See beautiful Angus on foot. Angus is ideal walking country, at all levels of ability. Walkers have the best opportunity of any visitor to see the wildlife and the glorious scenery in Angus - the rolling fields between towns and the countryside, the magnificent terrain of the glens and mountains, and the coastal panorama of surging seas, sweeping beaches and steep cliffs. There are a great variety of walks - from gentle paths to strenuous hill-walks, ideal for family rambles or serious day hiking, so you'll find that there is a route to suit you in Angus.
The friendly annual Angus Walking Festival takes place in the first week of June each year. The dates for the 2008 Festival are 29th May to 1st June,
Walks are organised and lead by experienced guides, and the Festival offers a superb weekend of walking and socialising. Stay in a local hotel or B&B and really get into the swing of things!
See links to the Angus Glens Walking Festival 
Relax and get to know Angus, take this great opportunity to be introduced to the Angus walking experience with expert guidance.
To be added to the Festival's mailing list please email walkingfestival@angusanddundee.co.uk.
Other local walking events: Blairgowrie and East Perthshire Walking Festival takes place in Autumn each year - walk Scotland's newest long distance path, The Cateran Trail, a (64 mile/103 kilometre) route in the footsteps of the maurauding clans and cattle thieves of Perthshire near the border with Angus, and the Angus Glens. Go to www.walkingfestival.org Tel: 01738 475394.
For the family rambler, many lovely walks are easily accessible. Angus Council has recently built a new section of path at Barry Buddon, between Monifieth and Carnoustie. This has made it possible for cyclists and walkers to follow a more or less continuous off road route from Broughty Ferry to Carnoustie. A new bridge and link path across the Elliot Burn at Arbroath have recently been completed and plans are being developed to extend this cycle path to Easthaven and Carnoustie. Plans are also being developed to extend the clifftop path north of Arbroath as far as Auchmithie. The possibility of developing other sections of the coastal path in the future is being investigated.
Over the next few years path networks will be created around each of the Angus burghs. The Forfar path network has been completed and the Arbroath path network will be signposted shortly. Work is now underway on the Brechin path network and proposals are being developed for a network around Kirriemuir. The Brechin and Kirriemuir networks are being developed as part of the Eastern Cairngorms Access Project. Initial consultation on the Montrose path network has been carried out. Initial consultation on the Carnoustie and Monifieth networks will take place in 2006.
Walkers are advised to ensure they wear appropriate footwear and clothing for the weather and conditions, to carry mobile telephones, to let someone know start and expected return times, and are asked to respect the ways of the countryside: be safe and plan your trip, close gates behind you, do not leave any litter, and do not disturb any animals or flora (protect the environment), and respect the rights of others.
In the past, Scottish tradition allowed walkers to ramble with freedom and without "trespassing", which people from other countries found refreshing and liberating. This tradition was built on the mutual respect for property and the recognition of the right of everyone to enjoy our wonderful countryside.
To reinforce these rights and responsibilities, since 2005 The Scottish Outdoor Access Code has given detailed guidance on responsibilities when exercising access rights. The Code sets out where and when access rights apply.
The three key principles for responsible access apply:
Respect the interests of other people:
Be considerate, respect privacy and livelihoods, and the needs of those enjoying the outdoors.
Care for the Environment:
Look after the places you visit and enjoy. Care for wildlife and historic sites.
Take responsibility for your own actions:
The outdoors cannot be made risk-free for people exercising access rights; land managers should act with care for people's safety.
An excellent path takes walkers through Scottish Natural Heritage's (SNH) Corrie Fee National Nature Reserve (NNR). The path is part of the Eastern Cairngorms Access Project.
There has been an informal route through Corrie Fee for many years and it was decided that a path needed to be formalised to create an easier route through the NNR and to protect the site from damaging erosion that can be caused by large numbers of people walking over the ground. The new path is a high quality handmade surface which should last for a number of years before needing repair. The path took ten months to complete at a final cost £155,000 and has a very 'natural' look which should improve even more with age.
The path takes walkers from the edge of Glendoll forest, owned by the Forestry Commission Scotland, across the floor of the Corrie, over the moraines (glacial deposits) and up past the waterfall of the Fee burn onto the plateau. From the path fantastic views over Corrie Fee, Craig Rennet and Corrie Sharroch, all part of the SNH reserve, and across to Glen Doll and Glen Clova can be gained. Corrie Fee NNR is one of the best sites in Britain for montane flora, particularly rare arctic-alpine plants, montane willow scrub (including the rare woolly willow) and upland birds. Red Data Book species and nationally scarce plants such as purple coltsfoot, the fern Alpine woodsia and yellow oxytropis can be found here and the area is home to important bird populations such as golden eagle and peregrine. The NNR is owned by SNH but is managed in partnership with Angus Council's Angus Glens Ranger Service.
The Angus Glens Ranger Service provides guided walks in Corrie Fee taking visitors along the path and off the beaten track to discover more about the area and its plants and wildlife. To find out more about these contact the rangers at Braedownie ranger base on 01575 550233.
The Eastern Cairngorms Access Project (ECAP), which in Angus is being coordinated by Angus Council, is a partnership between Angus and Aberdeenshire councils, the Upper Deeside Access Trust, Scottish Natural Heritage, the Cairngorms National Park and local enterprise companies and tourist boards. The organisations have joined forces to do restoration work to protect many of the areas popular paths and to provide better outdoor information and signage, new walking and cycle routes and parking facilities.The ambitious programme has attracted £1,049,000 from the European Regional Development Fund and over £739,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund as well as funds from SNH.
Forestry Commission Glen Doll
Find more information at: The Angus Glens
Other useful links:
http://www.angusahead.com/Web/Site/VisitAngus/VisitEvents/WalkingFest.asp
The Mountaineering Council of Scotland
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Further contacts:
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Scottish Natural Heritage |
Angus Council |
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Angus Council Ranger Service |
Angus Council Ranger Service |
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Angus Council Ranger Service |
Angus Council Ranger Service |
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Angus Glens Ranger Service |
Angus Council |
