Balmashanner Hill - locally known as Bummie - rises from the southern edges of Forfar and from its memorial there are fine views over the town. This short walk climbs up through Reid Park to make an enjoyable round.
Summary
Good paths and pavements with a fair amount of ascent.
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1. Park in the Myre car park in the centre of Forfar. Begin the walk by leaving the car park along the road to the east to reach Castle Street, one of the main shopping streets of Forfar. Turn right along this, through the Buttermarket and passing the Town and County Hall, on the left as you reach the High Street. This imposing building dates to 1787 and was designed by James Playfair, a London architect and father of William Henry Playfair who designed much of Edinburgh's New Town.
2. Carefully cross over to the far side of the High Street and then head a short distance to the left, looking out for the entrance to Osnaburg Street, an alleyway, on the right. Forfar's fortunes were built on weaving flax grown in the area into a type of cloth called Osnaburg. Pass the Osnaburg pub and turn left in front of the swimming pool, then forking right to follow the Vennel, a street climbing uphill. Part way up, look out on the left for Sparrowcroft, a very narrow street with a row of cottages. At the top of the Vennel turn right onto St James Road.
3. Pass Strathmore Primary School and then turn left up Reid Park Road. At the top of this a stone archway marks the entrance to Reid Park, gifted to the folk of Forfar by a confectioner called Peter Reid and opened in 1896. Reid invented a type of rock called Forfar Rock or Peter Reid Rock, which became world-famous at the time and made him a fortune; today the recipe has been lost. Reid also built the Reid Hall in the town and was said to have been so generous to others that he died a poor man, at the great age of 94. Go through the arch and then turn right at the t-junction. Follow the path uphill as it curves left and heads uphill along the west edge of the park, with a bandstand over to the left.
4. At the top of the park turn right and leave it through a gap in the stone wall. The path now already gives good views back over Forfar; keep left at the fork. Soon the path turns left and climbs uphill between a fence and a hedge, eventually reaching a junction on Balmashanner Hill. Turn right here at first to make a short detour to the impressive stone tower - a war memorial. It was built in 1921 as a memorial to those who died in the Great War.
5. After enjoying the fine view, head back to the path junction and this time continue straight ahead - signed for Lour Road and Easterbank. Soon the path passes a green-painted shelter and viewpoint indicator, another gift by a town benefactor, this time courtesy of James Anderson in 1921. The path bends left here and then right; continue on the main route enjoying the views across Strathmore towards the Angus Glens. The path eventually slopes downhill and reaches Lour Road. The quickest and perhaps best way back is to turn left and follow this back down into the town; there is a pavement which begins just a few metres on. An alternative is to take the path opposite which leads across to South Street and an alternative, longer way back to the town centre.
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