Bring on spring - The Angus Tour has been extended after tourism boost

The Visit Angus website has seen over 300,000 visitor sessions between April 2021 – March 2022, a 100% increase compared to 2020 – 2021.

With interest in the area already increasing, The Angus Tour, launched in November 2021 and created with input from local tourism experts, has capitalised on this and directly benefited local businesses.

Since the pandemic hit, the website has seen an increase of 57% visitor sessions, with The Angus Tour section seeing the most traction with over 57,430 direct page views.

Businesses have embraced The Angus Tour, welcoming an increase in visitors with House of Dun staff confirming they have seen a rise in footfall over the last few months.

Centering around sustainable and responsible tourism, The Angus Tour showcases the outstanding beauty of the area, inspiring people to design their own adventure, while suggesting several itineraries to follow. Visitors are encouraged to head off the main roads and routes from Dundee to Aberdeen, instead taking in the plethora of vast sandy beaches, historic castles, stunning Angus Glens, local delicacies, and green experiences.

The Angus Tour Dookers Facebook group, launched in February, has gained a following of almost 400 in two months. A community of cold-water enthusiasts arranging group dooks, visitors are encouraged from all over the UK, to meet up with locals and enjoy the many breath-taking cold-water spots found on the Angus Tour’s beaches and rivers.

The upcoming season will see The Angus Tour introduce six new itineraries to promote some of Angus’ highlights. From relaxing outdoor experiences like wildlife watching at Montrose Basin, or a stroll around the Angus Glens to thrill seeking adventures with Arbroath Cliff Tours and Paddleboarding with Sup2Summit.

Lou Nicoll from Newton Farm Holidays & Tours said: “We’re thrilled to see the positive influence the tour has had on local businesses, and we expect to see this momentum continue.

The tourism sector is one of the most important for the Scottish economy. While the domestic market will remain a key focus again in 2022, the return of international visitors is also a bonus which will provide additional value to Angus’ tourism industry which is seeing a wealth of new experiences offered this year.”

Lou added: “Here at Newton Farm we are offering a wonderful lambing experience where guests can enjoy bottle feeding the newly born lambs this s pring. Thrill seekers can enjoy the new off-road buggy experience at the Hideaway Experience and Arbikie Gin have just launched a distillery tour experience.

It’s also brilliant to see some original experiences opening up again like Kirriemuir Gateway to the Glens, Brechin Townhouse and the Tayside Police Museum.”

Centrally located and with convenient connection links to all major Scottish cities, Angus is easily accessible by direct train all the way from London, stopping at Berwick Upon Tweed, Newcastle, York and Peterborough along the way.

The Angus Tour has also been embraced by locals as confirmed by Alison Elliott, Manager at Murton Farm, Tearoom and Nature Reserve and chair of the Angus Tourism Cooperative.

Alison commented: “A number of visitors have told us that although they live in Angus, they had never been to Murton but have now visited because of The Angus Tour."

She added: “One of our volunteers visits one of the eateries from the Angus Tour each week. He has lived in Angus for many years but has loved using the Angus Tour to find new places to visit.”

Barry Stuart, outdoors photographer and Visit Angus ambassador is also a fan of the local area. He enthused about how much he and his family enjoy everything the region has to offer.

Barry said: “I feel incredibly grateful to call Angus home. We’ve got an array of adventures right on our doorstep and I’m still blown away regularly by Angus’ beauty.

The Angus Tour has activities for the whole family, and it's certainly kept my kids entertained.”

He added: “They love our beach adventures and exploring the caves at Lunan Bay and we’re still working our way through the list of family friendly restaurants on the Visit Angus website.

We’re all looking forward to the spring months to delve into The Angus Tour’s water activities. First on the list is water sports at Monikie Country Park!”

North East Family Fun blogger Samantha Rickelton enjoyed a trip to Angus in January 2022.

She said: “Angus is known for its history, championship golf courses, the famous Arbroath Smokie and stunning coastline.

It's a perfect base for a short break for those looking for a real mix of activities, relaxation, wildlife, good food and things to do. Visitors can follow a suggested itinerary at their own pace or if they have varied interests like us, pick and choose activities from different interests and put together a bespoke plan."

Samantha added: “We used the Visit Angus app and website to choose our activities and it was like having your own personal tour guide always available in your pocket!”

Find out more about The Angus Tour

visit https://visitangus.com/theangustour/