Brechin and Around
Angus was once described as a ‘peerless’ county and Brechin and Edzell have the good fortune to be situated at the heart of an area of considerable natural beauty. They are the departure point for many expeditions - either to the splendour of the hills, the tranquillity of the glens or to a coastline that shifts from stark cliffs to serene beaches.
Ornithology, botany, hill-walking, fishing, shooting, golfing, riding and camping are just some of the outdoor activities to be enjoyed in the area. Angus is also a county of small towns and visits to Arbroath, Kirriemuir, Forfar and Montrose make pleasant and interesting excursions.
The ‘City’ of Brechin itself offers much to see and do. The eleventh-century Round Tower, one of only two of the type in Scotland, stands next to Brechin Cathedral with its splendid stained-glass windows, best viewed in the evening when the sun is setting. Brechin Castle is nearby while the House of Dun, a graceful Adams mansion, is a few miles to the east. This was the home of the well-regarded writer and poet Violet Jacobs, one of a number of literary figures whose native soil was Angus. There are many other buildings of substantial historic and architectural merit in and around Brechin.
Railway enthusiasts are
able to buy tickets at the Caledonian Railway Station for a journey on a steam
or vintage diesel train to Bridge of Dun Station, some six miles away. Pictavia, at the Brechin Castle Centre, is a fairly recent attraction which
takes visitors back through the centuries to the dark-age Picts, whose carved
symbol stones can still be seen in the area. Brechin Castle Centre, on the
outskirts of the town, includes a countryside park, loch, nature trail and
adventure playground.
The city has had its share of notable characters including artist David Waterson, composer and founding chairman of Scottish Opera Robin Orr and pioneer of radar Sir Robert Watson Watt.
Edzell is a small and particularly attractive village with a number of fine Arts-and-Crafts style houses and a history of excellent performance in the Britain-in-Bloom competitions. Just outside the village is Edzell Castle with its delightful historic walled garden. Beyond that the Grampians rise and there can be found lovely Glenesk with its Retreat and Folk Museum. (Prepared by Mary Liddiard)