Dundee stands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay on the east coast of Scotland in the Region of Tayside. It was established on a hill overlooking the River Tay, which is now known as Dundee Law, the highest point in the city at 180 metres. This hill is an extinct volcano, whose summit now is home to the city’s War Memorial.
Dundee is the fourth largest city in the country with a population of approximately 145,000 residents and is referred to as the City of Discovery, named for its close connections to the Royal Research Ship ‘Discovery’. Once a major seaport and the U.K.’s largest whaling centre, Dundee historically has been a prosperous centre based on weaving, whaling and shipbuilding. Today Dundee is a modern busy university town, home to a revitalised seafront, great shopping centres at Wellgate, Murraygate and Overgate, places of interest for any visitor such as the ‘Discovery Centre’, ‘Verdant Works’ a textile museum and ‘Sensations’ – Dundee’s Science Museum, and a vibrant nightlife through its lively pub and club scene. Located in an ideal position to be a base for touring the great highland hinterland, Dundee offers much for the northern visitor!!
Dundee has been a Royal Burgh since 1190 and the scene of several battles of Scottish independence, notable in the 14th, 16th and 17th centuries. As a result of the fighting, many of the early buildings have been destroyed and the only surviving historic buildings are the town gate, which is the 16th century Wishart Arch and the 15th century Old Steeple of St Mary’s. The steeple is all that remains of the original four churches in the centre of Dundee. Repeatedly sacked, and finally almost destroyed by fire in 1841, the steeple remains and is considered one of the finest of its type in Scotland.
Dundee has several diverse places of interest from the Central Museum and Art Gallery which contains a collection of regional and archaeological material, and the oldest known astrolabe (dated 1555), an instrument used in navigation, as well as paintings from the Dutch, French and British schools, particularly Scottish. The Barrack Street Shipping and Industrial Museum houses a collection illustrating the history of old Dundee through its maritime and commercial life. The ‘Verdant Works’, which is one of the country’s most important textile museums, that traces the important jute process that transformed the weaving industry in Scotland. There is also the ‘Discovery Point Visitors Centre’ on the banks of the ‘Silvery Tay’. This centre contains the R.R.S ‘Discovery’ and exhibitions of the 1901 British National Antarctic Expedition.
The polar exploration ships, Shackleton’s ‘Terra Nova’ and Scott’s ‘Discovery’ were both built in the shipyards of Dundee, benefiting from the mass of experience accrued from building whaling boats!! This maritime connection and its sea-faring heritage is also evidenced by the harbouring of the 46 gun frigate ‘HMS Unicorn’, which served the Royal Navy for 144 years, and is preserved in Victoria Dock, Dundee Harbour. Although not built in Dundee it is of great historical importance as it is the most original wooden warship, built in the period of transition from wood to steel!!
Dundee is also proud of its heritage in connections with Mrs Keillor’s jam and marmalade manufacturing and David Couper Thomsom’s publishing business, DC Thomson, which created characters like Dennis the Menace, Desperate Dan and Beano!! DC Thomson’s has been publishing since 1905 and produces 200 million comics, books and magazines each and every year for worldwide distribution!!
Other sites, in the city, worthy of mention –
Camperdown House, 5 kilometres north-west of the city centre, built for the 1st Earl of Camperdown in 1829, the mansion houses a museum of golf showing the development of the game over 3 centuries.
Broughty Castle museum, 6 kilometres east of the city centre, has exhibits from Dundee’s whaling history and displays relating to the castle itself.
Claypotts Castle, 5 kilometres east of the city centre, one of the most complete of the old tower houses it was built in 1569.
Other places of interest within 30 kilometres –
St Andrews, 18 kilometres south of Dundee, home to the Royal and Ancient Golf Club founded in 1754 and the ruling authority on the game and famous world over. It is a university city, with a ruined cathedral and a ruined castle, both overlooking the sea.
Glamis, 15 kilometres north of the city, a picturesque little village, ancestral home of Queen Elizabeth’s mother. The Castle, built in the French chateau style and said to be haunted, is open to the public in the summer months. The Angus Folk Museum, in the village, has restored cottages illustrating farm and domestic life over the centuries.
The J.M. Barrie Museum at 9 Brechin Road, Kirriemuir, birthplace of the famous author of ‘Peter Pan’, also north of Dundee.
Carnoustie, 15 kilometres east, a holiday resort known for its two golf courses. It has attractive coastal walks and fine beaches.
Did you know that – a railway bridge was built across the River Tay at Dundee in 1878 and the following year it was blown down by a gale as a train was crossing?
|