Tour
Montrose and Strathmore's fertile vale
Strathmore's
fertile vale with its cattle farms and steep braes divides
the Grampian Mountains and Sidlaw Hills from the Firth of
Tay and the area's splendid beaches. Wildlife abounds, from
wooded watersides to marshy stretches such as Montrose Basin.
The remains of rugged castles proliferate, along with intriguing
gardens such as Edzell and fine houses like the House of
Dun.
Aberlemno
Three
carved Pictish stones line roadside of this hamlet. One
more in churchyard; carved with Celtic cross and animal
decorations. Battle scene on reverse.
Arbroath
Smell
of 'smokies' everywhere in this fishing town -- haddock
smoked over hardwood chip fire. Roofless red-sandstone walls
of abbey founded 1178 by King William the Lion, who is buried
in front of high altar. Museum in 19th-century tower which
used to signal to Bell Rock lighthouse.
Ardestie
A
well-preserved underground earth house with chambers and
passages; houses for 1st and 2nd-century Picts. Another
earth house stands 1 mile north.
Auchmithie
Village
on red-sandstone cliffs with restored cottages and tiny
harbour; one of the oldest fishing settlements on Angus
coast. Model for 'Musselcrag' in Walter Scott's novel The
Antiquary.
Boddin
Point
Low-lying
point with fortress-like limekiln on tip. Look for agates
among rocks at low tide. Coastal path leads to Elephant
Rock: red-sandstone stack in which sea has carved 'legs'
and 'trunk'. Fine view across bay.
Brechin
Town
rising steeply from River South Esk. Red-sandstone cathedral
dates from 13th century, now a parish church. Pictish relics,
16th-century font amid 17th-century silver inside. Next
to it, 87ft high watchtower dates from 11th century.
Bridge
of Dun
Spanning
River South Esk, squat obelisks guard approaches to this
three-arched bridge decorated with Gothic motifs. Built
by Alexander Stevens in 1787.
Broughty
Castle
Perched
on a rocky spur above Broughty Ferry harbour, this 15th-century
castle was restored in 1860. Now it houses a museum with
exhibits of seashore wildlife, lay's natural history and
Dundee's former whaling industry.
Broughty
Ferry
Built
around cottages of old fishing village. this Dundee suburb
doubles as a holiday resort.
Carmyllie
Former
home of Reverend Patrick Bell, inventor of the reaping machine
in 1828. Workshop remains. Church founded 1500.
Caterthun,
Brown and White
Two
Iron Age forts: Brown stands alone with six lines of defence,
the outermost enclosing an area of 1,000 by 900ft; White,
a mile south-west, is a hilltop oval surrounded by two stone
walls.
Claypotts
Castle
Well-preserved
late 1500s fortress with towers capped by square gar-rets,
Ground floor dominated by kitchen with vast fireplace and
gunport. Sole entrance by small doorway on west front.
Cliffs
Nature Trail
East
of Arbroath town, broad esplanade has acres of grass. From
northern end, 3 mile nature trail leads along cliff tops,
passing stack known as Deil's Held; one of many oddly shaped
rocks. Cave in Carlingheugh Bay leads through to neighbouring
bay. Check tide times before venturing in cave.
Crombie
Country Park
Conifer
and broadleaf woodland extending for 250 acres, where a
Victorian reservoir looks decep-tively like a natural loch.
Wildlife hides, trails and Ranger Centre with environmental
displays.
Damside
Garden
Fragrance
fills the air in 8 acres of gardens where history of herbs
is explained with Celtic, Roman and monastic displays. Arboretum
and tearoom.
Edzell
Castle
Red-stone
ruins of 16th-century castle dominated by square tower.
Fasque
Castle
home of Prime Minister W.E. Gladstone 1830-51. Built 1809,
the house looks much as it did in Gladstone's time; still
lived in by his descendants. Deer park.
Fettercairn
learn
how to make malt whisky on a tour of Scotland's second eldest
licensed distillery. Arch marks Queen Victoria's 1861 town
visit. Shaft of 1670 Kincardine Tower Cross in main square.
Forfar
Small
town where Malcolm III had a castle -- destroyed by Robert
Bruce: site is marked by 17th-century octagonal turret.
Town Hall and museum has 'Forfar bridle': medieval iron
cellar used to gag those about to be executed.
Guthrie
Castle
Built
in I5th century on site of earlier fortress. Square tower
of 1468 and 19th --century additions. Can be viewed from
outside only.
Hill
of Finavon
Remains
of ramparted Iron Age fort crown hill with all-round views
of the countryside. Evidence of metal working and
pot making.
House
of Dun
Handsome
house designed by William Adam in early 18th century. Saloon
plaster-work depicts armorial bearings. Naval and military
trophies and mythological scenes. Potting shed contains
early 20th-century tools and life-size figure of a gardener
at work. Wooded walks through the surrounding parkland.
Johnshaven
Bustling
lobster--fishing port. full of holiday homes, with two--basin
harbour. Four mile coastal path runs north to the town of
Inverbervie.
Kellie
Castle
Fine
domestic architecture of the 16th and 17th centuries; oldest
part dates from 1613.
Lunan
Bay
Good
shore to search for semiprecious stones, such as agate and
amethyst.
Milton
of Mathers
Ruined
cottages stand side by side with modern holiday chalets.
Beach of pebbles and rocks. Good walking in woods where
there are two streams; one tumbles down 40ft waterfall of
Den Finella.
Monikie
Village
noted for battlemented 15th-century Affleck Castle, with
fine upper hall and vaulted chapel. Waterside walks and
boating in country park surrounding reservoir. Beyond Monikie,
road runs back towards coast, giving wide views over the
sea.
Montrose
Town
with water on three sides. Popular sailing centre wiith
fine beach. Pink-footed geese over-winter on shores. Church
steeple soars 220ft above elegant, gable-ended High Street
houses, where the narrow, twisting closes have remained
unchanged for 200 years. Curfew bell of 'Big Peter' rings
from steeple nightly.
Red
Castle
Short,
steep path from Lunan Bay to remains of cliff-top castle,
probably dating from the 15th century when it replaced earlier
fort built for King William the Lion.
Red
Head
One
of the most unspoiled spots tin Scotland's east coast; 26511
sandstone headland is reached by a bumpy 1 1/2 mile drive
on an unpaved road. Superb view along coast. Path below
cliff edge leads to rocky shore.
Restenneth
Priory
Romantic
stone ruin surrounded by sloping meadows. Incorporated into
remains of Augustinian Priory church is porch, possibly
dating from 11th century; later heightened to form square
tower. Capped by spire in 15th century.
St
Cyrus
Sweep
of sand backed by dunes, with cliffs of volcanic rock. Rich
in wild flowers, butterflies and moths. Colony of little
terns on sand and shingle at the south end. Stonechats,
whitethroats and yellowhammers frequent gorse and scrub.
Common porpoises sometimes appear offshore and grey seals
are seen regularly.
St
Vigeans
Unexpected
gem in dip below modern housing. Small 12th-century church,
renovated 19th century, on steep mound dotted with gravestones.
Below stands semicircle of red-stone cottages with
stone--slabbed roofs.
Tannadice
Small
village on River South Esk in Vale of Strathmore . Ruined
15th century stronghold of Finavon Castle, 2 miles south-east.
{right}
