Arbroath sits on the North Sea coast of the county of Angus and is the largest town in Angus with a population of, roughly, 24,000. Since the 14th century, Arbroath has been an important fishing port. Its original name was more descriptive of its origin- Aberbrothock, "at the mouth of the Brothock" (Burn). Arbroath became a royal burgh on the 23rd November 1599.

The ruins of Arbroath Abbey dominate the centre of the town. It was in the Abbey that the Declaration of Arbroath was signed in 1320 and witnessed by Robert the Bruce after the Battle of Bannockburn establishing Scotland's independence from England. Although the author of this Latin document is unknown, it is believed to have been Bernard de Linton, Abbot of Arbroath and Chancellor of Scotland.

In the 18th and 19th centuries Arbroath became a centre for linen weaving, spinning, bleaching and tanning with mills dotted all the way down the Brothock valley The modern economy depends, mainly, on engineering, oil-related industries, fishing, boat building and, to a lesser extent, tourism.

To the south east lies the Bell Rock lighthouse and the Signal Tower (built in 1813), both designed by Robert Stevenson. The Tower is now houses the town's museum.

Although fishing has declined the town remains an important fishing port and a popular holiday resort on the Angus Tourist Route with a Signal Tower Museum, bathing on the West Links, a sports centre and a golf course. Established in 1935, Kerr's Miniature Railway on the West Links Park is the oldest in Scotland. Arbroath was the home town of Sir Harry Lauder until the age of 14 and Adam Shanks, inventor of the lawnmower.

The Arbroath Smokie is a world class delicacy of haddock smoke cured over smouldering wood chips. The Scottish delicacy now enjoys the same official protection against forgers, counterfeiters and other pirates as the famous French bubbly and Italian ham thanks to the awarding of Protected Geographical Interest by the European Commission. The name Arbroath Smokie can now only be used to describe haddock smoked in the traditional manner and within an 8km radius of Arbroath.