The best cycling routes around Meigle And Ardler

Very nice on a bright sunny date.

A pleasant town with the expected shops etc. A good location for a planned break.

A great collection of Pictish stones with some really informative displays.

Glenisla Kirk, a small Gothic church built in 1821, is located at the west end of Kirkton of Glenisla on the B951. Originally part of a religious site dating back to the 13th century, it was first gifted to the Abbey of Cambuskenneth by King William the Lion and later transferred to the Abbey of Coupar Angus in 1311. After numerous repairs, the original church was replaced with the current structure. Now owned by the Glenisla Church Trust, it continues to serve the community with monthly informal evening services (April to December) and a Christmas Eve Watch Night Service. It also offers a venue for weddings and funerals, with local venues providing additional support.

Kirkton of Glenisla, an ancient farming community with Bronze Age and Pictish remains, has a deep ecclesiastical heritage reflected in its name, meaning "church town." From the 14th to 16th centuries, it was part of the lands of Coupar Angus Abbey, which influenced the area's farming development. After the Reformation, the lands were feued to the Ogilvy family, later Earls of Airlie, with Forter Castle remaining as a historical landmark. In the 19th century, the area became a romantic destination, attracting Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Glenisla also saw the construction of Brackny Bridge in 1824, designed by John Justice, marking a significant moment in the area's architectural history.

Forter Castle, built in 1560 by the Ogilvys of Airlie, is a four-storey tower house that was restored in the 1990s after falling into ruin. Its strong defenses made it difficult to capture by surprise, and it withstood various attacks until 1640, when it was besieged by a force of 5,000 men with heavy artillery. The castle was at the heart of a personal feud between the Ogilvys and the Campbells, stemming from land disputes and religious differences. The feud escalated into violent raids, with the Campbells attacking Forter and its lands. In 1640, Archibald Campbell, the Earl of Argyll, led a campaign against the Ogilvys, ultimately razing the castle in an act of personal vengeance. The Countess of Ogilvy is said to have witnessed the destruction from a nearby hill, marking the end of an era for the Ogilvy family in Glenshee.

Alyth, a historic town near the Perthshire–Angus border, has origins possibly dating back to the Picts and was first recorded in a 1200 charter by King William the Lion. It grew through agriculture and linen production in the 1700s, with further expansion after the railway's arrival in 1861, bringing textile mills and increased commerce. Today, Alyth thrives with a mix of local shops, a vibrant arts scene, and a growing tourism sector celebrating its rich natural and cultural heritage.

The Den o’ Alyth is a scenic woodland where the Alyth Burn has carved dramatic cliffs of Old Red Sandstone - a rock formed 400 million years ago that was later shaped by glacial forces and erosion. The landscape, marked by steep slopes and boulder-strewn beds, reflects a powerful geological past. The dynamic stream supports a diverse ecosystem. Wildlife such as dippers, grey herons, tree creepers, woodpeckers, great tits, grey wagtails, and red squirrels thrive in this ever-changing environment, while roe deer sometimes appear along the water's edge. In winter, a rare phenomenon called hair ice can form on decaying wood when specific fungal activity triggers thin strands of ice to emerge. Historically, the Den was part of the ancient Forest of Alyth, a royal hunting reserve dating back to the 12th century, even frequented by King Robert I. Today, careful woodland management continues to balance native and non-native species, ensuring the preservation of this natural and cultural heritage.