Angus ~ Scotland

Angus and Dundee

Angus is a traditional Scottish county which together with its capital town Dundee, is situated to the east midlands of the country. In the Gaelic language it is know as Aonghas and has long played a key part in the history and development of Scotland. The region was an important stronghold of the warlike Pictish tribes who fiercely defended their lands against the Roman invaders who had otherwise conquered much of what is now Great Britain. The Picts held control over the surrounding countryside until the 9th century AD when they were eventually subdued by a Scottish Christian chief Kenneth MacAlpine who later became King of Scotland. Angus continued to provide heroes and champions needed for the Scottish campaign to maintain its independence from incursions from abroad. First the fierce Vikings from across the North Sea that lies to the east of the county, and then the English under a succession of rulers. In the 13th and 14th centuries the English King Edward I invaded the region and destroyed Dundee. The Scots fought his armies off and thanks to the leadership of local chieftains - including 'Braveheart' William Wallace who was born and raised in the Angus countryside - demonstrated that national independence from their Norman English neighbours could be maintained. This led to the Declaration of Arbroath that was signed at Arbroath Abbey at Carnoustie (now the site of one of Scotland's most famous golf courses) by the foremost Scottish nobles, who pledged their support to the struggle for independence from England. The population of the Angus and Dundee area seems to have actively supported every rebellion against the English monarchs, even after the Act of Union in 1707. Strong local support was shown for the Jacobite cause until the Duke of Cumberland's massacre of the clans in the mid 18th century at Culloden. It was then that a realisation grew that the cause was lost and energies turned to encouraging trade and industry in the region making it into one of enviable prosperity.

Geography

The county covers around 1300 square miles and has a shoreline on the coast of the North Sea and the Firth of Tay. It shares county borders with Kincardineshire, Aberdeenshire and Perthshire. The landscape to the north and west of the county is mountainous where it meets the Grampian Mountain Range and the region consists of the five Glens of Angus. Here the land is quite barren and is given over to the deer and the farming of cattle and sheep. Towards the south across the Strathmore Great Valley, the landscape changes to rolling, more gentle hills that continue to the east coast. This is the more heavily populated region.

Industry

Although there are the remains of some of the manufacturing and fishing industries, the region relies heavily on tourism. Angus is world famous for its golf courses and attracts visitors from all over the world. The county also boasts a great number of historic homes and royal castles and these together with the magnificent scenery are a tremendous draw to tourists keen to experience the Scottish heritage. The region's agriculture still thrives and produces large quantities of potatoes, tayberries and rasberries and its famous Aberdeen Angus beef.

Cities, towns and villages within Angus