Location 1: Davidson Legacy Cottage, Aberlemno

In the peaceful parish of Aberlemno, you’ll find a picturesque cottage that’s more than 160 years old. Netherton Cottage – now known as Davidson Cottage – is the restored home of William C Davidson, one of the founders of the Harley-Davidson® Motor-Cycle company.

This site has been carefully designed to guide you around the early family history of the Davidsons and bring you right up to the present day. You can also learn about the extensive work that restored the cottage to how it would have been in 1857. That work began after three Harley enthusiasts found the cottage as a crumbling ruin in 2008.

During your visit, you’ll learn about the hard but peaceful life that the Davidsons enjoyed before their transatlantic voyage to America and what life was like in 19th century Scotland.

The cottage is the perfect location for Harley fans wishing to visit (and even stay) where it all started. You’ll be joining thousands of visitors who make the pilgrimage to the cottage each year.

During your visit to this location, open the free Visit Angus app to unlock a 360-degree tour of the inside of the cottage.

• Location: Netherton Cottage, Aberlemno, Brechin, DD9 6SH
• Opening times:
  • Sunday, 12 noon to 5pm, or by prior appointment
• Entry: Free – donations welcome
• Accessibility: Partial disabled access with accessible parking and toilets

Location 2: Caledonian Railway

Visit Brechin’s Caledonian Railway next to take in the sights, smells, and that special feeling of sitting in a traditional coal or diesel-powered train as it gradually pulls away from the station.

The trains run along a four-mile branch line between Brechin and the countryside stop of Bridge of Dun, a former stopping place for royal trains.

During the 19th century, the small town of Brechin began to grow and become known for its produce, namely textiles and whisky. To allow the town to continue growing, a method of moving large quantities of materials in and out of the town was required.

Two methods of transport were suggested for the job; canals and railways. Due to the geography of Brechin and the River South Esk, building a canal was not feasible and so a railway line was constructed.

Originally built in 1848 as a branch line between Brechin and Bridge of Dun, Brechin station was expanded in 1885 to accommodate more passenger and freight trains.

However, due to increased competition from motor vehicles, the line closed to passenger services in 1952 but remained open to freight traffic until 1981. Today, Caledonian Railway is a classic and well-preserved railway – and one of the most popular attractions in Angus.

Enjoy the collection of classic locomotives and coaches, and shop for souvenirs at Brechin Station. This is an excellent volunteer-run destination and a long-standing local charity. All funds are reinvested into the restoration and preservation of the railway.

Many fantastic events run throughout the spring and summer at Caledonian Railway. There are Diesel Saturdays and Steam Sundays, as well as the chance to enjoy afternoon tea on a train and days out with Thomas the Tank Engine. Events must be booked in advance.

• Location: 2 Park Road, Brechin, Angus, DD9 7AF
• Opening times and entry costs: Please check the Caledonian Railway website
• Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible with accessible toilets

Location 3: Lunch at the Whistle Stop Cafe

Enjoy a light lunch and delicious home baking at The Whistle Stop Café, situated on Platform 1 of Brechin Station. This charming family-run coffee shop sits within a historic station building at the Caledonian Railway.

The café offers a wide range of high quality, locally-sourced food, drinks, and home baking throughout the day.

Choose from a range of tasty light lunches, including soup, sandwiches, and toasties. Follow lunch with a slice of cake and a coffee, and you’ll be ready for the rest of the afternoon.

• Location: The Station, Park Road, Brechin, Angus, DD9 7A
• Opening times: Wednesday to Saturday, 10am to 3pm
• Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible with accessible toilets

Location 4: Brechin Cathedral

Before leaving Brechin, spend 15 minutes or so admiring one of Brechin’s most stunning landmarks. Brechin Cathedral is an ancient Parish Church that has stood in this picturesque town for nearly 1,000 years. The Round Tower that stands at the southwest corner of the church is one of only two of a kind in Scotland and dates from AD 1100.

Use the Visit Angus app to get a closer view of the cathedral’s beautiful stained glass windows using the 360° images.

• Location: 6 Church Street, Brechin, DD9 6EU

Location 5: Glenesk Folk Museum

Spend an enjoyable and informative afternoon at The Glenesk Folk Museum. The museum is located near the small hamlet of Tarfside, a beautiful location within Glenesk, around 30 minutes from Brechin. It was once the site of a cottage built by Captain Wemyss in the 1840s as an escape from life at sea.

