Sightseeing in Dundee - what to see. Complete travel guide

Dundee is the fourth-most-populous city in Scotland. The settlement lies on the north bank of the Firth of Tay. When visiting this city, tourists might hear another name of Dundee – the Discovery City. The city got this name because Captain Scott started his adventure to the Antarctic in Dundee. The ship that the captain used for his expedition was named Discovery. The gorgeous Scottish city usually pleases its guests with ever warm and sunny weather. Besides that, the city can be proud of its rich heritage in literature because many writers and journalists were born in Dundee.

During the prehistoric period, there was a volcano on the site of the hill that Dundee is now built on. With time, the volcano became extinct and never woke up again. First mentions of the city date back to the 12th century. This was the start of Dundee’s history. The English and Scotts were constantly battling each other for the right to own this land. In the Middle Ages, local people were mostly involved in fishing. Actually, whale hunting was the main source of income for them. In the 19th century, the process of treating jute with whale fat was finally discovered, and this is when first textile factories appeared in Dundee. A bit later, the city’s manufactures started producing cotton and wool.

The 19th century also marked the start of a new period in the development of the city. The shipbuilding industry appeared in Dundee. Unfortunately, shipbuilding didn’t become a mainstream industry in the region. It has ceased to exist by now. In 1879, a tragic event happened in Dundee. Residents of the city still remember about it and tell stories about that day. On a stormy day, the bridge that was connecting Dundee with the other bank of the firth became damaged and fell down into the water because of the harsh weather conditions. The train was moving on the bridge at that moment, and so it fell down too. On this sad day for the city, seventy-five people died at once. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Do you want to visit a real Scottish ship? In this case, visit Unicorn, a surviving sailing frigate built in the 20s of the 19th century in order to strengthen Britain’s fleet. Soon after the time that the Unicorn was built, timber sailing ships became outdated and were replaced with newer and more durable iron ships and then with steamers. The size of the Unicorn was really impressive for its time – it was 150 feet or 45.7 meters long. As the frigate was built for a military purpose, it had forty-six cannons and had enough space for two hundred and fifty sailors.

In 1960, the Unicorn found its last resort in the Victoria dock in Dundee. After a thorough restoration, the watercraft was given to the city’s historical society that now takes care of the ship and maintains it in good condition. The unicorn is free to enter, but everyone is welcome a donation in any currency.

The city’s suburbs, as well as the nearby villages, hide many charming places with a rich history. Glamis Castle, which is located in the village of Glamis not far from Dundee, is one of these gorgeous attractions. Nowadays, a museum is open in a part of the castle. The venue welcomes thousands of guests every day. The Earl and Countess of Strathmore and Kinghorne live in the other part of the building.

The beautiful castle was built in the 14th century. Unfortunately, it hasn’t retained its original look through centuries. The castle was expanded and modernized several times, and so new elements appeared in the complex during these renovations. The castle’s design that we can see now dates back to the 17th century. Just like many Scottish castles, Glamis Castle has its own ghosts and, of course, there are many legends about this prominent building. The incredibly beautiful garden surrounds the castle. The area looks so charming that it can warm hearts even of tourists who don’t like sightseeing.

Are you fond of science? In this case, you simply ought to visit the Mills Observatory. This is a public observatory that is always glad to welcome new guests. The building has a distinctive cupola, the height of which is seven meters. An interesting fact – the cupola is made from paper-mache. Inside the building, you will find a Victorian period telescope. Visitors can use this telescope and look to the sky through it. The observatory is open in Balgay Park not far from the city center.

Dundee has an airport that regularly accommodates flights from the capital of the UK. There is also a large airport in Edinburgh that also has flights to Dundee. Of course, it is possible to reach Dundee from the cities mentioned above by bus. If you travel in a car, use routes A90 or M90 to get to this Scottish city.