Home Report Forfar

Forfar, Angus, is a historic burgh and former market town of roughly 14,200 residents situated about 13 miles north of the city of Dundee and 17 miles to the west of Montrose. Forfar is the historic county town and administrative centre of Angus.

Forfar has a rich and diverse history. It was once the ancient Kingdom of the Picts and the Kingdom of Scotland and played host to thousands of Roman soldiers during one of the invasions of the country. It also played a part during the Scottish Wars of Independence when it was occupied by English forces before being recaptured by the Scots.

Today, Forfar is primarily a commuter town for workers in the city of Dundee, however the town itself has several economic activities of its own, such as tourism and agriculture, with the former catering for the scenic Strathmore area and nearby Angus Glens.

Transport links are well defined. By road, the nearby A90 allows for easy travel to both Dundee and Aberdeen. There are several bus services to Dundee, Arbroath, Kirriemuir, Brechin and other nearby towns. The town has no dedicated railway station of its own though and the nearest stations still open are in Dundee, Carnoustie and Arbroath.

In terms of local amenities and attractions, Forfar has a good array of both local independent and chain shops, as well as a number of popular cafes, restaurants, pubs and takeaways. However, there’s a definitely more going than one might expect such as the popular monthly farmers market which attracts both locals and tourists throughout the year. Another great feature of the town is the Forfar Loch Country Park, which offers an escape to the countryside and is just a 10-minute walk from the town. As mentioned, tourism is one of the main activities within the town, driven by proximity to the Angus Glens, including Glen Doll, Glen Clova, Glen Prosen, Balmashanner Hill and more that are popular with skiers and hill walkers. Other great places for active types and families include Redwings Mountains, which provides sanctuary to 90 rescued horses, ponies, donkeys and mules and Crombie Country Park with its wonderful winding trails, picnic areas, and children’s play areas. The Meffan Gallery and Museum gives an insight into Forfar’s history, art and industrial heritage. Here you can wander through time in an old cobbled vennel, peer into a knockmaker’s workshop and see linen being woven. The Meffan Gallery and Museum also tells the grim history of Forfar’s place in the 17th century witch hunts.

For passionate gardeners, a visit to Pitmuies House is a must with its wonderful roses, herbaceous borders and woodland walks.

The town also holds many events throughout the year such as the bi-annual Forfar Mara-Fun, which raises money for charity, and the annual Forfar Food Festival highlighting some of the excellent local food from independent eateries and producers.

Forfar cannot be discussed without mentioning that it is home to the world- renowned Forfar Bridie, a horseshoe-shaped pastry with a shortcrust cover and filling of beef, onions and seasoning popular with locals and visitors alike. The Forfar Bridie has been featured on many TV programmes and a recipe for the Forfar Bridie was also featured in “Maw Broon’s Cookbook”. Definitely worth a try.

In terms of local schooling, Forfar has three primary schools: Whitehills Primary School, (which contains a Gaelic Medium Unit where pupils are educated exclusively through the medium of Scottish Gaelic) Strathmore Primary School and Langlands Primary School. Forfar Academy is the local secondary school and one of the largest secondary schools in Angus.