Riverside Of Discovery
Dundee’s regenerated quayside offers adventure and culture
DUNDEE has seen a huge transformation in the last decade – take a walk along the riverfront to see for yourself. From the regenerated quayside to the striking V&A museum, a whole day could be spent exploring this stretch of Dundee.
If you have caught Dundee on a sunny day, or if you aren’t adverse to a bit of chilly water, then start your riverside adventure at Foxlake Adventures – the dream day out for any kid, or any adventurous adult.
This area of the quay is dedicated to Dundee’s very own watersports park with an inflatable aqua park, wakeboarding, and inflatable ringo rides. Although you can’t expect the water to be tropical – even in the summer months – once you’ve had your first dunk you’ll quickly acclimatise and concentrate on having fun!
A visit to Foxlake is a great family activity, and a few rounds on their fun inflatable assault course will definitely bring out competitive spirits. Or if you are looking for something a little more relaxed, then have a go at paddle boarding to test out your core strength and balance.
After a morning of fast-paced fun, you will have worked up an appetite that is thankfully well catered for along the riverfront. Try Porters Bar and Restaurant at the quay – voted one of Dundee’s best restaurants – or head along the river for an afternoon at the V&A Dundee, complete with lunch at their brilliant restaurant Tatha. The first outpost of the Victoria and Albert museum in London, the V&A Dundee celebrates the world of Scottish design.
A tour of the permanent exhibition in the Scottish Design Galleries takes in everything from Charles Rennie Mcintosh’s furniture, to the making of world-famous video games. The V&A Dundee is no ordinary museum and with interactive exhibits at every turn, the whole family will love it.
“Dundee is just a fantastic site. It’s built on trade, and we’re a museum whose fundamental premise is the trade of ideas across the globe,” says Sophie Mckinlay, the V&A Dundee’s director of programme.
“With the Scottish Design Galleries, that’s just a fraction of what is out there. It’s a starting point for people to go and discover design across Scotland and beyond.” Continuing on the theme of discovery, next door to the museum you will find just that – RRS Discovery. The
famous ship carried Captain Scott and his crew, including Ernest Shackleton, towards the South Pole on the British National Antarctic Expedition.
Today, visitors can climb aboard to experience the conditions endured by these brave explorers; peer into the depths of the engine room and gaze at the heights of the crow’s nest.
Dundee has so much to offer visitors, and this small riverside stretch is just a taste of it. Venture west along the waterfront to the Dundee Science Centre – a guaranteed hit with kids – or head into the city centre to relax in one of the innumerable cocktail bars – a guaranteed hit with adults! Dundee is the ideal spot for a city getaway and the picturesque riverside is the perfect place to start exploring.
“Have a go at paddle boarding to test out your core strength and balance”