Top 20 Natural Monuments in Angus

Angus offers several distinctive geological features. You can visit Mount Keen, a prominent Munro that stands alone in the east. Along the coast, the Arbroath Cliff Trail showcases striking red sandstone cliffs with sea caves, blowholes, and features like The Deil's Heid. Inland, Corrie Fee in Glen Doll is a superb example of a mountain corrie with craggy slopes and a pristine loch, while Loch Brandy in Glen Clova is another beautiful mountain corrie with dark waters cradled by rocky arms.

For wildlife enthusiasts, the Montrose Basin Local Nature Reserve is a prime location, home to over 80,000 migratory birds, including pink-footed geese and kingfishers, and you can often spot seals. The Arbroath Cliff Trail is excellent for seabird colonies, butterflies, and wildflowers. Montreathmont Forest is a haven for buzzards, owls, red squirrels, pine martens, and deer. Near Scurdie Ness Lighthouse, you might spot grey seals, eider ducks, and even bottlenose dolphins.

Yes, several natural monuments in Angus are suitable for families. The Arbirlot Falls can be reached via the family-friendly Arbirlot Natural Trail, a four-mile walk through picturesque countryside. Montreathmont Forest offers a network of tracks perfect for walks with children. The Montrose Basin Visitor Centre provides panoramic views and facilities for wildlife watching, which can be engaging for all ages. Additionally, easy hikes like the Monikie Country Park loop are great for families, as detailed in the Easy hikes in Angus guide.

Angus offers several challenging mountain summits for experienced hikers. Glas Maol summit is a 1,068-meter Munro, often part of a circuit east of the Glenshee Ski Centre. Driesh Summit (947m) is commonly climbed with its neighbor Mayar summit, offering a grand day out in the mountains. Mount Keen, at 939m, is the most easterly Munro and, while technically easy, involves a long walk. Corrie Fee and Loch Brandy also offer hillwalking experiences in dramatic mountain corries.

The best time to visit depends on your interests. For birdwatching at Montrose Basin, September to October is ideal for spotting pink-footed geese. Autumn is particularly beautiful at Arbirlot Falls with its vibrant foliage. Coastal walks along the Arbroath Cliff Trail or to Scurdie Ness Lighthouse are enjoyable in milder weather. For hillwalking in the Angus Glens, including Corrie Fee and Loch Brandy, late spring to early autumn generally offers the most favorable conditions, though weather can change rapidly in the mountains.

Yes, Angus has several easy walking routes to natural monuments. Carrot Hill, near Forfar, offers an 850-foot summit with spectacular views across Strathmore, accessible via a relatively easy walk. Kinpurney Hill also provides an enjoyable walk to its summit, starting from Tealing. The Arbirlot Natural Trail leads to the picturesque Arbirlot Falls. For more options, check the Easy hikes in Angus guide, which includes routes like the Monikie Country Park loop and the Carrot Hill & Dodd Hill loop.

Beyond exploring the monuments themselves, Angus offers a range of outdoor activities. You can find numerous running trails, such as the South Esk & Scurdie Ness Headland loop from Montrose, detailed in the Running Trails in Angus guide. Mountain biking is popular in areas like Montreathmont Forest, with routes available in the MTB Trails in Angus guide. Hillwalking is a primary activity, especially in the Angus Glens and around the various summits like Mount Keen and Driesh Summit.

Angus is rich in viewpoints. Carrot Hill provides spectacular views across Strathmore to the Cairngorms. Kinpurney Hill also offers expansive views from its summit. For higher vantage points, Glas Maol summit, Driesh Summit, and Mount Keen all offer incredible panoramic vistas of the surrounding Scottish Highlands and glens. The coastal path near Elephant Rock and Scurdie Ness Lighthouse also provides breathtaking views of the North Sea.

While many natural monuments are appreciated for their geological and ecological value, some also hold historical context. The Queen's Well Monument, though man-made, marks a natural spring visited by Queen Victoria in 1861. The Syd Scroggie Memorial on Balkello Hill, while a memorial, is set within a natural monument and commemorates a poet and hillwalker, adding a layer of local history to the natural landscape.

The premier spot for birdwatching in Angus is the Montrose Basin Local Nature Reserve. This significant natural monument covers 750 hectares and is a vital habitat for over 80,000 migratory birds, including common terns, kingfishers, and large numbers of pink-footed geese during migration seasons. The Montrose Basin Visitor Centre offers excellent facilities for observation.

Yes, you can visit Arbirlot Falls, a spectacular 23-foot waterfall near Arbroath. It's accessible via the Arbirlot Natural Trail, a pleasant walk through picturesque countryside following the Elliot Water. The attractive waterfall, rustic stone bridge, and dramatic surrounding landscape make it a worthwhile visit.

Angus's coastline features several remarkable natural monuments. Elephant Rock near Montrose is a distinctive naturally formed coastal arch. The Arbroath Cliff Trail and Seaton Cliffs offer stunning red sandstone cliffs with sea caves, coves, and blowholes. The rugged coastline around Scurdie Ness Lighthouse, while the lighthouse itself is man-made, provides dramatic scenery and opportunities for wildlife spotting.