Angus Glens

The Beautiful Glens

Glen Isla, 3 miles north of Alyth, has a stunning 24 metre waterfall called Reekie Linn (smoking fall - due to the mist caused by waterfall) and there are many forest walks in the area. There is a restaurant in the old Lochside Lodge and the Glenisla Hotel. Glen Shee can be accessed from Glen Isla via the A926 and is perhaps best known as Scotland's most southerly ski station, popular with skiers from the Lowland cities who appreciate its accessibility for a day rather than a week on the pistes. It is also the path taken by the road from Blairgowrie to Braemar through country which steadily becomes more rugged. This road, over the Cairnwell Pass, used to include the notorious Devil's Elbow, a double hairpin bend of the sort more often seen in the Alps. That has now been bypassed (the modern road is now known as the Devil's Slide) but the old route can still be walked or cycled with extreme care!

Glen Shee

Glen Prosen, 6 miles north of Kirriemuir, has a number of good walks including the forest walk to the Airlie Monument on the 380 metre Tulloch Hill, the 9 mile Kilbo Path and the 4 mile Minister's Path to Clova.

The 20 mile long Glen Clova is a beautiful glen which starts relatively flat but narrows and steepens in the north (that part is called Glen Doll). It is a popular place for serious walkers and for observing the wide range of species of birds, deer and fauna. Most walks are about 15 miles long and include Jock's Road to Braemar, formerly used by drovers, smugglers and retreating Jacobite soldiers, which ascends to 900 metres. Accommodation and meals are available at the Clova Hotel.

The 15 mile long Glen Esk runs from Edzell to Loch Lee and has many walks passing stunning waterfalls, including one to Mount Keen, one of Scotland's Munro's. The Glenesk Folk Museum has an array of interesting local exhibits from the 17th-19th centuries. South of Glen Esk is the village of Edzell which was built by Lord Panmure in the 19th century to replace the original village which spoilt the view from his castle. The 16th century Edzell Castle is open to the public but it is its peaceful Renaissance walled garden, the Pleasance, which attracts most visitors.

Glen Lethnot is the least known of the Angus Glens, with the result that it also the most peaceful. The West Water flows along the floor of the glen, flanked by moorland and heather hills. It is a glen with some history though - the old High Road was also known as the Whisky Road, with many illicit stills lining the hill burns. There are also two Iron Age forts known as the brown and white Caterthurns at the foot of the glen and the picturesque Pirners Brig in a deep gorge reached by a path from Bridgend.