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The Angus Tour: Explore our Natural Playground

No. of Days

3

Transport

 

Theme

  • Great Outdoors
  • Get Inspired

Season

  • Autumn
  • Winter

Highlights and Delights

This exciting and diverse three-day itinerary will help you discover some of the best outdoor experiences Angus has to offer this autumn and winter. With so many outdoor adventures on offer and scenic open spaces to enjoy, Angus is a true natural playground.

Please note – whilst opening times and prices were correct at the time of publishing, these may be subject to change and we strongly advise you check before travelling. It is also recommended that you book in advance for attractions and restaurants where possible, to avoid disappointment. 

DAY 1 – ARBROATH

Welcome to Arbroath

Day 1 begins in Arbroath, a traditional 12th century fishing town famous for its historic medieval abbey, stunning coastline, fishing heritage, and the Arbroath Smokie.

Arbroath Abbey was founded by William the Lion in 1178. Today, it’s home to the Declaration of Arbroath in which Scotland’s nobility proclaimed their independence from England in around 1320.

Travel information

Situated on the A92, 17 miles north of Dundee and 55 miles south of Aberdeen, Arbroath is easy to reach by car or bus. Arbroath also has excellent rail connections and is on the main Aberdeen to London line. Keen cyclists will enjoy the magnificent coastal path that takes you from Dundee right into Arbroath town centre. Find out more about the cycle network.

Travelling around Arbroath is easy, whether by car, bicycle, public transport or on foot. There are charging points for electric vehicles throughout the town, including the harbour area. Download the Visit Angus app for convenient access to an interactive map of electric charging points on your iOS or Android phone.

  • Arbroath Cliffs
  • Lunch
  • Arbirlot Falls
  • Dinner

Location 1: Arbroath Cliffs

Arbroath’s Seaton Cliffs start at the east end of Victoria Park, where the path winds up above the Arbroath cliffs and levels out to provide a path along the coastline.

On one side are open fields, and on the other the open sea!  The path is quite close to the edge of the cliffs at times, so be careful.

Seaton Cliffs have a number of fascinating rock formations such as The Deil’s Heid, and Needles E’e, as well as numerous sea caves, stacks, blowholes and arches.

The Arbroath Cliff Trail provides a wealth of information about these stunning cliffs and what visitors here can see. Enjoy exploring the cliffs at your leisure, or get in touch with one of our local tour providers, including Arbroath Cliff Tours, Stories of Stone, and Angus Coastal Tours, to find out if tours are available during your visit.

From the car park at the end of Victoria Park, it is possible to follow a three mile (5km) nature trail to the picturesque village of Auchmithie set atop the cliffs.

  • Location: Victoria Park, Arbroath, DD11 5TB
Arbroath Seaton Cliffs

Location 2: Lunch at the But n Ben

Set in the charming sleepy village of Auchmithie, the But n Ben is a homely restaurant serving traditional Scottish food. This hidden gem offers a friendly, informal atmosphere and great food.

The restaurant is known for its seafood dishes, traditional Scottish country cooking, and home-baked cakes. Naturally, you’ll find the local delicacy served here, the Arbroath Smokie. You can enjoy a traditional buttered Arbroath Smokie or have your Smokie served in a soup or even a savoury pancake.

There are fresh mussels and oysters from Shetland and the west coast on the menu, as well as crab and lobster caught in local waters and Aberdeen Angus steaks. Seasonal fruit and vegetables are sourced from the surrounding farms.

The impressive menu offers nut-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegetarian options too.

  • Location: Auchmithie, Arbroath, DD11 5SQ
  • Lunch service: Monday to Sunday, 12 noon to 2pm (closed Tuesday)
  • Accessibility: Partial disabled access

Location 3: Arbirlot Falls

Arbirlot is a small village, approx. 2 miles west of Arbroath, and is home to a spectacular 23 foot waterfall.

The waterfall comes from the Elliot Water, a minor river around 7 and a half miles long which flows through Arbirlot before reaching the North Sea at Elliot, Arbroath.

Your walk here will follow the trackbed of an old Angus railway line. It provides a well-graded path for a pleasant walk from Elliot to the pretty village of Arbirlot. The village dates back at least to 1000AD when it is believed that Danish Invaders destroyed the first church here.

The railway line originally ran to Redford and quarries situated around a mile north of Arbirlot. In the late 18th century, the line was used to transport stone roof slates that were mined from the local area to Arbroath and Dundee.

The walk starts in a small public car park at Elliot, just off the A92 as it enters the outskirts of Arbroath from the south.

