With miles of beautiful beaches, stunning landscapes and abundant wildlife, Angus, known as the birthplace of Scotland, offers the perfect escape where you can immerse yourself in the natural world.
Sitting on Scotland’s east coast between Dundee and Aberdeen, Angus is home to mountains, glens and pristine beaches. The region has around 40 miles of stunning coastline, running from Monifieth in the south to Montrose in the north. Here, you can go horse riding along miles of sandy beaches, discover fascinating sea caves and rock formations by kayak and visit one of the oldest recorded fishing communities in Scotland. Angus is also home to the Arbroath Smokie, and food lovers from around the world visit the region just to try this traditional smoked fish.
FOR BEACH LOVERS
Starting at Monifieth, the long sandy beach runs along the Firth of Tay, with low tide rockpools and a seaside sauna for those who love to warm up after a dip in the sea! A few miles north is pretty Carnoustie Bay, nestled below the famous Carnoustie Championship Golf Course, which hosted The Open in 2018 and is regarded as one of the toughest courses for any golfer to tackle.
Travel a little further and you will discover East Haven, one of the oldest recorded fishing communities in Scotland, where you can find a small sandy bay and tidal pools perfect for a family outing. Beyond East Haven, explore Arbroath’s West Links Beach – also known as Elliot Beach – which curves along the town’s seafront, offering rockpools and cliff-top walks. Arbroath, with its stunning red sandstone cliffs and incredible cave network hidden deep underground, is regarded as one of the greatest kayaking locations in the UK. Here, you can explore the likes of Mermaid’s Kirk, which is also a fantastic swimming spot, and Dickmonts’ Den, known for being one of the prettiest parts of the Arbroath cliff walk.
Further along, stunning Lunan Bay offers over two miles of east-facing sand backed by dunes and low cliffs and overlooked by the ruins of Red Castle. A favourite location for walkers, surfers and birdwatchers, the bay also attracts dolphins and harbour porpoises.
FOR FOOD AND DRINK
Brimming with excellent local produce, the area offers many delights for foodies. What could be better after exploring the coastline than sitting down to a delicious meal of local seafood? Try the world-famous Arbroath Smokie, a renowned smoked haddock produced using traditional methods in the town’s smokehouses, which now has Protected Geographical Indication status. You can also explore the Arbroath Smokie Trail, well worth a visit as it links traditional local food with maritime history. In addition, try the Aberdeen Angus beef, and toast your adventures at one of the regions distilleries or breweries, offering everything from local beers, whisky, vodka and gin, which you can learn more about at Angus’ many visitor experiences, including one of the world’s most sustainable distilleries Arbikie.
FOR HISTORY AND CULTURE
For those interested in the history of Scotland, there are few more significant places to visit than the twelfth-century Arbroath Abbey, from where the Declaration of Arbroath was sent in 1320, confirming Scotland’s independence and establishing Angus as the birthplace of the nation. In addition to this, the coastline features important landmarks such as Bell Rock Lighthouse, designed by Robert Stevenson and recognised as the world’s oldest surviving sea-washed lighthouse.
It’s also worth travelling just 10 miles inland to visit Glamis Castle, which was the birthplace of the late Queen Mother and inspired William Shakespeare’s Macbeth.
FOR NATURE LOVERS
The Angus coastline supports an incredible variety of marine wildlife. Estuaries and sandflats are home to wading birds, including oystercatchers, curlews and redshanks, while cliffs host nesting seabirds such as gannets, kittiwakes and puffins in summer. Offshore, bottlenose dolphins and harbour porpoises can be spotted and there are stories of them accompanying kayaks on their adventures around the coves and caves.
Grey and common seals haul out on sandbanks and rocky outcrops, particularly from late summer through to early spring, while the mix of tidal waters, sandbanks and rocky coastline at Lunan Bay in particular, provides important habitats for birdlife and supports a diverse marine ecosystem throughout the year.
Angus is a place where Scotland’s natural and cultural heritage meet. From the mountains to the sea, the area is rich in wildlife, fantastic produce, history and traditions, all easily accessible to discover from the transport hubs of Dundee, Perth or Aberdeen.
To find out more go to Visit Angus.
This post is sponsored by our friends at Visit Angus.
