Dundee (local area)
There are a host of attractions outwith Dundee's city centre that are worth taking the time to explore.
Just south of the city centre, at the water's edge alongside the Tay Road Bridge, the domed Discovery Point is an impressive development centring on the Royal Research Ship 'Discovery'. Something of an icon for Dundees renaissance, 'Discovery' is a three-masted, steam-assisted vessel built in Dundee in 1901 to take Captain Robert Falcon Scott on his polar expeditions. A combination of brute strength and elegance, she has been beautifully restored, with polished wood panels and brass trimmings. As a introduction before stepping aboard, you're led through a series of displays about the construction of the ship and Scott's journeys, including the chill-inducing 'Polarama' about life in Antarctica and a compelling audiovisual spectacular involving a model ship bursting through the screen and lots of dry ice.
In total contrast is the endearingly simple wooden frigate 'Unicorn', moored in Victoria Dock on the other side of the road bridge (connected to Discovery Point by a footpath). Built in 1824, it's the oldest British warship still afloat and was in active service up until 1968. Although the interior is sparse, the cannons, the splendid figureheads and the wonderful model of the ship in its fully rigged glory - the real thing would have featured over 23 miles of rope - are fascinating.
Dundee is well served with public parks, many of which were donated to the city by the wealthy 'Jute Barons' of the 19th century. Camperdown Country Park is the city's largest park and contains a wildlife centre, an 18-hole golf course and an award-winning adventure play complex featuring play facilities for children with special needs, the first of its kind in Scotland. Camperdown is also the venue for the City of Discovery Food and Flower Festival held late in August each year.
The city's other volcanic plug of rock sits a mile to the west of the more famous Dundee Law. Balgay Hill is skirted by the wooded Lochee Park, and on its summit sits the Mills Observatory, Britain's only full-time public observatory with a resident astronomer. In addition to well-explained, quirky exhibits and displays charting the history of space exploration and astronomy, its planetarium has shows on the last Friday of every month. Buses from the city centre drop you in Balgay Road, at the entrance to the park.
