Angus is a council area on the east coast of Scotland, between Dundee and Aberdeenshire. It had a population of 114,342 at the 2022 census and covers 2,181 square kilometres (842 sq mi). Forfar is the administrative centre; Arbroath, on the coast, is the largest town.
The area was known as Forfarshire from the eighteenth century until 1928. It is also a registration county and a lieutenancy area, and its Gaelic name, Aonghas, is spelled the same as the personal name it comes from.
| Country | Scotland, United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Status | Council area |
| Former name | Forfarshire (to 1928) |
| Area | 2,181 km2 (842 sq mi) |
| Population (2022) | 114,342 |
| Population (2011) | 115,978 |
| Density | 52 people per km2 |
| Largest town | Arbroath |
| Council | Angus Council, Angus House, Forfar |
| Postcode areas | DD, small part of PH |
Towns and Villages in Angus
Angus has 174 named towns, villages and hamlets. Seven of them are burghs of any size: Arbroath, Forfar, Montrose, Carnoustie, Monifieth, Brechin and Kirriemuir. The rest are farm settlements in Strathmore, fishing places on the coast and glen hamlets in the north. The list runs alphabetically, from Aberlemno to Whigstreet.
- Aberlemno
- Alrick
- Arbirlot
- Arbroath
- Ardovie
- Arnhall
- Auchmithie
- Auchronie
- Backmuir
- Balfield
- Balhall
- Balintore
- Balkeerie
- Ballindarg
- Balnaboth
- Balrownie
- Balruddery
- Barnhead
- Barry
- Birkhill
- Blackgate
- Bogindollo
- Bowriefauld
- Boysack
- Braehead Village
- Braehead of Lunan
- Brechin
- Brewlands
- Bridge of Dun
- Bridgefoot
- Bridgend
- Bridgend of Lintrathen
- Brighty
- Bucklerheads
- Buddon
- Burnside
- Caldhame
- Careston
- Carmyllie
- Carnoustie
- Cauldcots
- Charleston
- Clachnabrain
- Clocksbriggs
- Colliston
- Cortachy
- Craichie
- Craigo
- Craigton
- Douglastown
- Dronley
- Drumgley
- Drumsturdy
- Dubton
- Dunnichen
- Duntrune
- Dykehead
- Eassie and Nevay
- East Haven
- Easter Lednathie
- Edzell
- Ethie
- Ethie Haven
- Farnell
- Fern
- Fernybank
- Ferryden
- Finavon
- Folda
- Forfar
- Forter
- Fowlis
- Freuchies
- Friockheim
- Galllowfauld
- Gallowhill
- Gannochy
- Glamis
- Glenclova
- Glenogil
- Glenprosen Village
- Guthrie
- Hillend
- Hillside
- Hole
- Inchbare
- Inchbrae
- Inchmill
- Inveraldie
- Inverarity
- Inverharity
- Inverkeilor
- Inverquharity
- Kellas
- Kilry
- Kingennie
- Kingsmuir
- Kinnaird
- Kinnell
- Kirkbuddo
- Kirkinch
- Kirkton
- Kirkton of Airlie
- Kirkton of Auchterhouse
- Kirkton of Craig
- Kirkton of Glenisla
- Kirkton of Kingoldrum
- Kirkton of Menmuir
- Kirkton of Tealing
- Kirriemuir
- Letham
- Letham Grange
- Leysmill
- Liff
- Little Brechin
- Little Forter
- Logie
- Logie Pert
- Lownie Moor
- Lucknow
- Lunan
- Lunan Bay Hamlet
- Lunanhead
- Lundie
- Mains of Balgavies
- Maryton
- Marywell
- Meikle Forter
- Melgund
- Memus
- Middleton
- Milldens
- Milton of Ogilvie
- Monifieth
- Monikie
- Montrose
- Muirdrum
- Muirhead
- Murroes
- Netherton
- Newbigging
- Newtonmill
- Newtyle
- Noranside
- Oathlaw
- Padanaram
- Panbride
- Pearsie
- Petterden
- Piperdam
- Pitscandly
- Redford
- Rescobie
- Reswallie
- Rossie Mills
- Rottal
- Ruthven
- Saint Vigeans
- Shielhill
- Stracathro
- Strathmartine
- Tannadice
- Tarfside
- The Drums
- Tigerton
- Tulloes
- Turin
- Upper Victoria
- Usan
- Wellbank
- West Clochie
- Westmuir
- Wheen
- Whigstreet
Geography
Angus borders Dundee City to the south-west, Perth and Kinross to the west and Aberdeenshire to the north. The North Sea forms the eastern edge, from Monifieth round to the North Esk at St Cyrus.
