About Ethie Mains
Welcome
Ethie Mains farm is situated on the stunning coast of Angus, in the North East of Scotland. The area is renowned for its favourable climate and fertile land. The farm itself follows the contour of the magnificent and varied coastline for nearly two miles from the south end of Lunan Bay. The red sandstone cliffs provide a breath-taking contrast between the farmland and sea, with woods, ponds, natural habitat and historical monuments such as ‘Murdoch’s Chapel’ further accentuating the unique beauty of the farm.
Ethie Mains is predominately an Arable farming business growing cereals and root crops. We also have a small herd of cattle and wild soay sheep which roam freely along the cliffs and foreshore.
Established in 2022, Ethie Mains' holiday cottage business is a new and exciting farm venture. The recently refurbished Cottages take advantage of the romantic landscape and 360 degree views overlooking the farm and the beach at Lunan Bay.
Guests are welcome to enjoy the wonderful scenery here on the farm. We take great care to establish wildflowers and other habitat to support our native wildlife and we hope that you will appreciate the results. In order to maximise the benefits for all we ask guests to:
• Follow the countryside code.
• Respect those who live and work here.
• Keep dogs on leads at all times.
• Keep to farm tracks and well worn paths; avoiding Wild Bird Seed, Cover Crops and other habitat.
A note from Will & Lucie Gray
“We moved to Angus in 2018 to help run the family farm. It is a dream come true to live and work here and Ethie’s spectacular coastal location make it ideal for a holiday business so that others can enjoy this beautiful landscape too. In 2022 we renovated a farm cottage into our first luxury holiday cottage and our second in 2023; we're delighted to be able to share our slice of the Scottish countryside with you.”
Beyond the farm…
Angus has it all; breath-taking scenery, stunning sandy beaches, championship golf courses, country sports, castles, historic houses, the V & A, world famous food, events and festivals, there’s something for everyone.
To whet your appetite, here’s some of our favourite Angus experiences:
LANDSCAPE
Lunan Bay: A destination for Viking armies in the 10th century, today this stunning east-facing beach is a secluded haven which spans two miles across the dramatic Angus coastline. The ruin of Red Castle stands proudly overlooking the Bay, where surfing/ paddle boarding and horse riding are popular activities.
What adds to Lunan Bay’s magic is that you can walk directly to it from our holiday cottage, either down our farm track or along a beautiful coastal pathway.
Montrose Basin: The Montrose Basin has an abundance of interesting wildlife. The Basin is particularly stunning in the autumn and winter months, when tens of thousands of pink-footed geese arrive from Greenland and Iceland. The incredible sight and sound of their arrival is best appreciated from the Scottish Wildlife Trust bird hides. More information can be found here.
The Angus Glens: The atmospheric and unspoilt Angus Glens offer superb walking amongst the beautiful moorland colours and the scents of heather and grasses. The Angus Glens include ten ‘Munros’ (mountains over 3,000 feet), and miles of narrow twisting roads, great for cyclists, drivers, hill walkers and nature lovers alike.
HERITAGE
Arbroath Abbey: Explore the substantial ruins of a Tironensian monastery, founded by William the Lion in 1178, who is buried there. The Abbey is best known for the Declaration of Arbroath (the most famous document in Scottish history) which was sealed there.
House of Dun: William Adam’s Georgian house places baroque extravagance in a spectacular natural setting. The house is now home to the Angus Folk Collection and enjoys glorious formal gardens, woodland walks, café and children’s playground.
RRS Discovery: This award-winning visitor attraction tells the story of the iconic ship ‘Discovery’ from her beginnings in Dundee, her amazing Antarctic expedition with Captain Scott and her voyages and uses thereafter. Through extensive galleries, video and film shows, interactives and artefacts, Discovery Point is a fascinating visitor attraction which appeals to all ages.
V & A, Dundee: The V&A Dundee is a design museum in Dundee, Scotland, which opened on 15 September 2018. The V&A Dundee is the first design museum in Scotland and the first Victoria and Albert Museum outside of London.
Glamis Castle: Glamis was the childhood home of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, wife of George VI. Their second daughter, Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, was born there. Steeped in history, Glamis Castle has evolved over the years to create a stunning architectural treasure that is full of vitality to this day.
Scotland’s Jute Museum: Verdant Works is a world class visitor attraction which tells the story of Dundee’s industrial textile heritage in the atmospheric setting of a beautifully refurbished Mill building.
THINGS TO DO
Arbroath Smokies: The Arbroath smokie is a type of smoked haddock, and is a speciality of the town of Arbroath, the local town to Ethie Mains.
Arbroath Sea Fishing: Hire a boat replete with fishing rods and experienced skipper from Alex at www.fishingarbroath.co.uk. Take your catch to one of the friendly fishmongers, chippers or smokehouses around the harbour to have it filleted, smoked or battered for your tea! A great family day out.
Golf - The Old Course, St Andrews: The Old Course at St Andrews, also known as the Old Lady or the Grand Old Lady, is considered the oldest golf course in the world. It is a public course over common land in St Andrews, Fife, Scotland.
North Coast 500 and North East 250: Bringing together a route of just over 500 miles (516 to be exact…) of stunning coastal scenery, white sandy beaches, rugged mountains, remote fishing villages, hidden gems, and a wealth of unforgettable experiences; the North Coast 500 is one of the world’s most beautiful road trips.
Country Sports: Please enquire if you'd like to know about the wealth of sporting opportunities available in Angus.
The North East 250 explores everything for which Scotland is famous in a unique Scottish road trip taking you through the whisky distilleries of Speyside, the spectacular mountain passes of the Cairngorms National Park, the famous castles of Royal Deeside, the Granite City of Aberdeen, the rugged North Sea coastline to the east, and the picturesque seaside villages of the Moray Firth Coast.
For even more ideas try VisitScotland.com
About Us.
Farmer Will Gray and his wife Lucie moved to Ethie Mains in 2018 to take over the running of the Ethie Mains from Will’s father Duncan who bought the farm in 1987. They have two young sons and a daughter.
Both Will and Lucie come from farming backgrounds. Will grew up on arable farms in Scotland and Essex while Lucie grew up on a free range chicken farm in Shropshire.
With the help of Grieve (Farm Manager) Dave Foote and a fantastic team they take great pride in growing high quality produce and running the farm sustainably for future generations to enjoy.
