Lunan Water

{{Short description|River in Angus, Scotland}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}

{{Use British English|date=November 2017}}

File:Lunan Bay Kyle Munro.JPGs installed during World War II]]

File:Lunan Bay from the south - geograph.org.uk - 1478044.jpg

The Lunan Water is an easterly flowing river in Angus, Scotland, that discharges to the North Sea {{convert|11|km}} north of the town of Arbroath. Draining chiefly agricultural lands, this stream has a moderate level of turbidity and a pH level of approximately 8.7.C.M. Hogan, History of Muchalls Castle, Natural History Section, Aberdeen (2005) Other nearby watercourses discharging to the North Sea include River North Esk and River South Esk, both to the north.

The Lunan Water rises at Lunanhead, a mile north-east of Forfar, and its upper catchment, the Lunan Basin, contains several lochs and fen wetlands, such as Restenneth Moss, Rescobie Loch and Balgavies Loch. Much of this upper catchment is designated as nature reserves or Sites of Special Scientific Interest due to the diverse wetland habitats and wildlife here. It passes through several villages on its course, including Guthrie, Friockheim and Inverkeilor. At its mouth the Lunan Water meets the North Sea at the hamlet of Lunan, upon Lunan Bay. The beach at Lunan Bay was voted the "best beach in Scotland" in a survey conducted in the year 2000.{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/whereilive/coast/stages.shtml?walk=perthandtayside&stage=6 |title=Lunan bay |publisher=BBC |accessdate=2009-09-14}} The 15th-century ruins of Red Castle are located at the river mouth, close to Lunan.

The valley of the Lunan Water was historically known as Strathbeg, from the Scottish Gaelic {{lang|gd|Srath Beag}}, "little strath", in comparison to Strathmore.Alex J. Warden, Angus or Forfarshire, the Land and People, Descriptive and Historical, Charles Alexander & Co., Dundee (1881)