Broughty Ferry

Friday, midday

Yes, Jolly’s Hotel may have a lively bar on site (doubles from £49, jdwetherspoon.com), but the rooms are perfectly nice, the location is bang in the centre of ‘The Ferry’ and there is, a plus for some, that lively bar.

1:30pm

The Ship Inn has been going strong since 1847; a winning mix of proper ales and Arbroath-landed haddock and chips fuelling locals and visitors. They do a mean Cullen Skink too.

2pm

Delve into the darker days of Broughty Ferry at the hulking castle that guards the entrance to Scotland’s longest river, the Tay. Info boards tell some of the story outside.

4pm

Broughty Ferry has attracted pleasure seekers to its sweeping North Sea beach since time immemorial; join them.

7pm

The Tayberry is worth coming to Broughty Ferry for alone. Chef proprietor Adam Newth steers a tight ship; a creative one too with the likes of Linlithgow haggis, seared foie gras, lentils, beetroot and shitake mushrooms, or fennel-cured cod, lovage puree, dill beignet and burnt cucumber.

Saturday, 10am

Always fancied your pieces of eight?

Pirate Boats let you unleash your inner Jack Sparrow bashing around the mouth of the Tay on their RIB enjoying a unique perspective of Broughty Ferry.

1pm

Tuck into gourmet sandwiches and proper coffee at Mitchell’s.

2pm

Lose an afternoon wandering around Broughty Ferry’s grand – and handily pancake-flat – streets flitting through the flurry of wee independent stores and businesses.

5pm

Stroll to the little known Broughty Ferry Nature Reserve, a green oasis just north of the main beach that is more bounding dog walkers than ice cream strollers.

7pm

Sail south at Sol y Sombra Tapas Bar. Their sparkling range of tapas include vegetarian and vegan menus.

Sunday, 9am

The local wild swimming club are no lockdown-come-latelys, claiming a heritage of over 100 years. Bring your swimmers – or a dry suit – and see what all the fuss is about.

Scotrail (Scotrail.co.uk) runs trains to Broughty Ferry from all over Scotland.