch directly to arrange a tasting or blending experience
• Retail shop open Monday, Wednesday & Thursday from 10am to 4pm (experiences can also be pre-booked online for Fridays, evenings & weekends)

Location 3: Lunch at Arbikie

Enjoy lunch at the café at Arbikie Distillery Experience, which offers a range of expertly crafted food and drinks, along with a stunning coastal view.

Arbikie use seasonal produce from their farm and the local area to create an exciting range of bespoke food for you to enjoy. The homegrown ingredients picked fresh from the farm and growing tunnel result in an exciting food menu that changes with the seasons.

• Location: Inverkeilor, Arbroath, DD11 4UZ
• Opening times: Wednesday to Saturday – 10am to 5.30pm
• Accessibility: Level access. Accessible toilets and parking

Location 4: Arbikie Distillery Experience

Book a visit to Arbikie Distillery Experience and see a sustainable, field-to-bottle distillery built around real craft, real ingredients and real people. Learn how Arbikie grow a great range of crops, including potatoes, rye, wheat, and a host of key botanicals on their 2000 acre farm overlooking Lunan Bay.

Come and taste Nàdar, the world’s first climate positive gin and vodka made from a base spirit of peas, or learn about the Highland Rye Single Grain Scotch Whisky, produced here for the first time in over 180 years.

This is an authentic experience, guided by people that are passionate about Arbikie’s ethos. The visitor experience is open to all, with an onsite café and retail space. After your tour, enjoy fantastic views of the coastline while sipping on your favourite cocktail at the bar.

• Location: Inverkeilor, Arbroath, DD11 4UZ
• Opening times: Wednesday to Saturday – 10am to 5.30pm (tours must be pre-booked)
• Accessibility: Level access. Accessible toilets and parking

Location 5: Dinner at Gordon’s Restaurant

One of Scotland’s best fine dining establishments, Gordon’s is a destination restaurant where fine dining encompasses high quality, exceptional food, drink, wines, decor, service, and atmosphere all designed carefully to make your visit unforgettable.

Chef Garry uses the best of the Scottish larder to create a set tasting menu which changes regularly.

The restaurant also has five elegantly and uniquely decorated individually designed luxury rooms for those looking to stay overnight.

• Location: Main Road, Inverkeilor, Arbroath, DD11 5RN
• Opening times: Tuesday to Sunday, 7pm to 8.30pm
• Accessibility: Disabled access. Accessible toilet.