Have a Dandy Day out in ‘Fundee’!

Cartoon characters Dennis the Menace and gnasher on his skateboard
V7A Dundee next to the RSS Discovery ship in Dundee
Slessors garden with benches in Dundee

Indoor and Outdoor Dundee

With oodles of culture and a long-standing history of creativity and design, there’s so much to explore in and around Dundee, not to mention several great local gins. Oh jings, crivvens, help me boab!

Getting Here -

Is easy! Less than 90 minutes from Aberdeen to the north, Edinburgh to the south and Glasgow to the south west. It’s a straightforward journey by road, rail or bus, right into the city centre.

A close up map of Dundee showing location icons where to find Scottish Gin

Know before you go –

Spreading the enjoyment of marmalade around the world from 1797, Janet Keiller’s invention is still available today and has inspired several of the local gins, especially those from the Dundee Gin Company. Maybe a toast to her? While Verdant Gin is based in the Verdant Works, a refurbished Jute Mill, which formed a vital part of Dundee’s industrial heritage up until the 1970s when jute production was moved to India.

Verdant Works  a world class visitor attraction telling the story of Dundee’s industrial textile heritage in a refurbished mill
Picture of Captain Scott in the snow
A historic steam ship, now a tourist attraction in the heart of Dundee.

At Discovery Point you’ll find RRS Discovery, the legendary Royal Research Ship from which Sir Robert Falcon Scott and Ernest Shackleton discovered the South Polar Plateau between 1901 and 1904. Despite Scott’s determination, he was to be beaten to the Pole by Amundsen in 1912, and tragically perished during the return to his ship. Seeing the story laid out in full, and hearing the inspiring tales of these men’s bravery, is not to be missed and will transfix young and old alike. Captain Scott left a son Peter, who would go on to found the World Wide Fund for Nature or WWF, and Slimbridge Wildfowl Centre in Gloucestershire.

What to do –

Scotland’s creativity and design is showcased within the V&A museum, a place of inspiration, discovery and learning. It has attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors since it opened its doors in 2018. Occupying a compelling spot on the quayside, the museum structure itself is jaw dropping, resembling a huge ship on the verge of sailing.  The only V&A Museum outside of the London original, Dundee was chosen as the city worthy of recognition for its design and creative heritage.

Dundees Slessor Gardens, flowers and greenery
The Dundee Law. A tall stone war memorial remembering those who fell in the great war.
A wooden sign with white writing showing the way to Camperdown Park in Dundee

Gorgeous Green Spaces

Dundee has lots of green spaces to enjoy, including Camperdown Country Park, Dundee Botanic Garden, and Slessor Park in the heart of the city centre. A walk up The Law rewards you with spectacular views over the city and far away.

So now you’re thirsty, here are the perfect local gins to help you out:-

The great local gins –

Verdant Dry Gin combines juniper and bright citrus with a global blend of botanicals, reflecting Dundee’s jute and marine connections. This produces a delicious award winning gin which can be enjoyed on its own, with tonic, or in cocktails.

The Dundee Gin Co offers gins with a strong Dundonian link throughout their range, including Dundee Cake Gin Liqueur, Marmalade Gin Liqueur and their Classic Dry Gin.

Crag & Tail small batch Scottish gin combines twelve botanical elements including citrus, elderflower and watermelon to provide a balanced, clean and refreshing citrus taste, with a hint of spice. The name comes from the exposed vertical rocky faces with a sweeping slope behind them left behind by ancient glaciers.

Tayport Distillery’s Wild Rose Gin is bright and fresh with citrus notes and a floral finish.  Just 10 minutes out of the city centre, Tayport offers tours and tastings designed to bring your into our world of craft spirits.

Eating & drinking –

Enjoy the local gins and the finest foods at a host of bars and eateries across Dundee. Our favourites include Gallery 48, which offers tapas, Spanish wines and gin, with ground-breaking exhibitions by local and international artists. The Bruach Bar in nearby Broughty Ferry has an all day menu with something for everyone, and an interesting cocktail list worth exploring! Duke’s Corner is where to head for cocktails, local gins, craft beers and good food. It has a cool late- night vibe but a friendly welcoming reputation too.

Where to stay –

For Scottish Gins enjoyed in relaxed surroundings, visit Taypark House and its Gin Bar Lounge and Gin & Fizz Garden (hopefully re-opening soon).  The elegant Malmaison Hotel is stylishly convenient to both the V&A and Discovery point. Invercarse Hotel with its terrace, great reputation for friendly staff and good food, matched by its views over the city, is a good choice for somewhere to stay.  There’s also an abundance of quality chain hotels many of which also stock the local gins. In our experience, many of the hotels offer great value in comparison to Edinburgh & Glasgow.  See for yourself and let us know if you agree!

Local produce –

Dundee and surrounds is also home to a growing number of independent specialist food and drink retailers.  If you like to shop local, and limit the food miles in your larder, visit The Butcher, The Baker. Here ‘passion’ is key (have your cold shower ready!) Fraser’s Fruit & Veg has a range of local fresh produce plus ready meals, soups and deli foods, all beautifully presented. Just out of town is Grewar’s Farm Shop too, where ‘local’ and ‘quality’ are the watchwords.

So, whether it’s one day, or just day one of many, Dundee will give you lots of choice for stylish viewing, historical learning, energetic exploring, or Ginspired creating! Plus great food to get your Gnashers into. So don’t delay your visit to Dundee, ‘The Cool City with the Warm Heart’.

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