Your local independent vet
Expert care in the heart of Angus
If you’re looking for vets in Forfar, Thrums Vets sits right in the centre of town on Queenswell Road – a consulting practice that has been part of Forfar’s community for over 75 years. We’re locally owned and locally managed, and as Scotland’s largest independent group, we’re big enough to boast a wide range of expertise, but small enough to know our clients personally.
Our Forfar practice is backed by our fully equipped veterinary hospital in Kirriemuir, just four miles up the road. This means your pet has access to the full range of care – from routine consultations, vaccinations, dental treatment and acupuncture right through to surgery, diagnostic imaging, overnight hospitalisation and advanced orthopaedic and keyhole surgery – all within the Thrums family. We also have a well-stocked pet shop on site, and Forfar is the collection point for farm and equine prescriptions across Angus.
Dog walking spots in Forfar
Forfar sits in the heart of Strathmore, surrounded by beautiful walking country, and there are loads of lovely places to explore with your dog. Whether you’re after an easy lochside circuit or a hilltop climb with panoramic views, these are just a couple of our favourites.
Forfar Loch Country Park
Just a five- to ten-minute walk from the town centre, Forfar Loch Country Park is a firm favourite of ours for a dog walk that suits all abilities. The 2.5-mile circular path around the loch is flat, well surfaced and suitable year-round, making it just as enjoyable on a crisp winter morning as a long summer evening. It forms part of the wider Forfar Path Network and can easily be extended for those wanting more.
The loch is home to plenty of wildlife. Kingfishers, otters, foxes and roe deer are among the regular residents, and keen-eyed visitors keep a lookout for osprey fishing over the water during the summer months. Swans, herons, geese, coots and ducks can be seen throughout the year. Dogs are welcome year-round. Free parking is available beside the Ranger Centre and at Turfbeg on the north-east side of the loch, and public toilets are on-site.
Balmashanner Hill
Known locally as ‘the Bummie’, Balmashanner Hill is the distinctive landmark on the skyline south of Forfar – and even a short climb gives you sweeping views across Angus. The circular route, which can be started directly from the town centre via Reid Park, takes you up through open green fields past the old quarry workings before reaching the summit, where the striking Baronial war memorial tower looks out over Forfar, the Vale of Strathmore and the Sidlaw Hills beyond.
At around 2.5 miles for the full circuit, it’s short enough to be a brisk morning outing but scenic enough to feel properly worthwhile. The first and last sections along Anderson Road carry the most ascent; the rest is a gentle, open ramble across hilltop grassland where dogs can run with room to stretch their legs. Parking is most easily found at Reid Park at the foot of the hill. The route can be combined with a circuit of Forfar Loch for a longer half-day walk.
Dog-friendly areas near Forfar
Angus is wonderfully dog-friendly country, with plenty of places to enjoy a day out with your dog. Here are two of our favourites within easy reach of Forfar.
Glamis Castle & Grounds
Just five miles south-west of Forfar, Glamis Castle is one of Scotland’s most celebrated historic houses – the childhood home of HM Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, the birthplace of HRH Princess Margaret, and the setting that inspired Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Its 14,000-acre estate contains some wonderful walking grounds, and dogs are actively welcomed throughout the gardens and grounds on leads.
The estate’s walking routes take in the Italian Garden, the walled garden, the Macbeth Trail through woodland carved with characters from the play, a riverside path, and the Victorian pinetum. Together they offer several miles of varied, scenic walking in a spectacular but peaceful setting. The café terrace is dog-friendly, so you can take a break with your dog after a morning’s exploring. Dogs are not permitted inside the castle itself, but the outdoor spaces more than compensate. The gardens and grounds are open daily from spring through to autumn; admission charges apply.
The Stag, Castle Street
Right in the centre of Forfar on Castle Street, The Stag is a popular dog-friendly pub – a lively, welcoming local that combines a traditional bar atmosphere with a proper food menu and regular live entertainment at weekends. Dogs are welcome in the bar area, and the team are happy to provide a bowl of water for your dog while you settle in.
The menu runs to hearty pub classics and the sort of straightforward, well-cooked food that’s exactly what you want after a morning on Balmashanner Hill or a circuit of the loch. It’s also well-placed as a pre-match or pre-show option, sitting just a short walk from Station Park and the Reid Hall. Dogs must be kept on leads in the bar area at all times. Always worth calling ahead to confirm dog-friendly availability on busier evenings.
Pet events near Forfar
There’s plenty going on for dog owners and animal lovers in Forfar and the surrounding Angus area – from charitable open days to countryside gatherings in the castle grounds down the road. Here are a couple of our favourites.
Guide Dogs Annual Funday
Forfar is home to one of Scotland’s Guide Dogs training centres – and each year the centre opens its doors to the public for a family funday that gives visitors a rare and moving insight into the work that goes on behind the scenes. The event is free to attend and warmly welcoming of all dogs, making it a really special day out for dog lovers.
The day typically features the chance to meet future guide dogs and their trainers, craft and food stalls, activities for all ages, and the opportunity to learn about how guide dogs are trained from puppyhood through to becoming life-changing working companions. Donations to the charity are gratefully received. Keep an eye on the Guide Dogs website and local community groups for news of dates each year – it’s well worth putting in the diary.
Dog events at Glamis Castle
The stunning grounds of Glamis Castle, just five miles from Forfar, host a programme of outdoor events throughout the open season – including dog-themed gatherings that draw enthusiasts from across Angus and beyond. These events make the most of the castle’s extraordinary setting, bringing dogs and their owners together on the front lawns and through the estate’s woodland trails for a day of friendly socialising, competitions and community spirit.
The Glamis events calendar changes from year to year, so it’s always worth checking the castle’s website ahead of the season for the latest programme. The grounds are dog-friendly throughout the open season regardless of specific events, so a visit to Glamis is always a worthwhile outing – but when a dedicated dog day falls, it’s one of our favourite things to do with your dog in Angus.
Photos: Forfar Town Hall (header) by Scott Cormie, Forfar Loch by Trish Steel and Castle Street by James Emmans, all licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Glamis Castle by Grant Cromar, Labrador puppy by Berkay Gumustekin and group dog walk by Age Cymru, all on Unsplash.
