Auchmithie and the Ethie Cliffs
A clifftop walk from the fishing village of Auchmithie, perched on red cliffs north of Arbroath, where the smokie was first made.
Three miles up the coast from Arbroath, the fishing village of Auchmithie sits on the brink of red cliffs a hundred and twenty feet high, its cottages backing right onto the edge.
A path winds down to the bay below, where there is a shingle beach, an old stone harbour and rocks worn into strange shapes by the waves.
This is where the Arbroath smokie began: the fisher families of Auchmithie first smoked their haddock here, before the trade moved to Arbroath.
From the village, paths run along the clifftops in both directions: north past caves and headlands towards Ethie, and south to Carlingheugh Bay and the Needle E'e on the way to Arbroath. The edges are high and unfenced.
Free, at any time.
Paths lead down to the bay and along the clifftops north towards Ethie and south towards Arbroath.
- Where
- Auchmithie, three miles north-east of Arbroath.
Along the clifftops from Auchmithie, three miles north-east of Arbroath.
Arbroath Abbey4 miles9 min by road
Andreou's Bistro4 miles10 min by road
Arbroath CliffsRed sandstone arches and caves on the path from Arbroath.4 miles11 min by road
Arbroath HarbourThe harbour of the smokie.4 miles11 min by road
Arbikie DistilleryA farm distillery above Lunan Bay.11 miles20 min by road
Scotland, in print.
Every photograph commissioned, every word written by somebody who went. Printed twice a year, made in Scotland.
For further reading, before you go.