Home Report Carnoustie

Carnoustie is a famous golf town in Angus, of roughly 11,400 residents about 11 miles to the west of Dundee and about 7.5 miles to the east of Arbroath. It is at the mouth of the Barry Burn on the North Sea coast. The town was founded in the late 18th century and grew rapidly throughout the 19th century due to the growth of the local handloom linen weaving industry. It was also extremely popular as a tourist resort from the early Victorian era up to the latter half of the 20th century, due to its seaside location, and because of the Carnoustie Golf Links course that often hosts the annual Open Championship, the oldest golf tournament in the world and one of the most prestigious too. In the present-day it still draws quite a diverse crowd of fans and enthusiasts from across the world.

Carnoustie though is primarily a residential dormitory town for Dundee with much of the town’s active working population travelling to the city. Naturally, golf tourism and leisure also play a significant role in the town’s economy, with the Open Championship generating tens of millions of pounds alone. Another highlight in the calendar is the annual Gala Week which is a lot of fun for locals and tourists alike, sporting plenty to do and see from Pipe Bands to Parades, folk music, various events, shows, competitions, and more, culminating in a bonfire and fireworks display. It might not be on the same level as the Open, but it is an extremely popular and fun local event.

Other amenities and attractions include Barry Mill, a working mill to this day powdered by water set in lovely countryside, perfect for a trip back in time. There’s also Carnoustie Beach,

Naturally, golf must be mentioned here, and keen golfers can test their skills on the challenging courses in and around Carnoustie, like the challenging Carnoustie Golf Club itself. Golfers can also enjoy high-quality golf on the Burnside and Buddon Links courses, both providing a high-quality alternative to the Championship layout. While golfers test their skills on the courses swimming, sailing, windsurfing, and fishing can be enjoyed at the bay and nearby beach.

In terms of transport links, Carnoustie is served by two nearby railway stations: Carnoustie railway station and Golf Street Railway station (aptly named). The nearest main road is the A92 to the north of the town which allows for travel into Dundee and connections further still to Perth, Aberdeen, Dunfermline, Stirling, Falkirk and Edinburgh. There are regular bus services to Arbroath and Dundee too.

As for local schooling, the local primary schools are Burnside Primary School, Carlogie Primary School and Woodlands Primary School. Carnoustie High School is situated on Shanwell Road and takes all secondary pupils from Carnoustie and the surrounding rural area.