A district of SE Aberdeenshire, the Howe of the Mearns forms a hill girt basin at the north eastern ends of the wide valley of Strathmore beyond Brechin.
It is separated from the North Sea by volcanic lava hills which culminate in Bruxie Hill (216m / 710 feet).
To the north the Howe is overlooked by Strathfinella Hill (414m / 1357 feet). Drained by the Luther Water and its tributaries, the chief town of the Mearns is Laurencekirk.