A Day Trip to Montrose Scotland with Grandson ...

In the Easter holidays , I took

a short break up to Scotland to 

see my eldest grandson Aidan , who 

lives in Cupar, Fife.

 

 

   

On the first day I decided we needed to do a day trip..

where too we had no idea, so we got a map out,

and picked Montrose. Cupar has a railway station

which is superb for us. it is on the main line Edinburgh to Aberdeen.  

 

"Montrose is in Angus, Scotland. It is situated 38 miles (61 kilometres) north of Dundee between the mouths of the North and South Esk rivers. It is the northernmost coastal town in Angus and developed at a natural harbour that traded in skins, hides and cured salmon in medieval times.
With a population of approximately 12,000, the town functions as a port, but the major employer is GlaxoSmithKline, which was saved from closure in 2006.

Montrose is a town with a wealth of architecture, and is a centre for international trade. It is an important commercial port for the thriving oil and gas industry. It is known for its wide thoroughfare and high street which leads to picturesque closes containing secluded gardens. The town has a view of a 2 mi (3 km) square tidal lagoon, Montrose Basin, which is considered a nature reserve of international importance. It is the largest inland salt water basin in the UK, and an important habitat for the mute swan. Just outside Montrose is the 18th-century House of Dun, designed by the Scottish architect William Adam and built in 1730 for David Erskine, 13th Laird of Dun." 

 

 

The above is Ulex (commonly known as gorse, furze or whin) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae. The genus comprises about 20 species of thorny evergreen shrubs in the subfamily Faboideae of the pea family Fabaceae. The species are native to parts of western Europe and northwest Africa, with the majority of species in Iberia.

 

In some places the hedges and fields are covered , making a carpet of Yellow ..



 

 



The Tay Bridge carries the main-line railway across the Firth of Tay in Scotland, between the city of Dundee and the suburb of Wormit in Fife. Its span is 2.75 miles (3.5 kilometres).
The present structure is the second one on its site.
From about 1854, there had been plans for a Tay crossing, to replace an early train-ferry. The first bridge, opened in 1878, was a single-track lattice design, notable for lightness and low cost. Its sudden collapse in a high wind on 28 December 1879 was one of the great engineering disasters of history, and its causes are still debated today.
The second bridge was a double-track construction of iron and steel, opened in 1887 and still in service. In 2003, a strengthening and refurbishing project was recognised by a major award for the scale and difficulty of the work. 

This was taken from the train as we were going round the bend ...

on the

TAY RAIL BRIDGE..



 

 

Arbroth Beach

 

As we were approaching Montrose by train, 

Smiley Grandson Aidan ,, 



Montrose Basin is an enclosed estuary of the river South Esk covering 750 hectares, home to over 80,000 migratory birds – including pink-footed geese, Arctic terns, knots and sedge warblers. Our four-star visitor centre offers a great day out for all the family in Angus.

 

We didn't go down to the Basin but you can if you find the visitors centre . 

 

Below we have

 

BILL THE SMITH

 

I Think he was an everyday person from the town

who inspired the sculpture.

 

SCULPTURED BY

 

 William Lamb ARSA in 1937. Born in 1893 Lamb Sculpted portraits of many fine artists local to Montrose in the 1920's, as well as society figures. The most famous being the Queen Mother (then the Duchess of York) together with her children. Despite his famous commissions he was inspired most by the everyday people and places around Montrose, his home town.

 

MONTROSE is regarded as the sculpture capital of Angus,

 with 23 statues of note scattered around the seaside town.

 

 

Old and St Andrew's Church is located on the High Street in Montrose. Montrose is a busy seaside town situated on the east coast of Scotland approximately half way between Aberdeen and Dundee. There has been a church on this site for hundreds of years. The present building dates from 1791 with its magnificent steeple designed by James Gillespie Graham, dating from 1834. Formerly known as Montrose Old Church it was recently united with St Andrew's Church to become Old and St Andrew's Church, Montrose, a Church of Scotland church.

 

 

Seagull taking a rest on the chimney!

 



We walked in one direction , which we thought was heading to the beach

but it just took us into a area without life, except for the men standing outside

the tiny pubs which are still in use.

 

After a long walk we found the Beach.

Both happy then and Aidan had

lunch in the little café near to the sea.

Decoration in the small café we found on the hill near the Sea..

 

A beautiful pavilion , not sure if it is still in use.

 



 

 

Grandson having  a Stone Skimming Session , I am way up high..

 



 

HI  NANNY



 

 

SEA DEFENCE ROCKS 

 

LITTLE PARK IN A LOVELY STREET ,

QUITE AFFLUENT AREA .

 

Not all was like this , we walked miles this day around the town

and even my grandson said "Nanny , why is this area like this?"
Some of the areas were somewhat neglected and felt a bit sad. 

 

 

LOVELY WALK WAY LEADING TO THE CHURCH WITH

THE CEMETARY ON EITHER SIDE. 



The Whisperer’ statue outside the library to his studio on Market Street,

which he left as a memorial to the town when he died in 1951 

 

 

DOWN AT THE DOCKS..

The Seafarer statue by William Lamb in Montrose harbour

 

If you are interested in reading about William Lamb,

you might try and get a copy of this book .

‘The People’s Sculptor’


 

 

 

 

Seamen's Hall

In Wharf Street overlooking Montrose Harbour.

 



 

Please click on link to read about BAMSE.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bamse_(St._Bernard)

 



Flying birds sculpture

 

We had a fabulous day out , our favourite was the Beach ♥♥♥

 

Lots to see if you are into Architecture , Churches and Statues.

Lovely walk to the Beach , a great little Museum too.

 

You can also get a map from the museum and do the Sculpture walk.

 

Thank you Aidan for coming with me.. Super fun.

and we ended the day with dinner out together at an Indian Restaurant.

 

♥♥♥♥♥♥