Walk of the Week: Monikie Country Park, Angus

The rolling Angus countryside offers a complete contrast to the urban sprawl of Dundee next door. Here are open fields stretching down from the famous glens to the wild coast at the end of the Firth of Tay.

For many, away from the glens, Angus means golf at Carnoustie or the cliffs near Arbroath but nestled next to the A92 are some bucolic gems.

The tranquil Monikie reservoirs are in just such a place. Now at the heart of a country park, they were built to supply the growing metropolis of Dundee with clean water.

For more than 100 years, fresh supplies were provided for the taps of Dundee at a rate of three million gallons a year. By the 1970s, however, Dundee was so big, larger reservoirs were needed. And in 1981 Monikie’s purpose changed from industrial to recreational.

Today, peace and quiet are the order the day, even on busy weekends. Take your time, and a picnic, to ensure an enjoyable trip to this idyllic corner.

DISTANCE 2 miles.

HEIGHT CLIMBED Negligible. TIME 1 to 1½ hours. MAP OS Landranger 54.

PARKING Leave the A92 at Ardestie, seven miles east of Dundee, to follow the B962 then B961. Go left a mile after Newbigging then turn right about 100 yards after entering the village of Monikie to reach a car park.

IN SUMMARY Leave the car park by the far right-hand corner and go right, towards the reservoirs. After passing a castellated house on the left, go straight on to a track. Following a grass bank to the left allows for good views over the reservoirs and ahead to the Firth of Tay with the sands of Tentsmuir Point on the other side. The track takes you past bird hides looking over a wetland to the right.

If you have taken the track, head up steps to the left at the end of it to join the grass bank which continues round the reservoir (known as Island Pond). The path on the top of the bank eventually reaches a causeway; don’t cross it unless you want to cut the walk short. Instead, go right to walk round the second reservoir (known as North Pond).

After crossing the second of two footbridges on the far side of the reservoir, ignore a path to the right and continue by the water. The path goes round to the right then reaches a tunnel of rhododendrons. Just before the tunnel go right. The path then leads to an access road where you go right to return to the ranger centre and car park beyond.

REFRESHMEMTS Café Byzantium, near the ranger centre, is ideal. Otherwise, try the Craigton Coach Inn – continue on the B961 instead of turning left to Monikie and find it half a mile down the road.

WHILE YOU ARE IN THE AREA Until the end of this month water sports including kayaking, sailing and windsurfing are available on the reservoirs (www.angus.gov.uk).