Tarfside is a small

hamlet ''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play. Set in Denmark, the play (the ...

Angus, Scotland Angus (; ) is one of the 32 Local government in Scotland, local government council areas of Scotland, and a Lieutenancy areas of Scotland, lieutenancy area. The council area borders Aberdeenshire, Dundee City (council area), Dundee City and Per ...

. It is situated in Glen Esk, on the upper course of the

River North Esk The North Esk () is a river in Angus, Scotland, Angus and Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It is formed by the meeting of the Water of Mark (from Glen Mark) and the Water of Lee (from Loch Lee), and enters the North Sea four miles north of Montrose, Ang ...

, around 8 miles north of

Edzell Edzell (; ; ) is a village in Angus, Scotland. It is 5 miles (8 km) north of Brechin, by the River North Esk. Edzell is a Georgian-era planned town, with a broad main street and a grid system of side streets. Originally called Slateford, ...

, and has a footpath to nearby

Loch Lee National Loch Lee is a loch in Angus, Scotland south of the Grampian Mountains that is fed by the Water of Lee and the Water of Unich and outflows, via the Water of Lee, to a confluence with the Water of Mark to form the River North Esk. Quee ...

.Tarfside. Undiscovered Scotland.
/ref> Tarfside is commonly seen as a very beautiful place for walkers. Tarfside is the location of an Episcopal church, St Drostan's, which was built in 1879 in memory of Alexander Penrose Forbes,

Bishop of Brechin The Bishop of Brechin is a title held successively, since c. 1150: (firstly) by bishops of the Catholic church until the Reformation of 1560; (secondly) by bishops of the Church of Scotland until that church declared itself presbyterian in ...

. This replaced earlier Episcopal meeting houses in Glen Esk. The church has had no resident clergyman since 1921 and is currently served from

Brechin Brechin (; ) is a town and former royal burgh in Angus, Scotland. Traditionally Brechin was described as a city because of its cathedral and its status as the seat of a pre-Scottish Reformation, Reformation Roman Catholic diocese (which contin ...

. The church also has a lodge which provides accommodation for groups or individuals. During the Second World War, a secret Auxiliary Unit known as the "Tarfside Patrol" was based in the area. This was led by Sgt William Henderson Kidd, who reported to the Group Commander Captain H.A. Ferrier, and Asst G.C. Lieut A.J. Mackie. An underground base would have been made which the patrol would have gone into hiding if the Germans had invaded. Research by the British Resistance Archive/ Coleshill Auxiliary Research Team has identified the patrol members, but so far not the operational base (bunker).

References

Villages in Angus, Scotland {{Angus-geo-stub