The museum was founded in 1955 by historian and local schoolteacher Margaret Fairweather Michie MBE, who wished to capture a way of life that was quickly disappearing. Today, you can enjoy a remarkable collection of over 30,000 artefacts that tell the story of Glenesk life and the local area. The museum is now a charity run by local volunteers.

Every object in the impressive collection tells a story, from the Bronze Age to the mid-20th century. The main displays on the ground floor change regularly and feature a wide range of fascinating items from irons and basket-hilted swords to bibles and bustles. You’ll find the temporary exhibitions on the upper floor.

Outside, there is a lovely woodland walk and nature trail around the grounds where you will come across their collection of ploughs and millstones and a beautiful sundial.

The museum’s location is also perfect for long walks among the stunning Glenesk hills.

• Location: Near Tarfside, Glenesk, Brechin DD9 7YT
• Opening times: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday & Sunday: 10am to 4.30pm (closed Monday and Friday)
• Entry: Free (donations welcome)
• Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible with lift to upper floor

Location 6: Dinner at Glenesk Hotel, Edzell

The Glenesk Hotel offers a pleasant location for dinner on Day 3. Based in the beautiful village of Edzell at the foot of the Angus Glens, this stately countryside hotel is just a ten-minute drive from Brechin.

The hotel’s Fairway Restaurant offers delicious, freshly prepared food that showcases some of the best local and Scottish producers. And you can choose from over 1,000 malts, 200 gins, 80 rums, 70 vodkas, and a selection of ales and beers in the hotel bar.

The hotel achieved Visit Scotland’s Taste Our Best accreditation as recognition of its sourcing policy, and the quality of food and drinks served in the restaurant.

• Location: High Street, Edzell, DD9 7TF
• Opening times: Dinner served daily from 6pm to 9pm
• Accessibility: Partial disabled access with accessible parking and toilets

Location 1: Angus Archives and Restenneth Priory

Based near Forfar’s Restenneth Priory, Angus Archives collects and preserves the written and photographic heritage of Angus. This collection is available to the public – an excellent opportunity to investigate the possibility of any long-lost Angus ancestors or just learn more about what life was like here in the past.

Visit the Search Room to look through extensive photograph collections, a fascinating local history book collection, plans of buildings, and family histories. The team based in the archives have comprehensive local knowledge and will be happy to help you.

And just a short walk from the archives, you’ll find Restenneth Priory. This is a sacred place of enduring importance – the site of an ancient church that enjoyed royal favour. Robert the Bruce buried his young son Prince John here in the 1300s.

Call 01307 468644 or email angusarchives@angusalive.scot to book an appointment for Angus Archives.

• Location: Hunter Library, Restenneth Priory, Forfar, DD8 2SZ
• Opening times (Angus Archives): Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm (Tuesday & Wednesday by appointment only)
• Opening time (Restenneth Priory): Daily, anytime before dusk
• Entry: Free
• Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible with accessible toilets

Location 2: Meffan Museum and Art Gallery

Continue the morning in Forfar at the Meffan Museum and Art Gallery on West High Street. You can learn more about the town here, including the history of the Forfar bridie and the story of the Forfar witches. You can also discover the mysterious Picts, thanks to the museum’s collection of enigmatic sculptured stones.

The museum also includes an accurate recreation of an old, narrow cobbled street called The Vennel. Peer inside several traditional shops, including Peter Reid’s sweet shop, a clock maker’s workshop, a baker’s shop with bread and bridies on display, and a shoemaker’s where you can watch shoes being made and mended.

There is also a diverse range of impressive artwork on display in the gallery from local, national and internationally-renowned artists.

• Location: 20 West High Street, Forfar DD8 1BB
• Opening times: Wednesday to Monday, 10.30am to 4pm (closed Tuesday)
• Entry: Free
• Accessibility: Full disabled access with lift to upper galleries. Accessible toilets.

Location 3: Lunch at the Castle Club

Established in 1987, the family-run Castle Club offers heart-warming homemade cooking using only the best in local produce.

Choose from a selection of delicious, freshly-cooked dishes from the exciting lunch menu full of traditional Scottish dishes and food with an international twist. There’s something for all tastes here, from fish dishes, homemade lasagne, and homemade steak pie to salads, chicken enchiladas and vegetable tortillas.

All the food is cooked on the premises and made with fresh local ingredients.

Conveniently located in the town centre, Castle Club is not far from some of Forfar’s main attractions, including Forfar Loch. Perfect for a walk before or after your meal.

