The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Carving out a Pictish trail
St Vigeans, Arbroath, Angus
Located on the northern edge of Arbroath, the hamlet of St Vigeans has strong links to the Picts. Named after St Feichin, it is believed his followers founded a monastery here in the 700s. In the shadow of the present-day church, a cottage houses a collection of more than 30 elaborately carved stones, including fragments of the treasured Drosten Stone. Salvaged from the remains of the monastery, they feature a variety of Pictish crosses and symbols.
While the museum is well worth a visit (contact Arbroath Abbey to make an appointment), a more curious but less well-known site, again with strong Pictish influence, is to be found hidden away in woodland a little over a mile to the north and it was this that I set off on foot to find.
In the shadow of the red sandstone kirk, I joined Waulkmills Nature Trail, an amble along the tree-lined banks of the Brothock Burn, the path tracking the course of a former railway line.
Passing through open countryside and farmland dotted with steadings and cottages, the way leads through cuttings and across culverts to the remains of the former Colliston Station, the old platform still partially intact.
Built by the Caledonian Railway, it opened in 1839 and served the rural community until its closure in 1955. Beyond the site of the station, the path meets a minor road where, branching right, I entered the policies of Letham Grange at the estate’s west gate, a pair of castellated towers linked by an arch.
Once the grounds and gardens of a Georgian mansion, the land is now home to two golf courses, the highly acclaimed Letham Grange Old Course and the shorter Glens Course.
Brothock Meadows led me past houses flanking the fairways, the road narrowing at a bridge beyond which a track curves up to the golf course car park and mansion, formerly a hotel.
Built between 1827 and 1830 for landowner John Hay, and enlarged in 1884, the two-storey house later became derelict but, alongside the development of the golf course, it was restored in the 1980s.
Wandering up the main drive towards Home Farm, I headed out along Farm Park, passing estate buildings, to pick up a path that led me through a leafy corridor between the greens to East Lodge and the road beyond.
Crossing the railway to the south, I joined Cadgers Road – an ancient trail used to transport fish inland from coastal harbours – by Magungie House and it was here that I hoped to find my Pictish curiosities.
Entering a strip of woodland on the righthand side of the road beyond Magungie, I soon spotted the intricate carvings etched into the trunks of tall beeches. Surrounding a central fire pit, the work is all relatively recent but mystery surrounds who is responsible and why they inscribed these trees.
Pictish symbols to be found include the double disc and Z-rod, the crescent and V-rod and the sun disc and rectangle. There are also various animals, mythical creatures, a small battle scene, an axe and a dagger.
Heading seaward, Cadgers Road climbs on through the trees to a gate by a telecoms mast before descending between arable fields to Marywell where, to the south of the village, a farm track guided me back to St Vigeans.
ROUTE
1. Cross bridge to church then bear right (signed Waulkmills Nature Trail), passing through stone gateway. Cross wooden footbridge and follow nature trail for 3.5km.
2. Turn right on road then go right into Letham Grange and follow Brothock Meadows road then track to golf club car park.
3. Bear left along Green Beeches to Home Farm. Turn right along Farm Park and continue straight ahead on path, ignoring tracks branching right, to meet road at East Lodge.
4. Turn right and walk 500m south along road.
5. Turn left and walk 400m up road.
6. Pass round metal gate and ascend Cadgers Road (signed Marywell) to gate. Go through and descend track to A92 via Birkhill.
7. Turn right and walk 900m south on A92 verge then footpath, passing through Marywell.
8. Opposite entrance to Dickmontlaw, turn right (signed Tarry Farm) and follow farmland track.
9. Turn right and descend St Vigeans Brae. At foot of slope, turn left to car park.
Time: 3 hours
Ascent: 100m/330ft Distance: 10km/6¼ miles
Grading: Easy, low-level route following good paths, tracks and minor roads through farmland and woodland. Stout footwear recommended
Start/finish: St Vigeans Church, Arbroath. Leave cars in car park across Brothock Water, accessed and signed from Montrose Road (A92) via Tarry Road and St Vigeans Brae (Grid ref: NO 639429)
Map: Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 Landranger sheet 54; Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer sheet 382 Tourist information: Dundee iCentre, 16 City Square, Dundee DD1 3BG (Tel 01382 527527) Public transport: From Arbroath Bus Station, take Stagecoach bus service 43 to Kirkton