Monikie Country Park - Rain Stops Play

Monikie Country Park
Parking	The park has a good car park but you have to pay to play. Alternatively, you can just park in the village and walk in.
Distance	Variable depending on how far you want to walk around the park. But no more than a few miles if you want to go all the way around.
Height / Ascent	less than 20m - the park is pretty flat
Bogginess	1 / 5
Strenuosity	1 / 5
Other Info	None

Introduction

After being geed up from our last outing we couldn't wait to get out again somewhere new. Unfortunately, on the day we picked, the weather was (you guessed it) dull, grey and looked like it was about to pour down. So again we decided to stay close and plumped for a trip to Monikie Country Park. It was close by and we thought there was bound to be plenty to photograph at a big park such as this. Moreover, it was a school day so there wouldn't be any annoying little shits running around either. Enter car - exit Carnoustie

Getting There and Parking Up

The park is easy to find. Its located off Panmure Road in the village of Monikie. You can get to the village by turning off the A92 (the main dual carriageway between Arbroath and Dundee) onto the B962. The village and the park are well signposted so you shouldn't have any trouble finding it.

There is a car park but there is a charge for it between spring and autumn. Outwith this period they welcome contributions. Alternatively, you can do like we did and park in the village of Monikie and walk into the park, it's not far. You might be thinking we are a couple of tightwads trying to avoid charges wherever possible. I guess we are to an extent but facilities such as Monikie are run by the Council and as such should probably be a free service. Maybe I am asking too much.

Anyway, after parking in the village just across from the entrance to the park, we headed in.

Duck Tales

Afer we got into the park we headed to the southern pond titled 'Island Pond' for obvious reasons. We were met by a group of ducks paddling close by. They seemed to like getting their photo taken.

One of the many ducks lurking around Monikie Park

After the ducks had finished their photoshoot we headed over to the small hut and jetty where a load of rowing boats were tied up. A couple of old geezers clocked our cameras and asked us if we worked for The Courier (the local paper). They seemed a bit disappointed when we told them we didn't. I think they just wanted there mugshots in the paper to show their friends.

So after a little banter with those two we started snapping at the jetty. The weather was really closing in and rain wasn't far away so none of the boats had been taken out. Still, the jetty and the dramatic cloudy sky made for some good photos.

The jetty at Island Pond

We then headed on past the high ropes adventue area and up to the North Pond. Again there was a jetty with some boats moored up but not much else happening. As we started snapping, the rain started pouring down and it didn't look like it was going to stop any time soon, so this terminated our very short journey to Monikie.

On the jetty at the North Pond. The storm clouds gather

Heading Home - Reflection

 

Considering how little time we actually spent there we got a good haul of snaps. The stormy skies made for some dramatic photos. If the rain hadn't sent us running we may have walked around the perimeter of the ponds to see what else there was but I doubt thee would have been a great deal more to see. All in all it was a fun day albeit a short one and there were some good photos to show from it.

Worth a Visit?

 

It depends what you want to do. Monikie is geared up for recreational pursuits such as fishing and watersports and has a large picnic area for families. If this is your thing then Monikie is perfect. As for our pursuts walking and photographing it is less well equiped. Although you can walk around the perimeter of the ponds there won't be a great amount to see although it would still be a pleasant walk. Photographic opportunites are limited to the local wildlife and whatever is happening on the ponds. However, it would make a good place to photograph sunsets over the ponds.