• Location: 100 Castle Street, Forfar, DD8 3HR
• Lunch service:

Monday to Saturday: 12pm to 2pm

• Accessibility: Steps with no disabled access

Location 4: Castle Hill

A Pictish fort with great views, Castle Hill is a hidden gem, especially if you enjoy Scottish history.

The entrance is located on Forfar’s Canmore Street, off Castle Street. The gate is kept locked, but you can request a key from Ali’s newsagent or Chapter and Verse restaurant on Castle Street. There is nothing more exciting than collecting the key and letting yourself in to explore a true local hidden gem.

Reach the top of the quaint old cobbled lane, and you’ll be standing where King Malcolm Canmore built Forfar Castle in the 11th century. The castle was destroyed by King Robert Bruce in 1313 to save it from falling into English hands.

• Location: Access from Canmore Street, Forfar, DD8 3HT
• Opening times: Open daily
• Entry: Free
• Accessibility: Not wheelchair access due to steps. Prams and buggies could be carried to the top.

Location 5: Glamis Castle and Gardens

Just ten minutes drive from Forfar, Glamis is home to Glamis Castle, the childhood home of the Queen Mother and legendary setting for Shakespeare’s Macbeth.

Enjoy an informative and entertaining tour of this historic castle. Take in the glorious details of the castle’s stunning paintings and antique furniture as you listen to stories about former Royal residents and famous visitors over the years.

The castle’s majestic grounds and gardens are beautiful all year round and offer the opportunity for an unforgettable walk in an exceptional location. There are four different routes to choose from, including a walk around the Italian Garden. Look out for resident roe deer, hare, pheasants, squirrels, otters and other woodland creatures on the Nature Trail and River Dean walks.

The beautiful walled garden features a Monet-style bridge over an ornamental pond and an impressive large central fountain. Enjoy cakes, coffee and other refreshments in the castle’s Victorian Kitchen Restaurant (open from 11am daily).

You can also take home something special from the gift shop to help remember your visit.

• ​​​​Location: Glamis, Forfar, DD8 1RJ
• Entry (includes access to the castle, gardens, grounds and tour):

Adults: £17.50
Senior (60+) or student: £15
Child (5 – 16 years old): £11
Family (2 adults + max 3 children): £60

• Opening times: Daily, 10am to 5pm (last entry 4.30pm)
• Accessibility: Partial wheelchair access with accessible parking and toilets

Location 6: Dinner at Armstrong’s Bar and Restaurant

After an action-packed second day, it’s time to enjoy some dinner and drinks at a wonderful local restaurant. Armstrong’s Bar and Restaurant offers an extensive menu and superb wine list to enjoy in a relaxed and contemporary atmosphere.

The dinner menu offers home-cooked Scottish cuisine using fresh, local produce and is complemented by the popular high tea, Sunday carvery and Wednesday steak night menus.

Armstrong’s is renowned for its quality of service, affordable prices, and overall experience. Dinners recommend the traditional dishes served here for their taste and presentation, and are particularly impressed by the scallops, deer, and sirloin steak. They also mention the varied selection of wines, ales and whiskies.

Enjoy cosy after-dinner drinks by the log burning stove. Perfect for colder nights.

• ​​Location: Roundyhill, Glamis, DD8 1QT
• Opening times: Daily from 12 noon to late
• Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible with accessible toilets

Location 1: JM Barrie’s Birthplace

Sir JM Barrie, author of the Peter Pan story, spent his childhood in a small, traditional weaver’s cottage in Kirriemuir. The cottage is now a fascinating museum exploring Barrie’s life, his route to success, literary and stage works, as well as his enduring connection with Kirriemuir.

Visit to see the writing desk that Barrie used when creating the Peter Pan story, as well as the original costumes used in the very first production of the Peter Pan play.

The house also includes a Victorian bedroom and a washhouse in the yard, which was used as Barrie’s very first theatre. It was here that the young author performed his first play at the age of seven and that provided inspiration for the Wendy house in Peter Pan.

Children of all ages will enjoy exploring the fun, jungle-themed garden that includes a life-sized driftwood sculpture of Tick Tock, the crocodile.

On his death on 19 June 1937, Barrie was buried in Kirriemuir Cemetery next to his parents and two of his siblings. The cemetery is a short 10 minute walk from Barrie’s birthplace.

