dog walking

Arbirlot Walks – Fields, Waterfalls and Woodland

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Seagulls take flight across a football pitch in Arbroath.
Woman exploring Arbirlot waterfall near Arbroath.
Dog standing in the river below Arbirlot waterfall.
Green barley field beneath a clear blue summer sky.
Dog running on a woodland path near Arbirlot, Scotland.

A short walk through Arbirlot, just outside Arbroath, takes you from open fields into shaded woodland and down to the small waterfall under the old stone bridge. It’s a quiet spot, ideal for a wander with the dog or simply enjoying the scenery. The mix of farmland, riverside paths and that hidden cascade makes it a favourite place for locals to explore.

The waterfall itself, tucked beneath the bridge, is the highlight. Whether standing above it or cooling off below, it’s a reminder of how much variety you can find within a short distance of town.

Exploring places like Arbirlot shows just how much variety is on offer in this part of Scotland. From open coastlines to tucked-away woodland, I’m always drawn to the mix of landscapes nearby. You can see more of my work across Places and People.

Elephant Rock, Lunan Bay, Montrose — Coastal Travel & Landscape Photography

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Silhouette of Elephant Rock volcanic arch at Lunan Bay, sea and sky framing the elephant-like shape.

Walks out to coastal arches like Elephant Rock are reminders that nature’s shapes matter — rock, sea, sky combining into unexpected forms. A recent visit to Lunan Bay brought just that: the arch of Elephant Rock with cliffs and the chapel above, tides low, skies open.

Chapel of St Skae burial ground.

Elephant Rock (also called the Rock of St Skae) is a volcanic coastal arch, shaped over time by wind and wave. These photos capture its elephant-like silhouette — trunk and head — framed against cliffs, water, and sky. Nearby is the 12th-century Chapel of St Skae, perched above the cliffs; I included shots that show its position in the landscape and even the odd gravestone (like George James Ramsay’s) that gives the place character. Walking back via Lunan Bay, you get wide views: dunes, receding tide, sand ripples, the light changing across beach and cliff.

Lunan Bay beach low tide, dunes and sand ripples, cliffs in distance under open sky.

Upon leaving Elephant rock, we called into Lunan Bay.

Information if you are visiting.

Lunan Bay has attracted many visitors throughout the ages, from Viking armies in the 10th century to generations of holidaymakers. Today it offers a secluded haven on the dramatic Angus coastline.

Sites like this remind me why landscape travel photography is about more than the view — it’s about place, memory, and context. For more work in coastal landscapes and travel-informed photography, see my Places and Travel galleries.