Dundee Newtyle Railway (8.5 miles)
Many Angus railways bit the dust in the 1960s and the Dundee to Newtyle link is one such example. Two sections at the city end exist today as official walking paths although they are over three miles apart. First up is a recently rewilded stretch known as The Miley. This route starts on Loon's Road, a couple of miles from the city centre. It can be reached by walking up Lochee Road (A923). Stagecoach Buses run up this way from the stop outside Tesco on the Nethergate. The Miley walk is quiet and pleasant, mainly winding through a shallow cutting which has the effect of muting the busy areas a stone's throw away and the sound of chirping birds takes over. The impressive Cox's stack - a former industrial chimney - can be glimpsed through the trees. We emerge at Clepington Road where the climb to street level reveals the rear of retail park. Clearly, no future extension of the Miley will be possible.
We now face a three-and-a-bit mile traipse to the northern boundary of the city. There are various ways to do this but the easiest to describe is turn right at Clepington Road, then take a left at the junction with Strathmartine Road and keep going. A concrete footbridge takes us over The Kingsway - the dual carriageway that divides Dundee in two. Stay on Strathmartine Road (confusingly it becomes Cox Street for a short stretch although a sign at the roundabout keeps you right). The terrain is mainly residential and small businesses. We are on the Xplore Dundee bus 22 route to the edge of the city so you can chop much of this stage out should you desire. Apparently you can even do a contactless payment!
Eventually we leave the city and almost immediately find ourselves in rolling countryside with the Sidlaw Hills beckoning. What a sudden change of scenery! A sign tells us we have now entered Angus although that of course refers to the modern council area, not the historic shire. Follow the pavement towards the hamlet of Bridgefoot where we turn left on to the quiet Rosemill Road. Proceed in a straight line for three quarters of a mile. The railway path begins directly opposite the T-junction at the end of the road.
The gravel surface is in good condition and the route weaves through the countryside. We cross a stream, skip over a minor road and pass the remains of Dronley Station which closed to passengers in 1955. A diagram of the local path network can be seen in this document.
The trail runs through a car park and peters out at the intersection with North Dronley Road. A less-formal path continues on the other side, signposted Auchterhouse. Take this option and leave the trail after 300 yards at a row of houses on your left. Walk the short distance down to the junction with the B954 where there is a bus stop for hourly Stagecoach services back to Dundee.