• Location: 9 Brechin Road, Kirriemuir, DD8 4BX
• Opening times: See the website for opening times
• Entry: See the website for entry fees
• Accessibility: The cottage is not wheelchair accessible

Location 2: Tayside Police Museum

The Tayside Police Museum is a small volunteer-run museum located in the existing police station on Reform Street. It’s one of only a few police museums in Scotland.

Here you can explore the history of policing in Dundee City, Perth & Kinross, and Angus from the early 1800s through to the 1980s.

Enjoy some unique and fascinating artefacts, including uniforms, equipment, weapons, as well as documents and photographs. There are displays dedicated to Special Constables, Awards & Medals, and the Police Pipe Band. You can also venture into the old prison cells and try on some of the costumes.

There is also an exhibit referencing the last person to be hanged in Dundee, William Henry Bury. He went to the gallows in 1889 for the murder of his wife. He claimed to be Jack The Ripper during his confession to the crime.

It’s recommended to check the museum’s website to confirm exact opening times before visiting.

• Location: 15 Reform Street, Kirriemuir, DD8 4BS
• Opening times: Thursday to Saturday: 11am to 3pm
• Accessibility: Level access from the street and ground floor accessible toilets

Location 3: Lunch at Café Obscura

Café Obscura, located within the Camera Obscura building on Kirrie Hill, serves teas and freshly ground coffee from Sacred Grounds Coffee Company in Arbroath. You can also enjoy a selection of filled rolls,  scones with local jam and clotted cream, Kirriemuir gingerbread, a selection of cakes or strawberry tarts in season.

The café sells cold drinks, ice creams, sweets, crisps and hot drinks to take away, as well as a selection of books and souvenirs.

• Location: Barrie Pavilion, Kirrie Hill, Kirriemuir, DD8 4PR
• Opening times: Saturday, Sunday and Monday, 11am to 4pm
• Entry: Free
• Accessibility: Partial disabled access with accessible toilets

Location 4: Kirriemuir Camera Obscura

Gifted to the town by Sir JM Barrie, creator of Peter Pan, this remarkable attraction provides a glimpse back in time with some fascinating historic technology on display. One of only three in Scotland, the Camera Obscura is housed in a purpose-designed turret room in Barrie Pavilion on Kirrie Hill.

The knowledgeable guides will show you the striking 360° views of the beautiful surrounding countryside from on top of the hill. Look north to the Cairngorm Mountains, and you’ll see the imposing Airlie Monument on top of Tulloch Hill.

• Location: Barrie Pavilion, Kirrie Hill, Kirriemuir, DD8 4PR
• Opening times: Saturday, Sunday and Monday, 11am to 4pm
• Entry: Free
• Accessibility: Partial disabled access with accessible toilets

Location 5: Stop off at the Star Rock Shop

Kirriemuir is home to the oldest sweet shop in Scotland, the Star Rock Shop.

Established in 1833 by David Ferguson, it still trades today from the same premises in the Roods, making it the oldest producing and continuously trading sweet shop in Scotland. Originally a mason from Brechin, Ferguson created the sweet ‘Star Rock’ following an accident that left him partially blinded and unable to work.

The unchanged Star Rock recipe has been handed down through the generations. The recipe is taught to each new owner of the shop, who then continues to make the rock in the shop’s kitchen at the back of the premises.

The traditional flavours include original lemon, butterscotch, cinnamon, clove, ginger, mint and a ‘medicinal’ humbug flavour. Other traditional sweet treats include tablet, treacle toffee and fudge.

You can also satisfy your sweet tooth with some more recent creations like Iron Brew Humbugs, Saltire Rock, and Banoffee Toffee.

It’s recommended to check the shop’s website to confirm exact opening times before visiting.

• Location: 25 Roods, Kirriemuir, DD8 4EZ
• Opening times:

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 10am to 4.30pm
Wednesday: 10am to 4.30pm
Thursday: 10am to 4.30pm
Friday: 10am to 5pm
Saturday: 10am to 5pm

Location 6: Dinner at Airlie Arms Hotel

The Airlie Arms Hotel is a traditional, family-run hotel in the heart of Kirriemuir that offers a relaxed, child-friendly and convenient place for dinner.

Enjoy a range of freshly prepared food from the menu, including delicious starters like haggis bites, salt and pepper squid, and main courses like Arbroath haddock and homemade steak pie.

The menu also includes a selection of burgers, pizza and pasta dishes, as well as a number of options for children.

• Location: 4 St Malcolm’s Wynd, Kirriemuir, DD8 4HB
• Opening times: Food served daily from 11.45am to 8.30pm