Ten Great Reasons To Visit Angus In 2016

Published

16th March 2016

Ten Great Reasons To Visit Angus In 2016

Now that spring is officially here, it’s time to plan summer days out and weekends away – and Angus is the perfect easy-to-reach destination, with a host of great events, things to and places to go. But don’t just take our word for it – here are ten reasons to add the county of Angus to your must-visit list for 2016…

1. Be King of the Castles

Majestic Glamis Castle with its sweeping, tree-lined drive, secret rooms and ghostly residents is one of the jewels in Angus’ crown, while the ruins of Edzell Castle provide the perfect backdrop for tales of bravery and romance – but these are only two of the many castles in the county. Choose from ruined castles looking out across the sea, castles which have been family homes for hundreds of years, castles which are now hotels, castles where communities sheltered from marauding cattle thieves and castles which once housed Scotland’s royalty.

2. Life’s A Beach

From the breathtaking beauty of Lunan Bay to the hustle and bustle of Arbroath’s West Links beach, not to mention the great facilities (complete with ice cream parlour) at Montrose’s sandy beach and the fabulous views across to Fife from the beaches at Carnoustie and Monifieth – beaches are an Angus speciality!

3. Sing-Along-A-Angus

Live music, gala performances by West End stars, festivals featuring top British bands and DJs, traditional music weekends… The sound of music’s never far away in Angus. A few musical highlights this summer include Bon Fest (Kirriemuir, 29 April – 1 May); Montrose Music Festival (Montrose, 27-29 May); Festival of House (Carnoustie, 10-11 June); Arbroath Accordion and Fiddle Festival (Arbroath, 1-3 July) and Glamis Prom (Glamis Castle, 16 July).

4. Hills, Hills and More Hills

The stunning Angus Glens run deep into the foothills of the Cairngorms and feature several Munros and Corbetts, with outstanding views and a wealth of fabulous hillwalking and mountain biking trails through secluded, tranquil environments which are home to red squirrels, deer, eagles and wild cats. And from 2-5 June, the Angus Glens Walking Festival offers a choice of 18 guided walks through some of the most scenic areas in Angus, with walks for all abilities and levels of fitness.

5. Family Fun

There really is something for all ages in Angus, with little ones very well catered for. Every town has an excellent children’s play park (Kirriemuir’s park features Captain Hook’s Pirate Ship), there are skate parks, swimming pools, indoor activity centres with soft play areas, as well as places like Murton Farm, where children can meet friendly pigs, donkeys and ducks, and Monikie Country Park, which provides an ideal introduction to the wonders of the natural world.

6. Hit The Mark!

Golf’s been played in this corner of Scotland for over 450 years and this year, in the run-up to hosting the 2018 Open, Carnoustie Championship hosts the Senior Open Championship from July 21-24. Come along and follow in the footsteps of the golfing greats with a round on one of Angus’ fabulous traditional links courses or outstanding inland courses.

7. Angus is Easy To Get To

Located on the sunny east coast of Scotland, Angus is served by an excellent road and rail network, is just over an hour from Edinburgh and Aberdeen and is within easy travelling distance of Dundee, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen airports. And once you’re here, Angus is an excellent touring base as it’s within easy reach of almost everywhere in Scotland.

8. Explore Our History

History is all around Angus, from the Standing Stones providing a visible reminder that Angus was once the stronghold of the Picts, to Arbroath Abbey, which played its part in Scotland’s story when King Robert the Bruce signed the Declaration of Arbroath here in 1320, to the rows of clifftop cottages in Auchmithie, once home to fishermen who sailed from the now abandoned harbour in search of their daily catch.

9. Stay over!

Angus has a first class choice of accommodation – from self-catering cottages, caravan and camping sites and cosy B&Bs such as Newton Farm Holidays, which is on a working farm, to stay-and-play packages in top-class hotels such as Carnoustie Golf Hotel to exclusive-use castles and mansions such as House of Turin.

10. Eat Up!

Angus has a reputation for growing and making the very best of Scottish produce, including Arbroath Smokies, Forfar Bridies, Aberdeen Angus beef, artisan ales, award-winning vodka and gin flavoured with local soft fruits – come along and tuck in!

For information about visiting Angus, and the full programme of events happening in Angus during 2016, visit www.visitangus.com.