The best traffic-free bike rides around Coupar Angus

A pleasant town with the expected shops etc. A good location for a planned break.

You can gain access through the locked gate - ask a local person about the key.

The Alyth Arches are three imposing stone arches from a 16th-century extension to the old parish church in Alyth, Scotland, which was abandoned in 1839. The site is believed to have housed the first Christian church in Alyth, founded in the 6th century by St. Moluag. Remnants of a 13th-century stone church are still visible, alongside a medieval graveyard with notable memorials, including the Ramsay family burial chapel. One Ramsay family member died in a historic duel with James Macrae. The site is currently not open to the public.

James Sandy, born in Alyth around 1766, overcame severe disabilities from two accidents to become a renowned inventor known as 'the Alyth Genius.' Living in what is now the Alyth Hotel, he crafted musical instruments, optical devices, clocks, artificial limbs, and false teeth, and even improved flax-spinning machinery. His most famous creation was a wooden-hinged snuff box with a concealed hinge that prevented clogging and sealed airtight. Sandy’s home became a hub for distinguished visitors, and his contributions to innovation were honored with a public-funded tombstone in the Alyth Arches graveyard.

Alyth, a historic town near the Perthshire–Angus border, has origins possibly dating back to the Picts and was first recorded in a 1200 charter by King William the Lion. It grew through agriculture and linen production in the 1700s, with further expansion after the railway's arrival in 1861, bringing textile mills and increased commerce. Today, Alyth thrives with a mix of local shops, a vibrant arts scene, and a growing tourism sector celebrating its rich natural and cultural heritage.

Alyth, located northeast of Perth and northwest of Dundee, has a rich history that dates back to at least the 6th century. Its name likely comes from a Pictish word meaning "rock" or "cliff," possibly referencing the steep slopes near the town. The earliest record of Alyth is from a 1200 charter by King William the Lion. In 1488, it was granted Burgh of Barony status by King James III, allowing it to hold markets and fairs, which spurred its growth. In the 1700s, the economy flourished with agricultural improvements, cattle droving, and linen production. The arrival of the railway in 1861 brought further expansion, with steam-powered mills, new hotels, and growth in retail. Today, while industry has declined, Alyth remains a vibrant town with a growing tourism economy, a community of artists, and many local businesses.

Alyth is a small town, a little over half an hour’s drive northeast of Perth and northwest of Dundee. It overlooks the broad expanse of Strathmore close to Perthshire’s eastern boundary with Angus. The name is probably Pictish, containing a cognate of Gaelic meaning ‘rock, cliff’, perhaps the steep slope rising from Alyth Burn to the knoll on which the ancient kirk was built, or below the steep ridge of hills immediately to the north of the town. The name would confirm the longevity of settlement in Alyth, perhaps reaching back to the sixth century or earlier. The earliest document to name Alyth is a charter signed in AD1200 by King William the Lion. Several other Scottish kings visited Alyth, notably Robert the Bruce, and probably hunted in the royal forest here. In 1488 it was created a Burgh of Barony by King James III with the right to hold fairs and markets which enabled the town to grow. The economy of Alyth really picked up in the 1700s with large-scale agricultural improvement and cattle droving to the south, and the development of linen production in the town. In the following century Alyth greatly expanded, particularly with the arrival of the railway in 1861. Steam-powered textile mills were established and there was a growth in retailing, while new hotels catered for holidaymakers, golfers and country sports enthusiasts. Today, industry has largely gone but Alyth retains many shops and businesses as part of a varied and vibrant community. It has a flourishing community of artists and a growing tourism economy, which is building on the many natural and cultural heritage sites and places of interest in and around the town.

Decent tyres are a must especially in wet conditions.