Forfar is a small town in Angus 20 miles north of Dundee. The main reasons to visit are Glamis Castle, and the fine collections of Pictish carved stones.

Get in

• 13 miles north of Dundee off the A90, which is the closest mail rail connection.
• regional buses from Brechin, Dundee and Arbroath.
• long distance buses from Aberdeen and Glasgow.

Get around

• town bus services

See

• 1 Aberlemno Sculptured Stones, Aberlemno. Early Medieval standing stones (updated Dec 2016)
• 2 Meigle Sculptured Stone Museum, Meigle. exhibition of 27 carved Pictish stones (updated Dec 2016)
• 3 Edzell Castle. ruined 16th-century castle, with an early-17th-century walled garden (updated Dec 2016)
• 4 Glamis Castle. 17th century. (Pronounced Glam-Z) is situated beside the village of Glamis. It is the home of the Earl and Countess of Strathmore and Kinghorne, and is open to the public. Glamis Castle has been the home of the Lyon family since the 14th century, though the present building dates largely from the 17th century. Glamis was the childhood home of Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, who married King George VI, and was later known as Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. Her second daughter, Princess Margaret, was born there. The castle is protected as a category A listed building, and the grounds are included on the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland, the national listing of significant gardens. (updated Dec 2016)
• 5 Meffan Institute. museum and art gallery, includes the Pictish Kirriemuir Sculptured Stones and the Dunnichen Stone (updated Dec 2016)

Do

• 1 Forfar Indoor Sports, Suttieside Rd,, ☏ +44 1307 468668. curling, bowling, ice skating (updated Mar 2017)
• Watch football: Forfar Athletic play soccer in Scottish League One, the third tier in Scotland. Their home ground is Station Park, capacity 7000, on Carseview Rd at the north edge of town.
• Angus Agricultural Show is held annually in June in the nearby town of Brechin. The next event is probably on 13 June 2020 but tbc.
• Strathmore Highland Games are normally held the same weekend at Glamis Castle, but the 2020 games were cancelled so their next event is probably Sun 13 June 2021, tbc.

Those are followed by Kirriemuir Agricultural Show, next probably on Sat 11 July 2020 but tbc.

Glamis Country Fair & Horse Trails, at the Castle, is next held F 31 July - Su 2 Aug 2020.

Eat

• Bridies are local savoury meat pastry pies.
• 1 The Castle Club, 100-108 Castle St DD8 3DR, ☏ +44 1307 466277. M-Sa 12:00-14:00, 17:00-21:00; Su 16:30-19:00. Their Sunday High Teas are good value. (updated Aug 2019)
• 2 Queen Street Tavern, 45-53 Queen St DD8 3DL, ☏ +44 1307 462722. M Tu 11:00-23:00, W-Sa 11:00-00:00, Su 12:00-20:30. Good pub grub. (updated Aug 2019)

Drink

• 1 The Queens Hotel Forfar, 12-14 Cross,, ☏ +44 1307 462533. Open daily. Has basic rooms but it's essentially a pub. (updated Aug 2019)

Sleep

• 1 Chapelbank Hotel, 67-69 E High St, Forfar DD8 2EP, ☏ +44 1307 463151. Friendly welcoming place. B&B double £90. (updated Aug 2019)

Go next

• Arbroath
• Dundee

Routes through Forfar

Aberdeen ← Stonehaven ←

NE  S

→ Dundee → Perth