Forfar Voyage Tips and guide

Forfar is the county town of Angus, 13 miles north of Dundee, with a population in 2022 of 15,700. Its main attractions are Glamis Castle, and the fine Pictish stones here and at Meigle and Aberlemno.

Forfar is north of Dundee yet lowland in nature, as the highland fault line runs diagonally up to Stonehaven. So it's agricultural, and transport hereabouts has always been easy. The Romans got this far north, constructing a temporary "marching camp" at Battledykes as they campaigned against the Picts. They didn't stay, but all that remains of the Picts are their fine carved stones. This area was early to industrialise and in the 18th and 19th centuries it had linen and jute industries. Those have gone, so Forfar is now a commuter town for Dundee.

56°39′0″N 2°54′0″W

Map of Forfar

Forfar is off A90, 13 miles north of Dundee, which has the nearest railway station.

Citylink buses from Edinburgh and Glasgow to Aberdeen stop at the A90 / A94 intersection two miles southwest of Forfar town centre - the bus stop is by McDonald's. They're every hour or two; they may also stop at Broxden P&R on the edge of Perth, and in Dundee.

Stagecoach Bus 20 / 21 / 22 runs from Dundee to Forfar town centre, every 30-60 min, taking 40 min. Buses 20 & 22 continue to Kirriemuir and Bus 21 to Brechin and Strathcathro Hospital.

Bus 27 runs from Arbroath to Forfar, taking 45 min. It's hourly M-Sa with only four buses on Sunday.

There are no buses west to Blairgowrie or Coupar Angus, you'd have to double back via Dundee.

You need your own wheels to reach the places of interest, a bike would do . For instance to Glamis Castle is six miles, with no practical bus service.

Taxi firms in Forfar are Forfar Taxis (+44 7578 477707) and Manni Taxi (+44 7475 748599).

• 56.6441-2.88911 Meffan Museum, 20 West High St, Forfar DD8 1BB, ☏ +44 1307 491771. Apr-Oct W-M, Nov-Mar F-M, 10:30AM-4PM. Small museum, the highlights are the Pictish Kirriemuir Sculptured Stones and the Dunnichen Stone. Other exhibits cover town life, including the witch-hunts of 1661-66. There's also an art gallery. Free. (updated Dec 2025)
• East and Old Church (Church of Scotland) on High St was built in 1789/90, with the clock tower added in 1815.
• Lowson Memorial Church (Church of Scotland) at the foot of Montrose Road was built in 1914 in Scots Gothic style.
• 56.645-2.92 Forfar Loch west side of town is a shallow freshwater lake, about a mile long east-west. There's a park and paths for strolling.
• 56.6452-2.91433 Witches Memorial is on the footpath north side of the loch. The final spate of persecutions was in 1661 / 62. St Margaret's Inch, the nearby gravel peninsula, had a crannog and monk's cell but nothing remains of them.
• 56.669-34 Kirriemuir is a village 7 miles northwest of Forfar which in the 16th century was the scene of witch hunts. But it's best known as the birthplace of JM Barrie (1860-1937), author of Peter Pan, and his house is a museum run by NTS, open March-Oct. The Tayside Police Museum is on Reform St, but closed until 2027. Other local artifacts such as Pictish stones have been taken to Meigle or other museums. The actor David Niven (1910-1983) claimed to have been born in Kirriemuir, in fact it was London.
• 56.6382-2.97855 St Orland's Stone stands in fields at Crossan 4 miles west of Forfar. It's a Pictish cross-slab 2.4 m tall and depicts a boat: Forfar Loch and wetlands may once have extended this far. Follow the path from the west on A928: other approaches are beset by ditches and fences.

