Description

The Sidlaws (Scottish Gaelic: Na Sidhbheanntan) are a range of hills of volcanic origin that extend for 30 miles (45 km) from Kinnoull Hill, near Perth, northeast to Forfar. Principal peaks within the Sidlaws include Craigowl Hill, Ark Hill and King’s Seat.

Points of interest include Dunsinane Hill, mentioned in Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, and Auchterhouse Hill, which was the site of an ancient hill fort. The ruined observatory on Kinpurney Hill was built by James Stuart-Mackenzie who owned the Kinpurnie estate and can be seen for many miles on the Strathmore side of the Sidlaws. There is a local legend that a poacher named Brandon Henderson lived as a hermit in the tower for seven years in order to win a £100 bet.

The highest of the Sidlaws is Craigowl Hill, to the north of Dundee.  Adjacent to Craigowl Hill is Gallow Hill, on the side of which is located the Angus transmitting station, which provides television and radio services to the region.

Beautifully coloured agates, which formed over millions of years in cavities (originally gas bubbles) in the volcanic lava which formed the hills, are occasionally to be found weathered out of the rock in the surrounding fields.