Kirriemuir

The town of Kirriemuir is very quaint and compact. Today’s centre occupies a knoll, which is surrounded by a stream for about three quarters of the way. The stream today is just a burn. The origin of Kirriemuir has been lost in time.

In the centre of Kirriemuir, there is a statue of "Peter Pan" in honour of his author J M Barrie. Surrounding this statue are many old buildings. The round end building is thought to be a Tolbooth built in 1604 under the patronage of James VI.

Looking to the north there is a small pedestrian way leading past the Hotel, the Ogilvy Arms. At the end of this passageway if you look left you see the old hotel the Airlie Arms. At one point this was the centre of Kirriemuir. If you turn right at the end of this street you come past the TSB bank and the police station all built in the red stone. On your left is the grand building of the public library. Crossing the street you pass a small garden where you can rest you feet. About 50 yards further on you come to Barrie’s birthplace and tearoom. Retracing your steps, and turning left you pass another Hotel. Observe the arch across the street ahead and walk under it. Going slightly to your right the path seems to stop as one building almost coincides with another. But through the gap is a right of way called ‘The Cat’s Close’. Turning right again you pass through an arch once again and on the wall just after the arch on the left side of the road you find an old marriage token in the lintel dated 1658.

 You find yourself behind the tollbooth and crossing the road you pass another hotel and into the old wynd of Kirriemuir again as you pass the tourist office. Follow this wynd and make your way down toward the Gairie Burn. Then turn right into the Den. At first this park seems very boring but as you make your way along the path the park opens out into a play area and playing fields.

 Following the path you reach an enchanting environment which seems to change from nothing into fairyland with a cascading burn. If this is not enough go back and search for the parts of Kirriemuir you have missed out.

The Parish Kirk and the Episcopalian Church.

Air museum

The Wilkie factory.

The local swimming pool

Camera Obscura and the hill of Kirriemuir.

The source of the Gairie Burn is the Loch of Kinnordy, a bird sanctuary, and well worth a visit.

As for accommodation, I have already mentioned four hotels, but there are more and Bed and Breakfast Places too. Last time I counted there were 12 pubs too, when I took my eldest boy around them all on his 18th birthday.