UK travel: Forget NC500, a new route has been launched – ‘lots to see and discover’

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Holidaymakers heading to Scotland may overlook the area, but Angus, while less well-known than the Highlands, is set to be put on the map. A new route has been launched to promote travel in the area, and with plenty to see and do in the region, it’s sure to become extremely popular.

The Angus Tour takes in the seven Angus towns, sandy beaches, castles and the glens of the east coast region and is hoping to appeal to holidaymakers from near and far.

The towns of Arbroath, Brechin, Carnoustie, Forfar, Kirriemuir, Monifieth and Montrose each have their own unique appeal and can be discovered through the new route.

The Angus Tour route runs from Monifieth along the A92 to Montrose and then inland to Brechin and onto the A90 to Forfar and Glamis.

Visitors can also branch off and explore Edzell in the north, Kirriemuir in the west, or go into the Angus Glens.

Convener of Communities and Finance, Councillor Mark Salmond said: “Angus is an area of outstanding beauty, with picturesque towns, spectacular countryside, dramatic coastline, fantastic local food and historic landmarks.”

There are themed, three-day itineraries to pick and choose from, offering holidaymakers plenty of options to visit the area for any length of time.

The themes of the itineraries are history and heritage, the outdoors, food and drink and dog friendly.

Kathi Kamleitner a travel blogger at Watch Me See said: “The beauty of the Angus Tour is that there is so much to see and do without having to travel for hours between activities – the mountains and coast are so close together and so you don’t have to choose between the two.

“It’s all here, from hiking in the Angus Glens and wildlife spotting to learning about Scottish history at Arbroath Abbey and taking in the beautiful coastline.”

Some of the highlights of the region, which follows the east coast from south Aberdeenshire to Dundee and goes inland to Perth & Kinross can be found on the Angus Tour’s digital tools.

Glamis Castle was the childhood home of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother where Princess Margaret was born.

The castle is also the setting for Shakespeare’s Macbeth.

On Tripadvisor, Janis R said: “We had long wanted to visit Glamis and as we were visiting Dundee, it was a good opportunity.

“Lots to see and discover the history of the family. The Queen Mother’s sitting room was a particular favourite and is set out as it would have been in the 30s/40s when she visited.

“Lots of walks in the extensive grounds, forests and gardens.”

Montrose Beach is three miles of sands from Montrose to the North Esk River.

With a promenade, pools, pitch and putt and an ice cream parlour, this is a fantastic seaside destination for Britons looking for a beach day on their Angus Tour.

House of Dun is a National Trust for Scotland’s property.

The 18th century laird’s home is now also the home of the Angus Folk Collection, which tells the story of the area and its people.

Jennie said: “What an amazing experience from start to finish!

“From the kitchen to the dining room, to the butler’s quarters then into the family rooms, the whole thing was one of the best tours I have done, and very reasonably priced too, given we paid almost twice as much at Scone Palace for a quarter the experience!

“The gardens are beautiful and you can wander around everything but the house tour for free. Heartily recommended.”

To avoid some of the problems of the NC500, the Angus Tour has an emphasis on sustainability.

Norma Lyall, Development Worker, Angus Tourism Cooperative, said: “Many of our tourism businesses are working hard to reduce their impact on the environment and raise awareness of regenerative tourism.

“Angus is highly accessible to those aiming to tread lightly with their carbon footprint.

“The east coast trainline takes just an hour and half from Edinburgh and are a direct route from London, you can sit back and relax until it arrives in Arbroath or Montrose.

“We are also on national cycle networks and have a growing number of electric vehicles’ charging points.”

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