Arbroath is an old fishing port, famed for its 'smokies' - smoked haddock still produced in tiny smokeries in the harbour area. It's place for its Abbey and the Declaration of Arbroath which was made there - an assertion of Scottish Independence from the days of King Robert the Bruce.
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Pavements or good paths throughout
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1. Begin the walk from the car park at Arbroath Harbour. Before heading into the town and beginning the walk proper, it is worth visiting the modern building immediately to the south - the Harbour Visitor Centre - for information, and also the elegant Signal Tower beyond. This was built in 1813 as a signalling station for Bell Rock lighthouse, which is over 11 miles out to sea; now it houses the town museum and so is an ideal place to start your exploration. Return to the harbour; Arbroath's first protection for boats was built in 1394 but the current harbour dates to 1877.
2. Continue east from the fine georgian houses of the Shore, passing the first of many of the little shops selling Arbroath smokies. Turn right at the cross-roads (with the Ship Inn) and then follow the road as it swings left. Note the old houses with outside stairways (now a cafe and restaurant), but continue directly ahead down Seagate, the narrow lane to the left of the Old Brewhouse. This soon becomes South Street; at the far end continue ahead, now on a pavement beside the seafront wall and passing some modernist gateposts. The road loads to a car park and public toilets beside the historic St Ninian's Well.
3. Head up a footpath that climbs up to the cliff level; there is a footpath sign here. A right turn leads out along the clifftop walk to Auchmithie, but our route takes a left turn to begin heading back towards Arbroath along the top of the grassy bank and Victoria Park; there are excellent views along here. The path crosses a bridge over a road and continues atop the grassy bank all the way back to Arbroath. Here the grassy top widens; keep left at the first fork and right at a second.
4. A couple of steps lead down to a path running alongside a low stone wall, with good views down into the streets of Arbroath ahead; this is Boulzie Hill. Keep right at the next fork (rather than the steeper left hand descent) to reach Hill Road and head along Hill Terrace to reach Kirk Square. The tall church ahead was built in 1896 but replaced an earlier one; today it is disused. On the right is the public library in a fine building which was once an academy; in front of it is a statue of Robbie Burns. Continue ahead at the crossroads along a street with several car parks; the Abbey can be seen directly ahead.
5. As the Abbey wall is reached head round it to the left and then go through an arch - the Pend - in the red sandstone of this magnificent ruined complex of buildings. The Abbey was founded in 1189 and was dedicated to Thomas a Beckett. Although ruined today it has an important place in Scottish history. It was in 1320 that the Scottish Barons, under Robert the Bruce, assembled and signed the Declaration of Arbroath. Intended to convince the Pope of the rights of the Scots to fight the English to regain their independence, the declaration failed in its objective and the Scots remained excommunicated. However the stirring words rung out through the centuries and influenced the American Declaration of Independence. There is an excellent visitor centre at the Abbey. Once through the Pend, turn left down to the High Street.
6. At this point you must decide whether to include the walk out to St Vigeans. Omitting it cuts out an industrial section and 4km of distance, whereas including it means a visit to a fine church in a picturesque location and a visit to a museum of Pictish stones. To reach St Vigeans, go right along the High Street but immediately fork left onto Guthrie Port. This leads to a large and busy roundabout; keep to the right of it and carefully cross the A92. On the far side of this road bear left past the Arbroath Town Mission Centre and then follow the road as it swings to the right alongside the railway. Follow a brief industrial stretch and then go right onto Wardmill Road before the locked gate, and then left onto a tarmac footpath beside a warehouse. Keep left when the path forks and follow it alongside a burn. Eventually the path turns left and passes underneath the railway; turn right on the far side and then follow paths on either side of the burn to reach St Vigeans. The church enjoys a fine position atop a steep grassy mound; it stands on the site of a monastery which was founded in 700 AD. Below it are a row of picturesque cottages, two of which house a museum of the Pictish stones which were found here.
7. After exploring St Vigeans, retrace your steps all the way back to the High Street below the Abbey. This time continue straight down the High Street for some distance until the Town House is reached on the right; this was designed by David Logan and was built in 1808. Turn right down an alleyway beside the near side of Town House, passing the fine Corn Exchange building; this dates from 1855. For many years it operated as a cinema but now houses Abroath's branch of Wetherspoons. Continue ahead along Brothock Bridge; when it was built in 1840 this was claimed as the widest in the world, but today only a brief opening on the right reveals that you are on a bridge at all. Turn left alongside the dual carriageway, casting a glance at the offices of the Arbroath Herald in Brothock Mill - a former textile works opened by James Watt himself. Fork left again to return to the harbour car park and the start.
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