If pulling on your walking boots is your idea of the perfect day out, Angus is packed with places to explore. From gentle coastal strolls and woodland wanders to hill walks and more challenging routes in the Angus Glens, there are miles of unspoiled beauty to discover.

For many outdoor lovers, the Angus Glens are the ultimate place to start. These unspoilt landscapes offer superb walking through moorland, forest tracks and wide open scenery, with ten Munros across the glens for those looking to go higher. Glen Clova is a favourite for good reason, with highlights including the dramatic Corrie Fee National Nature Reserve and beautiful Loch Brandy, while Glen Doll is a fantastic base for further exploration and ranger-led experiences.

If you’d like a little expert insight along the way, Aboot Scotland offers guided half-day and day mountain trips across Angus and beyond, including routes into Corrie Fee and up to Mayar and Driesh, as well as unique night walking experiences led by a knowledgeable Mountain Leader.

If you prefer a trail with sea air and big views, Angus delivers there too. Coastal walks around Arbroath and along the wider coastline offer cliff-top scenery, sandy beaches and that unbeatable feeling of space.

For visitors who want to dig deeper into the landscapes they are exploring, Stories of Stone offers guided walks that bring Angus and the east coast to life through geology, landscape and heritage, with relaxed, welcoming experiences led by a professional geologist.

Angus is just as rewarding on two wheels. Across the area you’ll find road, gravel and mountain biking routes that weave through charming towns, quiet country roads, coastal stretches and the freedom of the hills and glens.

With everything from easy circuits to more demanding rides, it’s easy to tailor your day to your pace and your confidence level. Cyclists looking for a true outdoor challenge can head into the glens, where routes around Glen Doll and beyond offer spectacular scenery and an unforgettable sense of adventure. Elsewhere, there are gentler biking trails through the countryside and around local communities, making Angus a brilliant destination for both seasoned riders and families looking to explore together.

For visitors who want to hire a bike and head straight out exploring, Angus Cycle Hub in Arbroath offers bike and e-bike hire, alongside cycle and mountain bike tours, guiding, servicing, events and training. Their tours can be tailored for different abilities and needs, with options including coastal rides, glen road tours and more adventurous mountain biking experiences.

Further inland, Cairn & Crank invites visitors to explore Angus from the saddle with both guided and non-guided rides and tours. Based in Kirriemuir, they offer cycling experiences across the Angus Glens, Grampians, Cairngorms and Sidlaw Hills, with bespoke tours available on request, plus support from local accommodation partners and shuttle provision where needed.

Angus is not only about dramatic landscapes and big adventures – it’s also about those hands-on days that bring families closer to the countryside.

Murton Farm and Nature Reserve near Forfar is a brilliant example of how much variety Angus offers in one place. Here you can meet a friendly collection of farm animals and birds, enjoy outdoor play areas and then head off for a walk around beautiful lochs and wetlands with a well-maintained path network.

For an immersive taste of life on a working farm, Newton Farm Tours offers guided experiences where visitors can meet cows, sheep, goats, alpacas and more, with seasonal experiences throughout the year.

For families who love plenty of choice in one place, Brechin Castle Centre is packed with things to do, all set within a 70-acre country park. There’s a fairy trail, crazy golf, a wooden maze, jumping pillows, pedal go-karts, a sledge run and a huge range of traditional play favourites too.

At Charleton Farm near Montrose, visitors can enjoy seasonal pick-your-own fruit and veg, browse the farm shop, relax in the café and let little ones loose in the secure natural playground with go-karts, trampolines and sandpits. Close to Lunan Bay, Upper Dysart offers another fun-filled family stop, with its Hay & Play experience, outdoor playpark, friendly animals and farm shop.

For a slower-paced countryside experience, Peel Farm blends wildlife, walking and farm life beautifully. Its nature trail leads visitors past miniature donkeys, pygmy goats, pigs, red deer, ducks and geese, with a waterfall viewpoint over the River Isla adding an extra touch of scenery along the way.

If horse riding is part of your perfect outdoor day, Pathhead Equestrian Centre in Kirriemuir is a brilliant option. The centre welcomes all ages and experience levels, offering private and group lessons, midweek hacks and pony rides for younger children, making it a memorable way to experience Angus from the saddle.

If your perfect day outdoors includes splashing, paddling or trying something new, Angus has plenty to get the adrenaline going. Angus’ outdoor adventure offering includes paddleboarding, kayaking and wild swimming, with activities to suit everyone from curious beginners to confident adventurers.

Monikie Country Park is one of the best places to dive into action. Open year-round, the park offers windsurfing, sailing, kayaking, canoeing, stand-up paddleboarding and raft building, alongside scenic trails for walkers and cyclists and plenty of opportunities for wildlife watching. Angus Aqua Splash adds even more excitement with its inflatable water park, making it a great choice for groups, families and anyone who loves a full day outdoors.

For a coastal adventure with a difference, Arbroath Cliff Tours offers guided experiences that showcase the dramatic cliffs, caves and hidden corners of the Angus coastline. Visitors can choose from kayaking, swimming and walking tours, as well as sauna and meditation experiences by the sea, with opportunities to explore sea caves, secret beaches, remarkable rock formations and local wildlife along the way.

For those drawn to open water, Angus also has some fantastic wild swimming locations. Visit coastal spots such as Auchmithie Beach, East Haven Beach, Lunan Bay, Carlingheugh Bay, Montrose Beach and Carnoustie Bay, along with inland options including Arbirlot Falls, Loch Brandy and Loch Lee.

One of the joys of spending time outdoors in Angus is just how much wildlife you can see along the way. Nature lovers are spoiled for choice here, with reserves, trails and waterside habitats that bring you closer to some of Scotland’s most memorable species.

Montrose Basin is one of the county’s standout spots for wildlife watching. This enclosed estuary of the River South Esk covers 750 hectares of tidal mudflats and is home to huge numbers of birds throughout the year. Depending on the season, visitors may spot kingfishers, sand martins, common terns, osprey and the incredible spectacle of tens of thousands of pink-footed geese.

The Angus Glens also reward patient wildlife watchers. Around Glen Doll and Corrie Fee, visitors may be lucky enough to spot iconic species such as red deer, golden eagles and red squirrels, while Glen Esk is known as one of the best places in Scotland to see adders, along with ospreys and golden eagles.

The Wild South Esk route is another brilliant way to connect with Angus’s natural side, linking beautiful landscapes and wildlife-rich locations from the Cairngorms to the sea.

For visitors who want to make the most of these encounters, Osprey Tours offers eco-friendly birdwatching and nature tours in Angus and further afield. Options range from beginner-friendly two-hour tours in hides and viewing platforms to half-day and full-day experiences in the glens, forests and mountains, with opportunities to look for species such as osprey, red kites, eagles, ptarmigan and even red deer during the rut at certain times of year.

Angus is a dream destination for golfers, with a superb mix of links, parkland and heathland courses set against some of Scotland’s most striking scenery. The region is home to 17 courses stretching from the east coast to the edge of the Angus Glens, giving visitors the chance to enjoy everything from dramatic seaside fairways to more relaxed inland rounds.

For many, the headline name is Carnoustie, one of the world’s most famous golfing destinations and a must-play for those looking to follow in the footsteps of the greats. But Angus offers far more than one iconic course. Historic highlights include Montrose 1562, the fifth oldest course in the world, while the wider area also includes four Open qualifying courses, underlining Angus’s place on Scotland’s golfing map.

Whether you are planning a dedicated golf break or adding a round or two to a wider holiday, Angus makes it easy to shape a trip that suits your style of play.