Montrose is an excellent little town to visit – the town itself sits on the edge of a virtually landlocked two-mile-square lagoon of mud known as the Basin, which is a nature reserve and haven for wildfowl and wading birds who love its mud.

On the south side of the Basin is the Montrose Basin Wildlife Centre – this offers binoculars, high-powered telescopes, bird hides and remote control video cameras – plus the centre’s resident ranger leads regular guided walks around the reserve.

The town also has an interesting  seashore – three miles of sand backed by a high dune ridge – a short promenade with plenty of parking and the Seafront Splash children’s play area – facilities include a cafe, shop and an amusement centre and is popular with surfers – Marine Avenue, across from the museum – well worth a visit – heads down through sand dunes and golf links to car parks fringing the fine, wide beach overlooked by a slender white lighthouse – slightly to the north are the cliffs of St. Cyrus, home in the summer to a bustling colony of seabirds.

Neighbouring Ferryden a worth a look – a picturesque former village situated on the south side of the river South Esk – it is separated by the river but linked by a bridge.