This part of Scotland's east coast is well known for its fine sandy Carnoustie Bay so Carnoustie has long been a favourite seaside holiday resort, with all the amenities you would expect. There are several good hotels, guest houses and bed and breakfast establishments to choose from and the restaurants make good use of the fresh local produce readily available and in plentiful supply. Situated 10 miles north of Dundee just off the main A92 dual carriageway (follow signs for Arbroath from Dundee) and on the main east coast Scottish railway line between Edinburgh and Aberdeen, Carnoustie is easy to reach by car or public transport.
The town is laid out on a grid system , and has a pleasant long straight main street with many lively small businesses offering most of the requirements visitors may have: tourist information centre, coffee shops, pubs, food retailers, pharmacies, hairdressers, news agents, fast food outlets, gift retailers, a public library, a pet store, and many more.
Golf in CarnoustieThe first 18 hole golf course in Carnoustie was established in 1842. This was followed by the Carnoustie Lady's Golf Club in 1873. Ten years later, Simpsons Golf Shop appeared in the town, the precursor of an industry now said to be one of most lucrative in the world. The shop is still here, complete with its wonderfully attractive 'golf umbrella' dome.
Carnoustie today boasts three golf courses, with many more within a short distance of the town. The latest and most spectacular addition to the golfing scene is the large Carnoustie Hotel Golf 
Resort, a four star hotel complex completed in time for the 1999 Open Championship. This was the first for some time to be held in Carnoustie, and the first for a long time to be won by Paul Lawrie, a Scotsman and local son. 2007 sees the return of the Open Championship to Carnoustie, when the town will welcome over 200,000 visitors and golfers.
Carnoustie's fortunes have not always depended solely on golf. In 1857 the large Panmure Works was founded in the town. Within a couple of decades it was employing 600 people producing over 5 million yards of assorted textiles each year. Parts of the works continue in operation today. Another early success, and one that also continues, was Carnoustie's role as a centre for malting barley.
Barry Water Mill, a National Trust For Scotland property is open to visitors from April to October and can be seen in operation at certain times of the week.
Carnoustie's golf courses lie at the town end of the large triangle of Barry Links, a promontary on the north side of the mouth of the Firth of Tay.
Carnoustie's name is said to mean 'the Cairn of Heroes' and refers to a battle said to have been fought there in 1010 between MalcolmII and the Danish Vikings. As with much of the east coast of Scotland and Northumbria, Danish Viking raids were a common occurrence from 850 AD onwards. The Viking who led this particular onslaught, Camus, was slain and buried and his men were routed. Carnoustie has a street named after him to this day, and the Camus Cross is said to record his resting place.
The late Reverend W D Chisholm wrote about the Cross
'Up from their long boats drawn up on the shore, up the burns of Barry, Pitairlie and Monikie, crossing the earth houses, past the Old Downie motte, up the hill they come, these wild Danish Vikings on one of their foraging raids. On the hill-top, they meet the strongly positioned barons and men of the army of the King of Scotland, Malcolm II. In the fierce fighting, King Camus, the Viking leader is slain. He is buried and laid to rest. His men flee in disorder. Some run as far as Aberlemno (to the north-east in Angus). Others disappear into hiding. Many die. How else can we explain the Viking stone coffin found at Carlungie?
Someone, somehow, sometime comes upon the burial mound and fashions over it what is one of the finest examples in Angus of a Celtic Cross. Yes, it might have been disturbed in 1630 when various Norse ornaments were taken away by Sir Patrick Maule to Brechin Castle. Yes, it might have been moved in the 19th Century to allow the planning of the beautifully straight avenue from Panmure House to the Testimonial, but still it stands for all to admire.'
The 1000th Anniversary of the death of Camus comes round in 2010.
See also Camus Cross at www.monikie.org.uk
We look forward to offering you a warmer welcome than Camus received, no need to wait until 2010, and our heroes today wield nothing more fserious than a golf club!
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