Angus County

[AbernethyCameron]

My brother is planning a trip to Royal and Ancient St. Andrews in a few months. One the map, that looks very close to Monikie. Would it be a reasonable day trip? Would you cross the Firth of Tay or go around?

I'm lucky enough to live in Angus, just a few miles from Monikie (pronounced locally min-eek-y ) and can vouch that it's one of Scotland's nicest areas, with the mountains only about 40 minutes away from the coast, and beautiful country - definitely both Highlands and Lowlands.

To get to Monikie from St Andrews, you have to drive via Dundee - yes you do cross the Tay but by driving over the Tay Road Bridge. The alternative would be a train from Leuchars to Dundee, but a taxi out to Monikie I expect would cost c £20 - £30. It would take around 45 minutes to one hour to drive from St Andrews to Monikie. Monikie itself is a small village but is also the name of a parish - there are a number of small villages in what would have been Monikie Parish. It has a nice country park which is great for walks. Also Carnoustie is just a few miles from Monikie, and for a golfer, is worth a visit.

[byrdfeeder]

I'm lucky enough to live in Angus, just a few miles from Monikie (pronounced locally min-eek-y ) and can vouch that it's one of Scotland's nicest areas, with the mountains only about 40 minutes away from the coast, and beautiful country - definitely both Highlands and Lowlands.

To get to Monikie from St Andrews, you have to drive via Dundee - yes you do cross the Tay but by driving over the Tay Road Bridge. The alternative would be a train from Leuchars to Dundee, but a taxi out to Monikie I expect would cost c £20 - £30. It would take around 45 minutes to one hour to drive from St Andrews to Monikie. Monikie itself is a small village but is also the name of a parish - there are a number of small villages in what would have been Monikie Parish. It has a nice country park which is great for walks. Also Carnoustie is just a few miles from Monikie, and for a golfer, is worth a visit.

Thanks for this first-hand information about the Monikie area. It's good to know how to pronounce the word. I've been doing it all wrong!

[AbernethyCameron]

Thanks for this first-hand information about the Monikie area. It's good to know how to pronounce the word. I've been doing it all wrong!

No problem at all, next time I'm up there I'll post a picture or two.

[byrdfeeder]

No problem at all, next time I'm up there I'll post a picture or two.

That would be a real treat. I look forward to seeing them!

[AbernethyCameron]

Sorry, this took ALOT longer than expected - here are a few images I took on a recent walk in Camuston Wood near Monikie, some of these show views across to Monikie village and to the church which is about 1k from the village. Also one of the 10th century Camus Cross, which I never even knew was there and stumbled across it. It's in the woods with no signs or anything to say it's there. Reputedly the burial place of Norse leader Camus who was killed at the Battle of Barry nearby. Hope the photo upload works!

[byrdfeeder]

Sorry, this took ALOT longer than expected - here are a few images I took on a recent walk in Camuston Wood near Monikie, some of these show views across to Monikie village and to the church which is about 1k from the village. Also one of the 10th century Camus Cross, which I never even knew was there and stumbled across it. It's in the woods with no signs or anything to say it's there. Reputedly the burial place of Norse leader Camus who was killed at the Battle of Barry nearby. Hope the photo upload works!

The photo upload worked just fine! I thank you so much for sharing those pics. Monikie looks even more lovely than I had imagined. On the Monikie.org.scot website is a description written in the 1950s of the Panmure estate that includes flocks of wild swans taking flight. What a sight that must have been! I'm surprised to hear that the cross is off the beaten path, given that it receives so much attention in readings about Monikie. Could you make sense any of the engravings?

My genealogical research continues, and I'm learning some fascinating things. It seems that my family is part of the "Little Scottish Cluster." The men in this group share a genetic relationship, with the most recent common ancestor having lived in Scotland about 1200 years ago. Apparently, that kind of relationship is rare. I'm still learning, and heaven knows there's so much to uncover. But it's a rewarding endeavor.

Thank you so much for taking time to post these pics for me. It means so much to see the land my ancestors walked. Yours is a true act of kindness.

[AbernethyCameron]

The photo upload worked just fine! I thank you so much for sharing those pics. Monikie looks even more lovely than I had imagined. On the Monikie.org.scot website is a description written in the 1950s of the Panmure estate that includes flocks of wild swans taking flight. What a sight that must have been! I'm surprised to hear that the cross is off the beaten path, given that it receives so much attention in readings about Monikie. Could you make sense any of the engravings?

My genealogical research continues, and I'm learning some fascinating things. It seems that my family is part of the "Little Scottish Cluster." The men in this group share a genetic relationship, with the most recent common ancestor having lived in Scotland about 1200 years ago. Apparently, that kind of relationship is rare. I'm still learning, and heaven knows there's so much to uncover. But it's a rewarding endeavor.

Thank you so much for taking time to post these pics for me. It means so much to see the land my ancestors walked. Yours is a true act of kindness.

You're very welcome - I hope to go back to the cross again very soon - it's a really peaceful place. Nothing to let anyone know it's there and I expect the majority of locals don't know it's there - I like it that way The cross is very weathered on it's west facing side - you can make out some detail on the east face - according to wikipedia these are early christian markings: "The eastern face is usually interpreted as a depiction of Christ flanked by angels above the four evangelists,[6] although Robert Maule, in the earliest description of the stone, described the scene as Moses giving out the Law"

Cheers