Forfar

Forfar is the county town of Angus, Scotland and the administrative centre for Angus Council. Its population is 14,048Forfar dates back to the temporary Roman occupation of the area, and was subsequently held by the Picts and the Kingdom of Scotland. It was occupied by the English before being recaptured by the Scots and presented to Robert the Bruce during the Scottish Wars of Independence. Forfar has been both a traditional market town and a major manufacturing centre for linen and jute. Today the main activities are agriculture and tourism around the scenic valley of Strathmore. The local glens are popular with hill-walkers, and there are ski-slopes in the mountains. The town has a second division football club, Forfar Athletic, and Rugby Union is represented by Strathmore Rugby Football Club.The Forfar Bridie, a popular Scottish meat pastry snack, is traditionally identified with the town.HistoryDuring one of the Roman invasions of modern-day Scotland, the Romans established a major camp at Battledykes, approximately three miles north of Forfar; this camp was analysed to have held 50,000 to 60,000 men. From Battledykes northward the Romans established a succession of camps including Stracathro, Raedykes and Normandykes.During the Middle Ages, a "claimant" to the throne, the daughter of the leader of the Meic Uilleim, who were descendants of King Duncan II, had her brains dashed out on Forfar market cross in 1230 while still an infant.