Stonehaven down to Dundee

[areyouadogperson]

Does anyone know this road particularly well? We are taking DC to Go Ape in Banchory in a couple of weeks time and staying over in Banchory. Considering a slow drive back home via Stonehaven towards Dundee.

Can anyone recommend any decent spots to stop along the way for food and a general look around? I don’t think I’ve ever been to Forfar or Arbroath!

Also, Dundee has some really cheap options for a second night away but I wonder if anyone can suggest any hidden gems we might now know about that’s not in Dundee? Doesnt have to be a chain hotel or 5 star. Just somewhere with good food, a bar and clean with good reviews.

So, not Stonehaven itself then because that's got the outdoor pool, with sea water, and a great ice cream and a good fish & chips shop.

There's also the Ship Inn (I think it's called), at the harbour end, is good for food.

Think I'd say Montrose is nicer than Forfar or Arbroath. St Cyrus beach is fabulous and there is a cafe/tearoom there also but i've never eaten in it so can't say what it's like.
Good fish and chips in Gourdon also.

We love Stonehaven! Outdoor pool, great playpark, excellent little fish and chip shop, Dunnotar Castle etc.

St Cyrus is beautiful if you want a sandy beach day.

Agree Stonehaven is a good shout for a stop. St Cyrus beach is gorgeous but I don't think there's a cafe or anything. Lunan Bay ( just south of Montrose) is also amazing and there is a little cafe there (with slightly unpredictable opening hours from what I recall). The Montrose Bay wildlife centre is great if that sort if thing interests you. They have binoculars and scopes etc for visitor use and loads of info about the birds you'll be able to see.

I think there is a cafe in St Cyrus just as you come in the village from the Aberdeen side but its not specially close to the beach.

Go down the coast road (a92) rather than a90. Much nicer drive.
Lunan is great just south of Montrose. Carnoustie has a great playpark and splash pool, as do Montrose, Arbroath and monifieth

Fowlsheugh is between Stonehaven and Catterline and you could be lucky to see some puffins if you follow the walk along the cliffs

Inverbervie has the original figure head from the Cutty Sark, just on the right as you go over the bridge. Decent chip shop too....or it used to be, pebbly beach i think

Gourdon or Johnshaven, nice for a leg stretch and a look at the old habours if you like that sort of thing. Gourdon has a newish fish restaurant but don't know if it's back open or not yet.

Beach at StCyrus is lovely, and there is Steptoes Yard if you are looking for any old furniture or general shite knickknacks

Charleton Farm...just before Montrose, fruit picking decent cafe, and large play area for the children .

Montrose also has a beach and the Seafront Splash, Roo's Leap is usually good for food

Lunan Beach is wonderful but is difficult to find and there's been a bit of a stooshie over parking there recently!

Auchmithie is pretty, nice beach b ut steep walk

Arbroath....nice harbour, easy parking usually, chip shop and iceycream shop right by the harbour.
Or if you like smokies go to the Bell |Rock Chipper!

After Arbroath you have to make a conscious effort to get off the dual carriageway to Carnoustie or Broughty Ferry ...i don't know either of those well.

Also you have Monikie which is nice for a walk...lake/reservoir

Into Dundee you have the V&A, and The Discovery, or further round Camperdown Park /Zoo

Auchmithie just outside arbroath is a lovely wee beach. Visocchis for ice cream in broughty ferry, nice beach and play park here too. The Cheesery in BF for cheese (clue is in the name!), lots of nice pubs in BF - the fisherman's tavern, ship Inn. Solysombra for tapas. Balhungie for berries just outside Monifieth.

There's a cheesery in Dundee too! And sorry, but Jeanettas ice cream is much better than visocchies, there's one in Dundee near the V&A. Porters in city Quay Dundee is excellent, but the steak barn in St Andrews just edges it, but its way more expensive.

For accommodation in dundee I’d look at Tay Park House - the food has improved a lot recently and they have a nice gin bar! Agree with everything above about Stonehaven, St Cyrus, Montrose and Lunan Bay!

Roos leap in Montrose is great of you have kids. They'll get a balloon etc and it's so close to the beach and slash park which has had a recent upgrade.

Oh oh also Charleton fruit farm which if you come down the coast road stonehaven to Montrose, it's just on the outskirts of Montrose and the food is great and there have an amazing play park for the kids.
Not to mention pick your own fruit/veg and definitely get a strawberry tart!!!

How old are your children?

Montrose beach is great as is kinnaber and luman bay :)

Oh and Wee Cook at Barry Caravan Park between Carnoustie and Monifieth is definitely a hidden gem - best pies ever!

Amazing. Thank you. I’ll read properly this evening.

We were at Dunotter Castle a few days ago and loved it. Fabulous little (stone) beach next to it too.

Oh yes, the wee pies are amazing, they have a shop that sells then in Broughty ferry and also in Dundee.

At Cyrus beach is beautiful, beware of the jellyfish! If you walk towards the nature reserve (south) you'll come across an amazing graveyard very near the brae.
Steptoes is fab for junk.
IMO Bervie chippie just by the bridge (south side) is the best around.
Get some smokies in Arbroath, but drive through it as nothing else much there (apart from loads of my relatives, alive and in the cemetery!)