Forfar Loch – Otters and Kingfishers on the Edge of Town
About 2.5 miles on foot.
Forfar Loch lies on the west edge of Forfar, the old county town of Angus, with a country park all the way round it.
One level path circles the water in four kilometres, and it's suitable for all abilities. Kingfishers and otters live here, so keep an eye on the water as you go.
- Time
- An hour to an hour and a half: one level path of 4 km (2.5 miles) right round the loch, suitable for all abilities.
- The path
- A level path that the park describes as suitable for all abilities.
- Where to start
- Free, beside the Ranger Centre on Craig o' Loch Road, Forfar, DD8 1BT, and at Turfbeg on the north-east side of the loch.
- When to go
- All year in daylight: the park is open every day.
- Dogs
- Under control. Not allowed in the children's play park.
- Children
- A flat circuit with a play park and a wildlife garden. Open water all the way round, so keep small children close.
- Toilets
- Public toilets at the park, with an accessible toilet.
- Before you set out
- The information desk at the Ranger Centre keeps varying hours: ring 01382 768120.
The walk
Start at the Ranger Centre in Forfar Loch Country Park, on Craig o' Loch Road on the west side of Forfar. The postcode is DD8 1BT. There's plenty of free parking beside the centre, and more at Turfbeg on the north-east side of the loch. The park is open every day of the year. The path round the loch is 4 km, or two and a half miles, and ANGUSalive, which runs the park, describes it as suitable for all abilities.
Allow an hour to an hour and a half. It's a circuit, so you can walk it either way round and you'll finish back at the car. Kingfishers, otters, foxes and roe deer are all seen here regularly, and in summer ospreys come to fish, so bring binoculars if you have them. For children there's a wildlife garden and a play park, and there are picnic tables and seats around the park. Dogs are welcome all year as long as they're under control, though not in the play park.
There are public toilets at the park, with an accessible toilet. The information desk at the Ranger Centre keeps varying hours, so ring 01382 768120 if you need it. Afterwards the middle of Forfar is five to ten minutes' walk away for a coffee or a Forfar bridie, the town's own meat pastry.
If it rains
A level path round a town loch is fine in a shower, with the car never more than half the loch away. In a real downpour, the town centre and its cafés are a few minutes off.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
The nearest of ours is Nàdair, 9 miles away. Sleeps 6; next free Fri 4 Dec to Sun 6 Dec.
For further reading, before you go.
Photograph by gary somers via Google