Arbuthnott lies between the A90 and Inberbervie and is really a hamlet rather than a village.  It lies within the parish of the same name and consists of a number of traditional houses and cottages recently augmented by a small development of detached homes.

Community life is focused on the Grassic Gibbon Centre, developed from the original village hall into a shop, tearoom and community centre with post office services.

The centre has its own manager who organises, with the help of a number of volunteers,  a stream of events. The centre is named after Lewis Grassic Gibbon, the twentieth century Scottish writer, who spent his childhood on a small upland farm in the parish. His most popular novels, focused on local life in the early part of the century, were part of a Scottish literary revival and “Sunset Song” was adopted as a popular text by teachers and academics.

Today the centre focuses on heritage and the arts and offers opportunities to develop and improve one’s skills and knowledge.

The parish church dedicated to St. Ternan dates back to the arrival of Norman families to Scotland and lies in a secluded spot close to the River Bervie. This atmospheric spot is well worth a visit.

The Arbuthnott family, who must surely qualify as the oldest surviving landlords in the Mearns, are intimately involved with local history over the centuries but have adopted a very modern approach to the rural economy. They were one of the first manufacturers of wood pellets as a renewable energy source and rather than coats of arms you will see a sign directing you to their “Stovies”  production mill.