The area falls into three bands. The coastal strip runs from the sands at Barry Buddon past the red sandstone cliffs at Arbroath to the tidal basin at Montrose. Inland lies Strathmore, a broad belt of deep farmland between the Sidlaw Hills and the Grampians. North of that the Angus Glens cut into the mountains: Glen Isla, Glen Prosen, Glen Clova, Glen Lethnot and Glen Esk.
The South Esk drains Glen Clova to Montrose Basin; the North Esk marks the boundary with Aberdeenshire. The highest ground, on the Aberdeenshire march above Glen Doll, passes 1,000 metres.
Demographics
The 2022 census counted 114,342 residents, a fall of 1,636 since 2011. Angus is one of the Scottish council areas that lost people over the decade, and it has an older age profile than the national average.
Roughly two-thirds of residents live in the seven main towns. Arbroath has about 23,600 people, Forfar 14,000, Montrose 11,700, Carnoustie 11,300 and Monifieth 8,200. Monifieth and Birkhill in the south-west function largely as Dundee commuter towns.
Density is about 52 people per square kilometre, but that average hides the split: the coastal towns are compact, and the northern glens hold only a few hundred residents across hundreds of square kilometres.
Economy and Local Life
Strathmore is prime arable ground. Seed potatoes, malting barley, soft fruit and vegetables are the main crops, and the fruit farms around Forfar and Kirriemuir draw in seasonal labour each summer. Beef cattle graze the glen edges.
Montrose has the largest industrial base: GSK has run a pharmaceutical plant there since 1949, and the port handles offshore-supply and renewables traffic. Arbroath keeps a working fishing fleet and a food-processing sector built around it. The Arbroath smokie, a haddock smoked over hardwood in the traditional local way, holds Protected Geographical Indication status.
Golf and tourism matter on the coast. Carnoustie Championship Course has hosted The Open eight times, most recently in 2018. Inland, Kirriemuir trades on being the birthplace of J. M. Barrie, and Glamis Castle near Forfar is open to visitors.
History
Angus was Pictish territory, and its sculptured stones at Aberlemno, Eassie and St Vigeans are among the best surviving in Scotland. The Aberlemno churchyard stone is often read as a record of the Battle of Dun Nechtain in 685.
Arbroath Abbey, founded in 1178, gave the area its most famous document: the Declaration of Arbroath, sent to the Pope in 1320 asserting Scottish independence. Brechin has a round tower of Irish type attached to its cathedral, one of only two in Scotland.
The nineteenth century brought flax and jute spinning to Forfar, Brechin and Arbroath, feeding the Dundee mills, and a network of branch railways to carry it. Most of those closed by 1965. The council area took its present form in 1996, replacing the Angus district of Tayside Region.
Getting There
The A90 dual carriageway runs the length of the area from Dundee through Forfar and Brechin towards Aberdeen. The A92 takes the coastal route through Arbroath and Montrose. The A93 crosses west to Blairgowrie, and the A926 and A935 link the inland towns.
The East Coast Main Line calls at Monifieth, Carnoustie, Arbroath and Montrose, with direct trains to Dundee, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and London. There is no station at Forfar or Kirriemuir. Dundee Airport is 15 minutes from Monifieth; Aberdeen International Airport is about an hour north of Montrose.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Angus?
114,342 at the 2022 census, down 1,636 on 2011.
What is the largest town in Angus?
Arbroath, with roughly 23,600 residents. Forfar, the administrative centre, is second with about 14,000.
How many villages are in Angus?
There are 174 named settlements, of which seven are towns and the rest villages, hamlets and farm clachans.
Is Angus the same as Forfarshire?
Yes. The county was officially called Forfarshire until 1928, when it reverted to the older name Angus.
What are the Angus Glens?
The five valleys running north into the Grampians: Glen Isla, Glen Prosen, Glen Clova, Glen Lethnot and Glen Esk.
What postcode does Angus use?
Mostly DD, from DD8 around Forfar and Kirriemuir to DD11 at Arbroath and DD10 at Montrose. A small western corner uses PH.