Eat, drink and shop local

Beautiful Angus, with its coastal villages, stunning glens and rolling countryside is packed with perfect places to eat, shop and unwind.

If you are planning a trip to pick up some wonderful local produce or a bit of shopping for birthday gifts for friends and family, then look no further than Angus’s wonderful independent retailers.

Don’t let the recent introduction of parking charges put you off, at just £1 per hour (up to a maximum charge of £4 for four to nine hours) for off-street car parks or free 30 minutes parking in Angus towns and villages is still some of the best value around.

With an incredible array of local producers dotted all over the county, locals are truly spoilt for choice when it comes to the best in everything from handcrafted gin to beautiful locally grown berries and smoked fish.

Real foodies shouldn’t miss a trip to one of the traditional little fish shops at Arbroath harbour or the chance to meet the producers and talk all things foodie at the Farmer’s Markets. Why not make a day of it, investigating local food and drink producers in your area and taking the goodies home to prepare a feast?

Even better, head into a coffee shop or café where the emphasis is on great home baking to discover some of the best of Angus’ foodie treats. This is the perfect place to plan your shopping trip or ask advice on the best local and independent stores to explore. Look out for cute craft shops and galleries or even artists’ studios where you can buy come beautifully handmade gifts safe in the knowledge that you are supporting local businesses and makers.

There’s nothing quite like that personal touch when it comes to shopping in traditional, family run business and independent stores.