A historical hidden gem in the heart of Forfar has been given a new lease of life.
Castle Hill, which is tucked from view and accessed from Canmore Street, has been given a makeover thanks to work co-ordinated by Forfar Action Network and Angus councillor Lynne Devine. There is now an information board telling the history of the castle and the Mercat Cross, new seating and a viewfinder on top of the tower.
Ms Devine has spoken of a number of uses for the secluded setting, which provides the ideal backdrop for a wedding.
She is also hoping to build on the town’s history by setting up a heritage trail.
Thanks to generous funding from Angus Environmental Trust, the work has been undertaken by local companies and the council with some volunteer help from Murton Farm.
Trees have been taken down or pruned to give a better view of the glens to the north while replanting and re-grassing has been undertaken.
Ms Devine said: “Castle Hill is such an unknown gem in Forfar and many’s the Forfarian who says they’ve just never been up there.
“With its quirky entrance and quaint cobbled lane, it opens up into a lovely quiet spot where I could imagine plays being enacted by adults or children, historical talks being given, or indeed as happened last weekend, weddings taking place.
“I hope more people will go up, explore some of the town’s history, see the town and the glens from a different angle and take visitors up to see it.”
Ms Devine has acknowledged the wealth of history in Forfar and it is her ambition to make more of it, to bring people into the town and to make local history more accessible to local people.
She has hopes of creating a heritage trail set up and has appealed for anyone interest in helping to contact her.
She can be contacted on cllrdevine@angus.gov.uk or 07827 986672.
Anyone wishing to visit Castle Hill can obtain the key to the locked gates from Ali the newsagent in Castle Street.
