Loch of Lintrathen lies immediately beside Bridgend of Lintrathen and seven miles west of Kirriemuir in Angus; the loch is right beside the B951. Check local access information before travelling. Several distinct themes come together here to help you decide on your trip: the seasonal presence of overwintering greylag geese, a circular walk around the loch, and the architectural history of the mill and parish church. You can choose Bridgend based on the aspect that interests you most—nature, a route around the water, or historic architectural styles.
Loch of Lintrathen: Winter Birds and Circular Walk
Internationally significant numbers of overwintering greylag geese use Loch of Lintrathen as a roost. This connection with nature is seasonal and specific: it concerns overwintering and the loch’s role as a roost. This makes the time of year a relevant consideration when planning your trip if birdlife is one of your interests. There is also a circular walk around the loch. If you plan to do it, check the latest path conditions in advance, as they can change. The circular walk and the birdlife offer two different ways to experience the loch: one follows the water’s edge, while the other focuses on its seasonal use as a roost.
The Mill and Historic Architectural Features
Kirkton of Lintrathen Old Cornmill is an early and rare surviving example of its building type. It includes an iron and wooden waterwheel housed in a separate wheelhouse. Its classification as early and rare refers to the form of the mill; the wheel and its own wheelhouse bring its technical features to life. The building type and its fittings can therefore be considered as two aspects of the same mill, without equating the waterwheel with the entire building.
At Lintrathen Parish Church, the cemetery walls and gravestones are designated as Listed Building LB11432. The former hearse house in the grounds of Lintrathen Parish Church was built around 1875 and is now unused. A fragment with interlace ornament in the church’s west wall may have formed part of a cross-slab dating from the 9th century. The dating references therefore differ: the hearse house has an approximate construction date, while the church fragment has a possible interpretation. Its connection with the cross-slab remains a possibility, not a definite identification.
On Foot or by Bike
The walk around the loch is described as a circular route around the water. The “Kirriemuir to Loch of Lintrathen” route returns to Bridgend of Lintrathen after circling the loch, then crosses the bridge to the B951. The two route descriptions therefore differ in the journey they describe: the circular walk focuses on the circuit by the water, while the cycling route also mentions the return to Bridgend and the section across the bridge to the B951. If you include a route in your plans, this distinction can help you compare the described journey with what you have in mind for your stay.
Discover more destinations: Westmuir, Tarfside, Tannadice, Glamis, Montrose, Edzell, Brechin, Blairgowrie
For the main travel overview: Angus.
