Its golf course became more accessible from further afield, adding to the early growth of tourism.
Its station was opened on the wide gauge Dundee and Arbroath Railway on 6th October 1838. The original station, a small stone building was on the west side of Station Road to the north of the running line with goods yards to the north. The gauge was changed to standard gauge and a new station was opened in 1900, located to the east side of Station Road. It was a late example of a canopy resting on highly ornate cast iron cantilevers. It was demolished in 1986.
In early 1948, the purpose-built Golf Street Halt was opened especially for golfers.
It variously marketed itself as ‘The Home of Health and Happiness’ and ‘The Brighton of the North’.
The claim to be a healthy resort was based on the range of outdoor activities on offer, primarily the beach and golfing. Writings from 1882 comment ‘the seawater is undiluted and the beach with its gradual slope and its fine sand makes bathing both safe and pleasant….in the forenoons it is usually crowded with a promiscuous throng’.
But it was also based on the ‘healthy air’…. the air is bracing and tonic; on the links especially it is felt to be most exhilarating’…. ‘rainfall in 1891 was low and mean temperature was 2° C in January to 15° C in July’ and ‘with all those advantages it is not surprising to know that this is a healthy place’.