Over Kirriemuir the sky had been grey and overcast. By the time we arrived in Arbroath the outlook had brightened. There was a chill breeze and light mist from the sea along the promenade but both dissipated as the day went on and I enjoyed glorious sunshine for most of the twenty miles.
By the time I had been walking for two hours in splendid isolation the sun had burned the mist off the sea and I had to stop to remove some of the layers I was wearing and lather myself in sun cream. The sun dancing on the top of the waves produced a beautiful ‘silver darling’ shoal-like effect on the top of the water that I think is one of the joys of walking by beaches. Scotland is rightly famous for the quality of its clear ‘silver light' and seeing it dance on the water in this way is a great way to appreciate it.
Walking on a tarmac path (it’s also the cycle path) I quickly reached the beach at Broughty Ferry and while I would have liked to linger there the day was getting old and I ploughed on heading for Dundee. There is much of interest at Broughty Ferry, including the old castle and harbour area. If you like Italian ice cream Visocchi's is the place for you.
The cycle pathway goes through the dock area at the eastern edge of Dundee but they do not allow walkers the same access and you are forced up and on to the main road.. For me, the walk along the main road was a sad end to the walk. Not only is it hard on the feet and morale, but it is so unpleasant with a high volume of traffic, particularly heavy lorries, that for a time it drives any memory of the sun-kissed beaches of Angus and the coastline and river walk from the imagination.
Tired and weary, I hit Dundee bus station at 16.45, just in time to catch the 17.00 hour bus to Kirriemuir. Almost eight hours and 20 miles of walking ended with a cold can of Sprite and a wee read of the Guardian newspaper during the long bus ride home. From such small things is bliss created and man made happy.