Deuchar Farm

This is a great part of the world for outdoor pursuits. In season, salmon fishing is on hand in the nearby North and South Esk rivers (from five minutes' drive), and the area has a wealth of excellent golf courses too, including Brechin (15 minutes), Edzell (20 minutes) and the championship course at Carnoustie (40 minutes). The small medieval city of Brechin (15 minutes) is also close by, with an 11th-century cathedral, museum and country park with 70 acres of grounds, including a play area, fairy trail, garden centre and café. Also within easy reach is Glamis Castle (20 minutes), a historic country house that provides the backdrop for much of Shakespeare's Macbeth and was a childhood home of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret. Further afield, you could use this spot as a base explore the southern reaches of the Cairngorms National Park (25 minutes), to head to the coast around Montrose (30 minutes) or Lunan Bay (30 minutes) or for city day trips to Dundee and its striking V&A Museum (40 minutes).