Hidden Scotland
Sign in
Dundee

Broughty Ferry – Castle Green Play Park and Visocchi's

A few hours.

The route

Castle Green in Broughty Ferry has kept generations of Dundee children busy, a big play park on the green beside the castle with the beach right next to it.

Spend the morning climbing, running about and digging in the sand, then take a short walk up the street to Visocchi's, the Ferry's Italian café since 1954, for one of its ice creams. It suits families with young children.

Before you go

  1. Book accommodation nearby

    If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.

    The nearest of ours is Airdit, 7 miles away. Sleeps 2; next free Sun 25 Oct to Tue 27 Oct.

    Then Guardswell Farm in Inchture, 13 miles away. Sleeps 10.

The day

Broughty Ferry

A morning by the sea in Broughty Ferry, on the east edge of Dundee. The play park and the sand come first, while little legs still have energy, then a short walk into the Ferry for an ice cream, a hot drink or an early bowl of pasta.

About two and a half hoursAbout 1 mile on foot

  1. Castle Green Playground

    Castle Green Playground

    Park in front of Broughty Castle, on its rock by the harbour, and Castle Green is right beside it. The play park was done up in 2024 around a big pirate ship climbing frame. When the children have had enough, the sandy beach starts just below the castle walls and runs east along the Esplanade, lovely for sandcastles and a paddle on a calm day. Keep small children close at the water's edge.

  2. 6 min on foot

    Visocchi's

    Visocchi's

    Lunch

    It's 6 minutes' walk up Gray Street from Castle Green to Visocchi's, the Ferry's Italian café since 1954, for one of its ice creams, a hot drink, or an early lunch of pizza or pasta. It opens at 10.30am and is shut on Mondays. It has wheelchair access and toilets for customers, and dogs are welcome. From Visocchi's it's 6 minutes' walk back to the car.

If it rains

On a wet morning, swap the play park for Broughty Castle beside it, a free museum with a lookout at the top, open Wednesday to Sunday from April to October (from 12.30pm on Sundays). Then go straight on to Visocchi's to warm up.

Bruach Bar, bar and restaurant, Broughty Ferry.

Gracie’s, café bistro, Broughty Ferry.