Coupar Angus

The small town of Coupar Angus lies on the banks of the River Isla in the south east corner of Perthshire, and not as one might expect in the neighbouring county of Angus! The town is a small place laid out along a wide main street which tells of a former glory. It grew up on the main Perth to Aberdeen route, which eventually became the A94. However, with the improvements to the A90 via Dundee to the south, the A94 has lost its importance, and more importantly its traffic, leaving the town of Coupar Angus to decline a little and seek new growth opportunities.

In the 1760s Coupar was an important enough town to become the starting point of two military roads, one heading north to Blairgowrie and then through the mountains to Fort George near Inverness. The other headed west from the north bank of the river to Dunkeld. The bridge over the River Isla was built at the same time, and with the town lying on the busy route to Aberdeen, its prosperity seemed assured. The roads all still exist, but the traffic is reduced from its heyday, and the town centre relief road is now almost a white elephant. This was built along the old railway line after it closed, and runs parallel to Union Street, the main shopping area.

Halfway along this 'bypass' the A923 joins from the south at a signalised junction, and the two enjoy a short multiplex to the eastern end of the bypass, where a roundabout turns the road north to rejoin Station Road, the old A94 route. Almost immediately, the two routes split at a mini roundabout, the A94 turning east once more whilst the A923 continues north around the town to cross the river.

The B948 is a curious anachronism in the town. Historically, it followed the 'missing' route of the A923 through the town, whilst that route curved around as it still does. However, with the coming of the bypass, the old crossroads became a T junction, and the short connection (High Street) was closed up at the bypass end. This means that maps generally show the B948 terminating on Union Street, as it always has, which is now unclassified, and no connection to either the A923 or A94!

Routes

Route	To	Notes
A94	Perth
A94	Forfar
A923	Blairgowrie
A923	Dundee
B948		Link in town