A Packed Day Around Dundee
A day on foot, from V&A Dundee to Broughty Ferry Beach.
Written by Graeme Johncock
It’s known as the City of Discovery, but not many visitors to Scotland get the chance to discover everything there is to love about Dundee! This was my closest city for my whole childhood, so I know it well and believe it deserves to be given a chance. There’s plenty of history and culture in and around the city and you won’t be fighting through crowds of tourists to enjoy it!
The route
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
The nearest of ours is Airdit, 8 miles away. Sleeps 2; next free Sun 25 Oct to Tue 27 Oct.
Then Guardswell Farm in Inchture, 14 miles away. Sleeps 10.
V&A Dundee
An attraction
Just next door to the Discovery, the design of the V&A mirrors the famous ship’s bow. Opening in 2018, this is a more modern addition to the Dundee waterfront and it’s quickly become a favourite spot for the wider area. It’s a design museum and there are hundreds of pieces of Scottish art and design on display throughout the exhibitions.
About 20 min on foot
Verdant Works
An attraction
Into the heart of Dundee, you’ll find a remnant of its most important chapter. Verdant Works was one of the jute mills that completely transformed the city’s fortunes and layout. Dundee was well placed in the 1800s to turn the raw material from India into usable products, with both the weaving experience and the whale oil needed to work it. At one point, half the population were involved in the industry, including most of the women and children! Mills, chimneys and tenement buildings filled the streets and Verdant Works gives you a chance to see what life would have been like for the people that worked here and made Dundee what it is today!
About 15 min on foot
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The Bach
An attraction
Dundee isn’t where you’d expect to find a fantastic New Zealand style café, but I can’t recommend The Bach enough! There’s a huge menu to get through, from classic lunch options to kiwi specialities, including my own favourite - the Fried Chicken Cruffle!
More about The Bach
McManus
An attraction
If you want to discover more about Dundee’s history, there’s nowhere better than the McManus. Built as a memorial to Prince Albert in 1867, the building itself is a work of art and it’s packed to the rafters with exhibitions. Best of all, it’s entirely free to wander around. You can explore from the area’s Neolithic origins to its Pictish past and onto the industrial heritage that can still be seen today. I could easily spend an entire rainy day here, but you could just as easily breeze through in an hour if you’re short on time. For art, the Victoria Gallery holds some of the finest paintings in Dundee’s collection. I’m always drawn to the paintings of the old city, with some sights that you might recognise and others, like the Victoria Arch, that have since been lost.
More about McManusAbout 10 min by car
Broughty Castle
An attraction
Leave the centre of Dundee behind and head into nearby Broughty Ferry. This was once home to the Jute Barons who ran the mills in the city and their homes made up the richest square mile in Europe! Standing on the shore, Broughty Castle is an icon of the area, built in the 15th century. It kept an eye on ships sailing up and down the Tay, although it was captured by the English during the 16th century after the owner Patrick Gray betrayed the Scottish government. It took three years to get back for the Scots! Eventually, the castle fell out of use until it found a new purpose as a military base during the World Wars. Visitors can find out about every stage of the building’s life and Broughty Ferry’s story in the museum housed inside!
About 10 min on foot
Broughty Ferry Beach
An attraction
There’s no better way to end a day around Dundee than a trip to the beach and luckily an incredibly beautiful stretch of sand lies right beside Broughty Castle. This is right where the River Tay becomes an estuary and you can gaze across at the trees of Tentsmuir forest in Fife or out to sea and if you’re really lucky, might even spot some bottlenose dolphins playing in the waves!
More about Broughty Ferry Beach
Make it a weekend
Days that start near Broughty Ferry Beach.
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Photographs by buono jean pierre and Johnny Solar via Google