• 56.6203-3.00246 Glamis Castle, Glamis DD8 1RJ, ☏ +44 1307 840393. Apr-Nov Th-Su 10AM-4PM. Glamis (say glamz) Castle has been the home of the Lyon family since the 14th century, though the present turreted chateau is from the 17th. It was the childhood home of Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, who married King George VI, and was later known as Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. Her second daughter Princess Margaret was born here and the castle remains the home of the Earl and Countess of Strathmore and Kinghorne. Naturally they big-up this aristocratic roll-call but it was a Durham coal-mining fortune in the 18th century that paid for the present splendour. Highlights are the grand Drawing Room, the Kitchens, and Duncan's Hall where, according to Shakespeare, Macbeth murdered King Duncan. (Actually it was at Inverness, and never happened, see Birnam and Cawdor.) There are impressive extensive gardens. Castle adult £18.50, conc £16, child £11. (updated Dec 2025)
• Glamis village nearby is attractive, with several historic buildings and the Pictish Glamis Manse Stone, but the Angus Folk Museum has closed down. There are two distilleries, see Drink.
• 56.6144-3.05657 Eassie Pictish Stone is 8th century and finely carved. It's in a glass shelter within the ruin of Eassie old church, by a loop off A94.
• 56.5879-3.16258 Meigle Sculptured Stone Museum, Meigle PH12 8SB, ☏ +44 1828 640612. Apr-Sep Su-Tu & Th 10AM-4PM. Exhibition of 27 carved Pictish stones in the former schoolhouse. They're 9th century and were found in the local churchyard. They appear to be tombstones and their number and quality suggests an important monastery once stood here. Adult £7.50, conc £6, child £4.50. (updated Dec 2025)

• 56.653-2.8469 Restenneth Priory is a ruin two miles northeast of Forfar, follow B9113. There was a church here from Pictish times, but what you see now is from the 12th century when it became an outpost of Jedburgh Abbey. You're free to stroll round it any time.
• 56.6893-2.781310 Aberlemno Sculptured Stones, Aberlemno. These are richly carved standing stones with Pictish symbols from early medieval times, perhaps 9th century. Four are in or near Aberlemno village churchyard: they're in their original outdoor positions but in winter are boxed in to prevent frost damage. The stone in the churchyard (#2) has a Celtic Cross and a battle scene, which might involve Picts, Danes, Northumbrians or archaeologists arguing over its interpretation. Stone #4 is in the McManus Gallery in Dundee. (updated Dec 2025)
• 56.697-2.82611 Finavon Castle refers both to the 19th century mansion, and the ruined 17th-century L-plan tower house in the woods behind. It's privately owned and you'll have to be content with a glimpse as the A90 sweeps past, though they rent out an apartment within the mansion and have game-fishing on the River South Esk. The 16th-century Doocot has 2400 pigeonholes and is managed by NTS but seldom open to visit. On the hill to the southeast towards Aberlemno was an Iron Age fort, but there's just shrubs to see now.
• 56.644-2.71612 Guthrie Castle is a mostly 19th century mansion 6 miles east of Forfar. It's a private residence and you can't visit.
• 56.6381-2.706913 Pitmuies Gardens are open Apr-Sep daily 10AM-5PM, adult £5.
• Edzell Castle: see Montrose for this charming ruined castle and walled garden north of Brechin.
• Tealing Earth House and Dovecote: see Dundee.

• 56.6535-2.87851 Forfar Indoor Sports, Suttieside Rd DD8 3NG, ☏ +44 1307 468668. This has curling, bowling and ice skating. (updated Dec 2025)
• Forfar Athletic (aka "The Loons") play soccer in Scottish League Two, the fourth tier. Their home ground is Station Park (capacity 7000) on Carseview Rd at the north edge of town.
• Golf: Forfar GC is a mile east on A932 Arbroath Rd. There's also a driving range half a mile north of town on B9128.
• Bonfest is a rock festival held in May in Kirriemuir, with the next on 1-3 May 2026.
• Angus Agricultural Show is held in June in the nearby town of Brechin.
• Strathmore Highland Games are held at Glamis Castle, with the next on Su 14 June 2026.
• Kirriemuir Agricultural Show is held 5 miles north of the Castle, with the next on Sa 18 July 2026.

• Asda on New Rd is open daily 7:30AM-10PM and has a filling station.
• Tesco on Castle St is open M-Sa 6AM-11PM, Su 8AM-8PM.

