Arbroath

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Arbroath is in Angus, north east of Dundee and south of Montrose. This old harbour town is perhaps best known its red sandstone abbey, and its local speciality: Arbroath Smokies.

Arbroath Clifftop Walk Ladybridge Street in Arbroath Arbroath and its surrounding areas have been inhabited since at least the Neolithic period. During the middle of the 1800s, Arbroath had significant production capabilities and was a source of sails, jute, lawnmowers, and shoes. Another boom in industry occurred between 1900 to 1980. During this time, roughly 40 large fishing vessels employed several hundred men. Since the 1980s, fishing has declined and now very little of the industry remains.

Keptie Pond Signal Tower Museum

  • Arbroath Abbey, Abbey St. The Arbroath Abbey was founded by King William the Lion in 1178 and was completed in 1233. King William was buried here in 1214. Today, the abbey is in ruins. It is believed that the lead roof was recycled for other purposes in the 16th century civil war and the red sandstone was used to build houses in the nearby area. The finer details of the abbey's architecture have been lost to time, however much of the exterior structure remains.
  • Keptie Pond. Scenic park wrapped around a pond. At the top of the hill there is a stone brick building overlooking the park that locals call the Water Tower.
  • Arbroath Signal Tower Museum, Ladyloan. Tuesday to Saturday 10am - 5pm. Free.
  • St Vigeans Church. church rebuilt in 12th century, Pictish Symbol Stones

Arbroath Abbey, Abbey St. The Arbroath Abbey was founded by King William the Lion in 1178 and was completed in 1233. King William was buried here in 1214. Today, the abbey is in ruins. It is believed that the lead roof was recycled for other purposes in the 16th century civil war and the red sandstone was used to build houses in the nearby area. The finer details of the abbey's architecture have been lost to time, however much of the exterior structure remains.

Keptie Pond. Scenic park wrapped around a pond. At the top of the hill there is a stone brick building overlooking the park that locals call the Water Tower.

Arbroath Signal Tower Museum, Ladyloan. Tuesday to Saturday 10am - 5pm. Free.

St Vigeans Church. church rebuilt in 12th century, Pictish Symbol Stones

  • Arbroath Clifftop Walk. This walk starts at King's Drive and goes all the way to Auchmithie. It meanders on the top of the red sandstone cliffs and provides an excellent view of the ocean and surrounding countryside. It is almost always a very windy walk. It is possible, in some areas, to climb down to ocean level. The locals often use these areas to swim during summer. Please use caution, as the tides can turn previously dry areas or a shallow pool of water into ocean very quickly.
  • Kerr's Miniature Railway. This is the oldest miniature railway in Scotland. There are several, small versions of locomotion that ferry children and adults along a roughly 1/2-mile track. Adults : £1.50, Children: £1.00.
  • Watch football (ie soccer): Arbroath FC were promoted in 2019 and now play in the Championship, the second tier of Scottish football. Their stadium Gayfield Park is near the coast at the south end of town.

Arbroath Clifftop Walk. This walk starts at King's Drive and goes all the way to Auchmithie. It meanders on the top of the red sandstone cliffs and provides an excellent view of the ocean and surrounding countryside. It is almost always a very windy walk. It is possible, in some areas, to climb down to ocean level. The locals often use these areas to swim during summer. Please use caution, as the tides can turn previously dry areas or a shallow pool of water into ocean very quickly.

Kerr's Miniature Railway. This is the oldest miniature railway in Scotland. There are several, small versions of locomotion that ferry children and adults along a roughly 1/2-mile track. Adults : £1.50, Children: £1.00.

Watch football (ie soccer): Arbroath FC were promoted in 2019 and now play in the Championship, the second tier of Scottish football. Their stadium Gayfield Park is near the coast at the south end of town.

Most shops are located on or near High Street. Arbroath is not known for its shopping. There are few local stores or specialities. Arbroath has a Tesco (Cairnie St, Stobcross), Boots (142-146 High St), and a few other chain locations to get your essentials.

No trip to Arbroath would be complete without sampling their famous smoked haddock, called a smokie. This delicacy is sourced to restaurants and food stores all around Scotland, so you'll be able to try it even if you don't eat them in Arbroath. However, nothing quite compares to eating one that finished smoking a few minutes before you ate it. Most locations that make smokies will have a sign outside that indicates the time the next batch of smokies will be ready.

  • Peppo's Harbour Chip Bar, 53 Ladybridge Street. A traditional fish and chips shop that has been in business for several decades. The fish and meat used are all locally sourced. The food is cooked to order. The fish and chips are excellent and the mock chop supper is also worth trying. This is a very small place and geared more toward take-out. Expect a queue, sometimes stretching outside, on most days.
  • The But 'n' Ben, Auchmithie, +44 1241 877223. This restaurant serves seafood and high tea. The food here is traditional, excellent and the interior has cosy, beach house décor. It is located about 3 miles (4.7 km) from the centre of Arbroath. It sits on the top of a cliff and overlooks the old Auchmithie harbour. After your meal, take a walk down the gravel road to the bottom of the cliffs. There are stunning views of the sandstone cliffs and caves if you walk along the rocky beach near the harbour.
  • The Coast Restaurant & Bar, 4 Gravesend, +44 1241 437811. 10 AM - 12 AM Sunday to Wednesday. 10 AM - 1 AM Thursday. 10 AM - 2 AM Friday and Saturday. Serves foods such as meat pies, steak, burgers, and fish & chips. The interior is clean and gives off a slightly more upscale atmosphere. Portion sizes are substantial. The dessert menu changes frequently; there is a cheesecake of the day. Casual dress and family friendly. £12.
  • Stuart's Fresh Fish, Ladybridge House, 46 Ladybridge St, Arbroath DD11 1AX. Varied. Stuart is one of Arbroath's smokie makers. He will show you how his fish are smoked in the back room smokehouse at Ladybridge House and sell you fresh from the smoker warm smokies together with a range of fresh fish to cook. He also runs a mail order business and will ship throughout the UK £11.

Peppo's Harbour Chip Bar, 53 Ladybridge Street. A traditional fish and chips shop that has been in business for several decades. The fish and meat used are all locally sourced. The food is cooked to order. The fish and chips are excellent and the mock chop supper is also worth trying. This is a very small place and geared more toward take-out. Expect a queue, sometimes stretching outside, on most days.

The But 'n' Ben, Auchmithie, +44 1241 877223. This restaurant serves seafood and high tea. The food here is traditional, excellent and the interior has cosy, beach house décor. It is located about 3 miles (4.7 km) from the centre of Arbroath. It sits on the top of a cliff and overlooks the old Auchmithie harbour. After your meal, take a walk down the gravel road to the bottom of the cliffs. There are stunning views of the sandstone cliffs and caves if you walk along the rocky beach near the harbour.

The Coast Restaurant & Bar, 4 Gravesend, +44 1241 437811. 10 AM - 12 AM Sunday to Wednesday. 10 AM - 1 AM Thursday. 10 AM - 2 AM Friday and Saturday. Serves foods such as meat pies, steak, burgers, and fish & chips. The interior is clean and gives off a slightly more upscale atmosphere. Portion sizes are substantial. The dessert menu changes frequently; there is a cheesecake of the day. Casual dress and family friendly. £12.

Stuart's Fresh Fish, Ladybridge House, 46 Ladybridge St, Arbroath DD11 1AX. Varied. Stuart is one of Arbroath's smokie makers. He will show you how his fish are smoked in the back room smokehouse at Ladybridge House and sell you fresh from the smoker warm smokies together with a range of fresh fish to cook. He also runs a mail order business and will ship throughout the UK £11.