  • Location: Arbirlot, Arbroath, DD11 2NX
Arbirlot Falls

Location 4: Dinner at Andreou’s Bistro

Located on Arbroath’s High Street, this popular bistro offers authentic Greek and Mediterranean food in a comfortable, friendly, and relaxed atmosphere.

The menu at Andreou’s offers a great choice of tasty, fresh, homemade dishes that are full of flavour and local produce. Whichever option you pick from the exciting menu, you’ll experience their passion for cooking Greek food and desire to bring some of the best experiences from Cypriot dining to Angus.

People recommend Andreou’s Bistro not only for the quality of food and wine but also for the high standard of service, so your experience here should be the perfect way to end the day.

  • Location: 57 High St, Arbroath, DD11 1AN
  • Opening times:
    • Monday & Tuesday: Closed
    • Wednesday to Friday: 4pm to midnight
    • Saturday & Sunday: 12 noon to midnight
  • Accessibility: Disabled access and disabled toilet
Plate of food at Andreou's Bistro, Arbroath

DAY 2 – FORFAR & THE ANGUS GLENS

Welcome to Forfar

Day 2 begins in Forfar, a traditional market town full of history and memorable experiences. Enjoy the outdoors with a forest bathing session, and discover the stunning Loch Brandy nestled in the Angus Glens.

Travel information

Forfar is around a 30 minute drive from Arbroath along scenic roads. There are several locations throughout the town with electric vehicle charging points. Download the Visit Angus app for convenient access to an interactive map of electric charging points on your iOS or Android phone.

Travelling to the Angus Glens takes you along country roads amongst a stunning backdrop. From Forfar, it is around a 30 minute drive to Glen Clova.

  • Nature Happy
  • Lunch
  • Loch Brandy
  • Dinner

Location 1: Nature Happy

Spend the morning slowing down in nature with Nature Happy, a small business based in Angus helping people slow down using a variety of nature connection activities and techniques to help calm your nervous system and reduce stress.

Nature Happy offer activities such as outdoor nature connection activities, slow nature walks using your senses, forest bathing sessions, and nature based journaling.

Angus has so many beautiful locations to take people out for nature connection and forest bathing. Nature connection and forest bathing activities are available for local people and also for tourists who are visiting the area and can be tailored to suit different sizes of groups. Get in touch to find out what’s on offer and when.

  • Location: Balgavies, Forfar, DD8 2TH
  • Opening times: Get in touch to find out what’s available
  • Entry: Prices vary per experience
Nature Happy

Location 2: Lunch at Murton Tearoom

Murton Tearoom is situated at the edge of Murton Farm and Nature Reserve and is the ideal place to sit back and enjoy lunch while taking in the view across the pond.

The tearoom offers a range of fantastic home cooking that includes lunch favourites like baked potatoes and sandwiches, as well as delicious daily specials. There is also a delicious range of baking and tasty snacks on offer, including their popular sweet and savoury scones made fresh every morning. People also recommend their homemade cheesecake.

Murton Tearoom uses as much locally sourced and seasonal produce in their dishes as possible, and their menu changes regularly to reflect this. Vegetarian options are available.

  • Location: Arbroath Road, Forfar DD8 2RZ
  • Opening times: Daily, 10am to 4pm
  • Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible with accessible parking and toilets
Murton Tearoom, Forfar

Location 3: Loch Brandy

Loch Brandy is located nearly 610m (2,000 feet) above sea level on the western slopes of the Green Hill above Glen Clova.

Loch Brandy is a superb example of a mountain corrie, backed by craggy slopes and cradling a perfect loch. Although it is relatively small, the fact it is a type of loch-hill makes it much more attractive, but the great thing is that the entire area around Loch Brandy creates a tremendous landscape.

It is said to be the only site in Scotland where a very rare and tiny water creature called the diatom is to be found. It is bright orange in colour.

  • Location: Glen Clova, DD8 4QS

Location 4: Dinner at Glen Clova Hotel

After an active afternoon, it’s time to relax and enjoy some well-earned dinner and drinks in Glen Clova Hotel’s rustic Climbers Bar or their grand Glen Logie restaurant.

Both the bar and the restaurant offer an impressive selection of Scottish and international dishes freshly prepared using a range of locally-sourced and seasonal produce.

The hotel’s Glen Logie Restaurant showcases a blend of traditional home-cooked fayre and modern classics with a twist. With its huge bay window looking over the beautiful Angus Glens, the main restaurant is the perfect place to enjoy expertly cooked local produce after an unforgettable afternoon of walking.

You can also book a table for dinner at their Brandy Bothy, where you can enjoy your meal with spectacular views over their outside decking area and the countryside. The same high-quality food served in the main restaurant is also served in the Brandy Bothy.

Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options are available throughout the hotel’s dining facilities.

  • Location: Glen Clova, Near Kirriemuir, Angus, DD8 4QS
  • Dinner Service:

Monday to Friday: 5pm to 7pm
Saturday & Sunday: 12.30pm to 7pm

  • Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible, accessible toilet

DAY 3 – MONTROSE

Welcome to Montrose

Visit Montrose on Day 3, a coastal town with an attractive town centre, that sits on the edge of a nature reserve.

Travel information

Travelling to Montrose from Forfar takes around 30 minutes by car through the picturesque Angus countryside. Download the Visit Angus app for convenient access to an interactive map of electric charging points on your iOS or Android phone.

  • Montrose Basin
  • Lunch
  • Scurdie Ness
  • Elephant Rock
  • Dinner

Location 1: Montrose Basin

Located just outside the town center, Montrose Basin is a designated local Nature Reserve with a four-star visitor centre. It offers an unforgettable experience for families and nature enthusiasts.

In autumn and winter, the Basin is home to over 100,000 migratory birds including pink-footed geese, wigeon and a variety of other waterfowl and waders, while during the spring and summer months the estuary supports various breeding colonies including sand martins, common terns and eider.”

Four remote bird hides spread across the reserve offer the best locations to see some of these wonderful bird species for yourself. You may even spot a seal or two.

There is more to do inside the fantastic visitor centre. Admire the stunning panoramic views across the reserve using the binoculars and telescopes provided. Children will love the interactive toys and games that include quizzes and their ‘call a curlew’ telephone to listen to bird calls. There are regular family events that run throughout the year.

  • Location: Rossie Braes, Montrose, DD10 9TA
  • Opening times:
    • Mid-February to October – Monday to Sunday: 10.30am to 5pm
    • November to Mid-February – Friday to Monday: 10.30am to 4pm
  • Accessibility: Partial disabled access with accessible parking and toilets
Montrose Basin

Location 2: Lunch at the Pavilion Cafe

The Pavilion Café is located in the former Bowling Pavilion situated in Melville Gardens, Montrose.

The café serves tasty food including daily specials, made using fresh produce and local ingredients.

Advance booking is recommended as this is a small establishment with limited tables and at peak times can be very busy.

There is a dog-friendly outside seating area to the side of the café with fresh water and doggie treats.

  • Location: Melville Gardens, Montrose, Angus, DD10 8HG
  • Opening times:
    • Wednesday to Saturday: 9.30am to 3pm
  • Accessibility: Accessible toilets
Pavilion Cafe, Montrose

Location 3: Scurdie Ness Lighthouse

Scurdie Ness Lighthouse was built by David Stevenson and Thomas Stevenson and was lit for the first time on Tuesday 1 March 1870. During World War II the lighthouse was temporarily painted black.

The word Scurdie is a local word for the volcanic rock found there and Ness means headland.

Originally the light was fixed white but was changed to isophase white 60 seconds (i.e. light 30 seconds, eclipse 30 seconds) in 1907. The lighthouse was converted to automatic operation in 1987 and now displays 3 white flashes separated by 2.5 seconds and repeated every 20 seconds.

The road to Scurdie Ness Lighthouse is a popular walk and sightings of seals and dolphins are not unusual. Whales are sometimes seen in the area including rare sightings of humpback whales.

  • Location: Montrose, DD10 9SH
Scurdie Ness Lighthouse

Location 4: Elephant Rock

Elephant Rock can be reached just to the north of Boddin Point, Montrose.

It is a naturally formed coastal arch of volcanic rock nestling in a steep, secluded bay that has been shaped by the elements and closely resembles the shape of an elephants head and truck, hence the name!

  • Location: Boddin Point, Montrose, DD10 9SQ
Elephant Rock, Boddin Point, Montrose

Location 5: Dinner at Park Hotel

Set within the Park Hotel, Parkers restaurant is the perfect location for a memorable dinner. The food on the modern dinner menu uses locally-sourced ingredients whenever possible, including meat, poultry, fish, vegetables and fruit from within Angus.

Dinner options include fantastic food like the battered North Sea haddock, roast breast of Angus chicken and haggis, and vegetarian butternut squash risotto. The restaurant also has a specials board that changes daily, so there is always something to suit every taste.

  • Location: 61 John Street, Montrose, DD10 8RJ
  • Opening times:
    • Monday to Sunday Dinner Service: 5.30pm to 8.30pm
  • Accessibility: Level access entry with accessible parking
Park Hotel, Montrose

Accommodation

Angus offers a broad choice of places to stay during your visit, from traditional cottages and coach houses to comfortable hotels in convenient locations.

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