• Forfar bridies are savoury meat pastries. They're triangular shortcrust pastries with crimped edges filled with minced steak, but not potato, so they're more substantial than (for instance) Cornish pasties. Two holes punched in the crust means it also contains minced onion, one hole means it's without. Elsewhere in Scotland the pastry may be flaky but Forfar always bakes with shortcrust pastry.
• Auld Granny's Cafe is next to Meffan Museum at 1 Castle St, open Tu-Su 8:30AM-3:30PM.
• The Nest by The Giddy Goose is at 67 East High St.
• Rupali Palace is at 194 East High St, open daily 5-10PM.
• The Corner House is at 1 Arbroath Rd, open M Tu 11AM-3PM, W-Sa 11AM-9PM, Su noon-8PM.
• Jeet is an Indian at 111 Castle St, open Tu-Th & Su 5-9PM, F Sa 5-10PM.
• Castle Club, 100-108 Castle St DD8 3DR, ☏ +44 1307 466277. M-Sa 11AM-10PM, Su 3-9PM. Traditional fare, their Sunday High Teas are good value. (updated Dec 2025)
• Chapter & Verse is next door at 110 Castle St, open Tu-Su noon-9PM.
• Sultan is at 127 Castle St, open W-Su 5-9PM.
• The Stag is at 140 Castle St, open W-Sa 9AM-midnight, Su-Tu noon-midnight.

• Queens Hotel, 12 The Cross DD8 1BX (opposite Meffan Museum), ☏ +44 1307 462533. M-Sa 11AM-11PM, Su noon-midnight. Has basic rooms but it's essentially a pub. Food served daily. (updated Dec 2025)
• Osnaburgh Bar is at 23 Osnaburgh St, open Su-Th noon-midnight, F Sa 11AM-1AM.
• 10 Cafe Bar is at 12 Castle St, open daily.
• Forfar Arms (formerly Burns Bar) is at 95 East High St, open Su-Th 11AM-midnight, F Sa 11AM-1AM.
• Old Masons Arms is at 137 East High St, open M-Th 11AM-midnight, F-Su 11AM-1AM.
• Thistle Bar is at 199 East High St, open Su-Th 11AM-midnight, F Sa 11AM-1AM.
• Distilleries: Glamis has two. Gin Bothy in the village offers tours Th-Su 11AM-5PM. Ogilvy Spirits a couple of miles south makes potato vodka, no tours.
• Cows drink free: The pawky legend goes that a townsman left a tub of beer at his doorway, and a passing cow drank it. He tried to bill the cow's owner, but the magistrate ruled that a drink taken standing at the doorway was deoch an doras, a stirrup cup or farewell drink, a gesture of hospitality for which no Scot would ever expect payment. The ruling is not binding upon other courts so don't push your luck at pub closing time.

• Lochside Caravan Park, Craig O'Loch Rd DD8 1DA, ☏ +44 1307 468917. Site next to the loch open Mar-Oct, with 63 caravan pitches and 9 tent spaces. Pitch £32. (updated Dec 2025)
• Royal Hotel, 33 Castle St DD8 3AE, ☏ +44 1307 462979. Reliable mid-price hotel in town centre. B&B double £110. (updated Dec 2025)
• 56.6297-2.89631 One Strathview, 6 Strathview DD8 1XA, ☏ +44 7450 890673. Welcoming guesthouse south edge of town. B&B double £90. (updated Dec 2025)
• 56.5883-2.81922 Greenhillock Glamping, Lower Greenhillock, Kirkbuddo DD8 2NL, ☏ +44 7757 687296. Eco-campsite open April-Oct ranged around a wildflower meadow. 2-person tent £26. (updated Dec 2025)
• 56.8443-3.10433 Glen Clova Hotel, Glenclova DD8 4QS, ☏ +44 1575 550350. Great reviews for these dog-friendly hotel rooms, lodges and bunkhouses. B&B double £170, Lodge £210. (updated Dec 2025)

As of Dec 2025, Forfar and its approach roads have 5G from all UK carriers.

• Arbroath, origin of Scotland's first documented declaration of independence in 1320, has a ruined abbey and a Victorian Signal Tower used to signal and support the lighthouse.
• Montrose has a tidal lagoon teeming with wild fowl, a World War I air base, and memorials to the heroic Norwegian dog Bamse.
• Dundee has Scott's Antarctic vessel Discovery, the V&A design museum, and Verdant jute mill.

Aberdeen ← Stonehaven ←

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