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Background

- an introduction

Map of the CarseThe Carse of Gowrie extends from Perth in the west to the outskirts of Dundee in the east.  As an area of outstanding natural beauty with a unique combination of pastoral hill and riverside amenity, it was a subject much favoured by one of Scotland’s best-known landscape painters, J McIntosh Patrick (1907 - 1998).  Click here for an image of one of his paintings entitled 'The Carse of Gowrie' (dated 1937).

Click on the map for a larger version. 
 

The diversity of wildlife along the banks of the River Tay to the south, across undulating farmland, extensive estates and mixed woodlands, and up the slopes of the escarpment to the numerous vantage points on the Braes of the Carse to the north, is second to none.
Across Kingoodie bay in winter View of Pole Hill from near Longforgan Towards Dundee from Knapp View of Sidlaws across Rait and Kinnaird Evelick Castle and Farm
Rossie Priory Estate Near Balthayock Raspberry field in winter near Balthayock Hills near Rait Near Abernyte
Butterfly feeding on flower Highland Cattle at Errol Park Deer near Kinnoull Hill Hawk flying over the Carse near Pitroddie Raspberries growing at SCRI in Invergowrie
Carpet of snowdrops in Rossie Priory Estate Red Squirrel near Kinnoull Hill Wild flowers at SCRI in Invergowrie Wild flowers and butterfly at SCRI in Invergowrie Wild flower meadow at SCRI in Invergowrie

Click on a picture for a larger image.

The last three wildflower pictures in the above display were kindly provided by SCRI.  Click here for more details. 

The area is also of notable historic and cultural interest, extending back many centuries to the times of the romans, picts and gaels. A number of middle age settlements and pre-reformation religious buildings are to be found throughout the area, some well maintained and others undergoing sympathetic preservation and restoration.  More details of Westown Chapel that is currently under restoration, can be found on the Westown satellite group page.