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Forfar

A country town just eleven miles to the north of Dundee, Forfar is most famous for the Forfar Bridie. This Scottish speciality is a pie filled with meat and vegetables which was favoured by farm workers in the area while working in the fields.

Forfar was once at the centre of the Pictish kingdom and would later serve as the county town of Angus. However, Forfar today is a market town with few reminders of its former glory days. Nevertheless, the Meffan Museum and Art Gallery displays a superb collection of Pictish stones and also provides detailed information on the history of Forfar and its industries. The most interesting of these details the story of the witches of Forfar. Although witch hunts were conducted throughout Scotland in the 16th and 17th centuries, an ardent church minister in Forfar in the 1650's led to a spate of executions in Forfar. In the museum, you will also see relics such as the Forfar Bridle once used to torture these poor souls. To the north of Forfar is a patch of land known as the "Witches Hollow" where the executions were conducted.

To the west of Forfar walkers and birdwatchers will enjoy the Forfar Loch Country Park. Wildfowl can be seen feeding from the viewing platforms and a footpath (5m) runs around the loch. On the north bank of Forfar Loch is the Forfar Sailing Club which holds regular training courses and a regatta every September. Five miles to the east of Forfar is Balgavies Loch which counts crested grebe, cormorant and swans amongst its visitors.