Montrose
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Montrose
Getting around Angus | Arbroath | Montrose | Brechin | Guide to Dundee | Forfar and Glamis | Kirriemuir | Angus Glens | Buy A Pass
Fourteen miles north of Arbroath is the elegant town of Montrose, the most pleasant and interesting of the Angus towns, rich in history and with great beaches to the north and south. It stands at the mouth of a vast tidal basin, covering 2,000 acres and bordered by 17 miles of roads. The basin is home to a multitude of wild birds such as ducks, geese, swans and waders who come here to search for food on the wide expanse of mud flats. The Montrose Basin Wildlife Centre is at Rossie Braes, a mile out of town on the A92. They have superb viewing facilities, with binoculars and high-powered telescopes as well as remote-control video cameras. There are also guided walks around the reserve.
Apr-Oct daily 1030-1730; Nov-Mar daily 1030-1600. Tel. 676336.
Phone code: +44 (0)1674
Getting There
The train station is on Western Rd, 1 block from the High St. There are trains every 30 mins to Aberdeen and Dundee. Buses stop in the High St. There are frequent buses to and from Aberdeen (1 3/4 hrs), though you have to change at Stonehaven. Strathtay Scottish, Tel. 01382-228054, runs regular buses to Brechin and Forfar. The tiny Tourist Information Centre is next to the library, Tel. 672000.
Apr-Jun and Sep Mon-Sat 1000-1700; Jul-Aug 0930-1730.
Sights
Montrose was once a thriving port, trading with various European countries, and the wealthy 18th- and 19th-century merchants built their houses gable-end to the street, in imitation of the Continental style. This earned the townsfolk the nickname of 'gable-endies', which has stuck to this day. The sole remaining gable-ended houses can be seen on the High Street, which is the widest in Scotland. The south end of the High Street is overlooked by a statue of Sir Robert Peel, a local man who was British Prime Minister and founder of the present-day Police Force. From his name came the old slang term for police, 'The Peelers'.
A few blocks from the High Street, on Panmure Place, is Montrose Museum and Art Gallery, housed in a fine neoclassical Victorian building and one of the first purpose-built museums in Scotland. Among the displays are Bronze-Age axe-heads, Montrose pottery and silver (the town had its own assay mark, a rose, and pieces are much sought after). The Maritime Gallery has a fleet of model ships, relics of the once-thriving whaling industry, and Napoleonic items, including a cast of his death mask.
Mon-Sat 1000-1700. Free. Tel. 673232.
Outside the museum is a lifesize bronze sculpture of a boy by local sculptor, William Lamb (1893-1951). More of his work can be seen at the William Lamb Sculpture Studio on Market Street, where his famous subjects include the Queen, Queen Mother and the great Scots poet Hugh McDiarmid. The studio was left by the artist as his memorial gift to the town.
Jul-Sep Tue-Sun 1400-1700. Free.
Near the museum, on the same side of the street, up an alley (or close), are Taylor's Auction Rooms. Every second Saturday, people come from far and wide to bid for paintings, jewellery, furniture and many other items. It's well worth a visit, and you might even come away with a piece of locally hall-marked silver.
On the A92 heading north out of town is the Aerodrome Museum. Montrose was Scotland's first military airfield, used in both world wars for the training of pilots. The museum documents the lives of many of the men who lost their lives, including the chilling tale of Lieutenant Desmond Arthur whose ghost is said to haunt the former air base. There are also assorted aircraft on display outside.
Sun 1200-1700, or at other times by appointment. Tel. 675401.
Trail Drive leads to the town's impressive beach, which stretches all the way north to St Cyrus.
About four miles south of Montrose, reached by turning off the A92, is the great sweep of Lunan Bay, a stunningly beautiful, and usually deserted, sandy beach, once popular with smugglers. Like many beaches on the northeast coast, there are strong currents, so do not swim beyond your capabilities. There's a variety of wildlife around, including nesting puffins on the red sandstone cliffs. Overlooking the beach is the 12th-century ruin of Red Castle, which was originally a royal hunting lodge.
Three miles west of Montrose on the A935 is the House of Dun, built in 1730 for David Erskine, Lord Dun. It is a very attractive Georgian building in the Palladian style, designed by William Adam, who was at the forefront of Scottish architecture between the Jacobite risings of 1715 and 1745, but otherwise somewhat eclipsed by his sons Robert and James. Lady Augusta Kennedy-Erskine, daughter of William IV and the actress Mrs Jordan, also lived there, and the house contains many royal mementos. Alas, the huge sword which was driven into a tree in the grounds by one of the Erskines was removed by the present owners, the National Trust, for safety reasons. The courtyard has recently been restored, and Angus Handloom Weavers, Scotland's last handloom linen weavers, are based there. Fine linen is for sale by the yard, as well as linen goods. There's an attractive café and shop.
Easter and 1 May-30 Jun daily 1330-1730; 1 Jul-31 Aug 1100-1730; weekends in Oct 1330-1730. Garden and grounds all year daily 0930 to sunset. Tel. 810264. Strathtay bus No 30 to Brechin passes the entrance, ask to get off.
Sleeping and Eating in Montrose
The Links Hotel, Mid Links, Tel. 671000. A short walk from the beach, comfortable town house hotel offering good Scottish/French cooking at mid-range prices. For B&B accommodation try the Limes Guesthouse, Tel. 677236, thelimes@easynet.co.uk, at 15 King St. For something a bit more scenic, there's Lunan Lodge, Tel. 01241-830679. An 18th-century country house in the village of Lunan overlooking Lunan Bay. On the coast road north to St Cyrus there's B&B in the old fishing station at B Woodston, Tel. 01674-850226, info@woodstonfishingstation.co.uk, evening meal available, great bird watching down on the sands.
Apart from the many hotels, eating options are limited. Murray Lodge at the north end of Murray St does a tasty lunch as does the public house Sharky's in George Street. Roo's Leap, overlooking the links, is another favourite with locals and visitors alike. Just outside of town, the Hillside Hotel has gained a reputation for serving up excellent evening meals.
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