Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
However, there's enough left to get a good idea of how vast the place must have been:
the semicircular
west doorway
is more or less intact, complete with medieval
mouldings, and the
south transept
has a beautiful round window, once lit with a
beacon to guide ships. In the early 1950s, the
Stone of Destiny
had a brief sojourn here
when it was stolen from London by a group of Scottish nationalists and appeared,
wrapped in a Scottish flag, at the High Altar. It was duly returned to Westminster
Abbey, where it stayed until its relatively recent move to Edinburgh Castle (see p.63).
10
Brief history
Founded in 1178 but not granted abbey status until 1285, Arbroath Abbey was the
scene of one of the most significant events in Scotland's history when, on April 6,
1320, a group of Scottish barons drew up the
Declaration of Arbroath
, asking the pope
to reverse his excommunication of Robert the Bruce and recognize him as king of a
Scottish nation independent from England. he wonderfully resonant language of the
document still makes for stirring reading: “For so long as one hundred of us remain
alive, we will never in any degree be subject to the dominion of the English, since it is
not for glory, riches or honour that we do fight, but for freedom alone, which no
honest man loses but with his life.” It was duly dispatched to Pope John XXII in
Avignon, who in 1324 agreed to Robert's claim.
he abbey was dissolved during the Reformation, and until the nineteenth century,
when the first steps were taken to protect the abbey, it was little more than a source of
red sandstone for local houses.
St Vigeans
Although now little more than a northwestern dormitory of Arbroath, the pristine and
peaceful hamlet of
ST VIGEANS
is a fine example of a Pictish site colonized by Christians:
the church is set defiantly on a pre-Christian mound at the centre of the village. Many
Pictish stones
and fragments, dating back to 842 AD, are housed in the wonderful little
museum, including the Drosten Stone, presumed to be a memorial. One side depicts a
hunt, laced with an abundance of Pictish symbolism, while the other side bears a cross.
Auchmithie
Four miles north of Arbroath by road or coastal footpath, the clifftop village of
AUCHMITHIE
is the true home of the Arbroath smokie. However, the village didn't have
a proper harbour until the nineteenth century - local fishermen, apparently, were
carried to their boats by their wives to avoid getting wet feet - so Arbroath became the
more important port and laid claim to the delicacy.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
ARBROATH AND AROUND
By train
Trains arrive at the station on Keptie Street, less
than 10min walk from the seafront.
Destinations
Aberdeen (every 30min; 1hr); Dundee (every
30min; 20min); Montrose (roughly every 30min; 15min).
By bus
The bus station is on Catherine Street, close to the
railway station and within easy walking distance of the
tourist information o
ce.
Destinations
Aberdeen (hourly; 1hr 45min); Dundee
(hourly; 30min); Forfar (hourly; 45min); Montrose (every
30min; 25min).
INFORMATION
Tourist office
Fishmarket Quay, in the revamped
harbour area (April-Sept Mon-Sat 9.30am-5pm, Sun
noon-4pm; Oct Mon-Fri 10am-5pm, Sun noon-4pm;
Nov-March Mon-Fri 10am-4pm, Sat 11am-4pm;
T
01241 872609). Look out for the free Arbroath Path
Network leaflet, which has a useful map showing coastal
walking routes in the area.
ACCOMMODATION
Ì
Brucefield B&B
Cliffburn Road
T
01241 875393,
W
brucefieldbandb.com.
Rooms at this renovated
1920s manor house are as good as those in the region's
best hotels, with high-end bathrooms and plush beds.
