The Central Highlands - The Rough Guide to Scottish Highlands and Islands - page 151

ACCOMMODATION AND EATING
Falls of Holm 4 miles west of Kirriemuir in Kingoldrum
T 01575 575867, W fallsofholm.com. Cosy and luxurious
farmhouse B&B, which provid es a peaceful alternative to
staying in the middle of town. £70
Muirhouses Farm North of town on the way to
Cortachy T 01575 573128, W muirhousesfarm.co.uk.
Offering a taste of the countryside, this is a working cattle
farm with bright, plain rooms looked after by friendly

owner Susan. Breakfast includes meat fro m the local
butcher. Offers discounts for longer stays. £75
Thrums Hotel Bank St T 01575 572758, W thrums
hotel.co.uk. Good central option for lunches and evening
meals; the menu includes a succulent slow-roasted lamb
shank (£8.50). There are also nine e n-sui te rooms available.
Food daily noon-2pm & 5-8pm. £80

2

SHOPPING
Star Rock Shop 27-29 The Roods T 01575 572579.
Pretty, old-style shop specializing in Scottish confec-
tionery, first opened in 1833. Nice place to try the hard,

sweet and milky Scottish candy known as tablet (£2/bag).
Tues-Sat 9/10am-5pm.

Glen Prosen
Five miles north of Kirriemuir, the low-key hamlet of DYKEHEAD marks the point
where Glen Prosen and Glen Clova divide. A mile or so up Glen Prosen, you'll find the
house where Captain Scott and fellow explorer Doctor Wilson planned their ill-fated
trip to Antarctica in 1910-11, with a roadside stone cairn commemorating the
expedition. From here on, Glen Prosen remains essentially a quiet wooded backwater,
with all the wild and rugged splendour of the other glens but without the crowds. To
explore the area thoroughly you need to go on foot, but a good road circuit can be
made by crossing the river at the tiny village of GLENPROSEN and returning to
Kirriemuir along the western side of the glen via Pearsie. Alternatively, the reasonably
easy four-mile Minister's Path links Prosen with Clova. It is clearly marked and leaves
from near the church in the village.

Glen Clova and around
With its stunning cliffs, heather slopes and valley meadows, Glen Clova - which in the
north becomes Glen Doll - is one of the loveliest of the Angus glens. Although it can
get unpleasantly congested in peak season, the area is still remote enough that you can
leave the crowds with little effort. Wildlife is abundant, with deer on the mountains,
wild hares and even grouse and the occasional buzzard. The meadow flowers on the
valley floor and arctic plants (including great splashes of white and purple saxifrage) on
the rocks make it a botanist's paradise.

Clova
The B955 from Dykehead and Kirriemuir divides at the Gella Bridge over the
swift-coursing River South Esk. Around six miles north of Gella, the two branches
of the road join up once more at the hamlet of CLOVA , little more than the hearty
Glen Clova Hotel . An excellent, if fairly strenuous, four-hour walk from behind the
old school at the back of the hotel leads up into the mountains and around the lip
of Loch Brandy .
North from Clova village, the road turns into a rabbit-infested lane coursing along
the riverside for four miles to the car park, a useful starting point for numerous superb
walks . There are no other facilities beyond the village.

ACCOMMODATION AND EATING GLEN CLOVA AND AROUND

Glen Clova Hotel In Glen Clova T 01575 550350,
W clova.com. Inviting country hotel, which also has its own
bunkhouse and a private fishing loch. The restaurant serves

up traditional Scottish food, such as venison casserole and
haggis. Restaurant: Mon-Th urs & Sun no on-7 .45pm, Fri
& Sat noon-8.45pm. Dorms £17 ; doubles £90