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Forfar Loch Walk

2.49 miles (4 km)

Ordnance Survey Map Open Streetmap Follow the 2.5 mile trail around the beautiful Forfar Loch on this circular cycle or walk route in Angus. The loch is surrounded by woodland, grassland and some lovely countryside. Other attractions include pitch and putt, crazy golf and the Lochside Leisure Centre.
It's a great area for wildlife with kingfisher, otter, fox, roe deer and ospreys to look out for. There's also a Wildlife Garden with a variety of habitats to explore.

Postcode

DD8 1BT - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locations

Forfar Loch Country Park OS Map Ordnance survey map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Forfar Loch Country Park Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Dog Walking

The lochside path and the surrounding woodland are great for dog walking so you'll probably see other owners on a fine day.

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

Just to the east of the town you'll fine two more scenic lochs in the shape of Rescobie Loch and Balgavies Loch. The latter has some nice footpaths and is also a wildlife reserve. Here you'll find reedbeds and willow carr, attracting water rail, great crested grebe and a number of wintering wildfowl, including goldeneye, teal and wigeon. The reserve is also a haven for red squirrel and ospreys. The reserve has a car park and can be found at postcode DD8 2SE for your sat navs. Rescobie Loch sits just to its west and is a popular spot for anglers.
If you head south east towards Angus you'll find a couple of other fine country parks to explore. Crombie Country Park and Monikie Country Park are located close to each other and both are well worth a visit.
A few miles to the north west you could visit Kirriemuir and the Loch of Kinnordy. The RSPB nature reserve includes a wide variety of wildlife and nice waterside trails.

Photos

Forfar Loch - geograph.org.uk - 405416

Forfar Loch. On the left is a sycamore which, though it has fallen, continues to flower. The sailing club premises on St Margaret's Inch are in the background.

Forfar Loch - geograph.org.uk - 405426

Looking along the north shore of the loch towards the town. The prominent steeple is the parish kirk.

Cottages by Forfar Loch - geograph.org.uk - 1131003

Cottages by Forfar Loch. These cottages are on the north side of the loch beside the track leading to Garth, and they are seen here across the reed beds on the south side.

Forfar Loch Country Park - geograph.org.uk - 938647

Forfar Loch Country Park. The footpath round the loch passes just beyond the benches and picnic tables at the head of the inlet to the north of St Margaret's Inch. The sheltered water and grassy beach are popular with swans, wintering geese and bathing dogs, but the water's edge can get pretty messy as a result, especially if the water level is low.

Forfar Loch - geograph.org.uk - 405465

Looking east from the bird viewing platform

Forfar Loch - geograph.org.uk - 938652

The main expanse of Forfar Loch south of St Margaret's Inch, with a few more boats in the foreground.

Garth Farm - geograph.org.uk - 1131008

The farm is set back from the north side of the loch, but its location is less tranquil than it looks in this view from the south side of the loch because the A90 dual carriageway passes just a couple of hundred metres to the left of the farm.

St Margaret's Inch - geograph.org.uk - 938632

St Margaret's Inch. Legend says that the promontory in the loch was the site of Queen Margaret's castle in the 11th century. In those days it would have been an island, but the level of the loch is lower now. It is now the base of Forfar Sailing Club.

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

Forfar Loch Country Park.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)

Memory Map Route

Forfar Loch Country Park.mmo (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold >Download Linked File)