Things to do in and around Dundee

Happydaze

Heading to Dundee for a few days with family (kids 11 & 5). What is there to do to keep everyone entertained?? Any ideas would be much appreciated.

skintbint_2

hi Happydaze, it would really depend on whether you have your own transport, if you do i would suggest Craigtoun Country Park at St Andrews
pay an entrance fee and the kids are entertained all day (great value), take a picnic or there is a reasonably priced cafe, Science Sensation in Dundee, The Frigate Unicorn and also the RRS Discovery (wee bit of history for the kids)at the Harbour, Camperdown park in Dundee has a wildlife centre and lots of open area and park for the kids to play in and you to get a break (another great value day out to keep costs down), Kirriemuir -JM Barries birthplace (ice cream from Visocchi's in the square) and return by Glamis Castle, Queen mothers family home, Mills Observatory in Dundee now its dark from about 7ish, Arbroath has an indoor funfair/arcade which you can buy wristbands for as well as a wee harbour with some fishing boats going in and out, there is also the signal tower museum which relates the history of Bell Rock lighthouse and local fishing traditions. hope this helps and all within 20 miles of Dundee so no "are we there yet, are we there yet, are we there yet....................
forgot to say be prepared for all weathers, weather has gotten a lot colder this past week- beautiful sunshine but cold, out walking (Crombie country park, playpark and BBQ's if you want to take your own stuff- free entry, ranger station, bird hides) last Sunday and even although sunshining was wearing gloves as there was a nip in the air. Lot colder up here than down south, 6c this morning about 10am


shirl

Happydaze

:TThanks for the great ideas Skintbint! Sounds like there is loads to do so no bored kids!! Thanks for the heads up on weather, although we're only a 2-3 hours away from you on west coast , it sounds a bit nippier in Dundee!

One thing I quite fancied doing with the kids was some kind of walking treasure hunt - do you know if tourist info do that kind of thing. I thought it would while away a couple of hours while getting some fresh air.

Can you reccommend any good family restaurants (not too pricey but prefer not the usual pizza hut etc)

Are there any discount vouchers for any of the attractions, I've managed to find a free kids entry to science sensation so will be using that.

skintbint_2

hi, not very sure about treasure hunts but do know that kids can do junior orienteering at Crombie Country park where you go round the loch and find the markers using a map you can pick up at the ranger station, when i was there last week there some kids doing it and they were having a great time running in and out of the trees and along the tracks.
Can recommend The Birkhill Inn which is on the Dundee - Coupar Angus road just past Camperdown Park, The Taza at the City Quay which is Indian Buffet my kids love going there, and Jimmy Chungs at the bottom of Commercial Street? If you are in Perth download Toby carvery voucher which is here somewhere and can be used in the Isle of Skye Hotel on the Road out of Perth as you come over the bridge on way back to Dundee. If you go to Glamis/Kirrie take the road back by Meigle and Coupar Angus(nice park Larghan Park) and Red House Hotel in Coupar Angus do good meals, then as you are going back to Dundee you go up Tullybaccart the views are stunning across the Strathmore Valley to Schehallion way in the distance and this brings you full circle back into Dundee at Birkhill/Camperdown. if you go to Blairgowrie lovely little town with "wellmeadow" gardens in the centre and lovely river walk recommend the old Cross in Rattray on the way out on the Alyth Rd. As for eating out in Arbroath would recommend the Portcullis on the Montrose Rd -great value. Have lived all over Perthshire/Angus so could go on and on and on and on, have a great time

ailuro2

I'm in Dundee too, I agree it's got much colder this past week.

It depends on which end of Dundee you're staying in , really, as to where's best for you. There's plenty to do, lots of chains to eat in :rolleyes:, brewers fayres, pizza hut, burger king, the new one that took over from Hungry Horse, but unfortunately not tons of local restaurants (rather than pubs) that cater well for children. Our favourite is the Bell Tree just off the A92 Arbroath Road on the outskirts of Dundee, it's a chef and brewer pub, but has a kids menu and has good deals on during the week (set price 2 course menus etc) The brewer's faye across the road has a decent indoor play area, 2 quid each, much the same menu as everywhere else.

We're in the east end, so I will concentrate on that! I'll also assume you'll have a car with you to get around.
(Forbes of)Kingennie has a nice restaurant, no booking required, and you can walk round the fishing ponds, it has a small outdoor play area.Staff have always been great when we've been there.Not a big selection on the kids menu though if they're a bit fussy.
For my money though I'd go to the Blue Seaway playpark in Monifieth while Mum or Dad pops round to Tesco to pick up the shopping, then take them both to the chip shop in the small shopping centre next to the Farmfoods in the little shopping square next to Tesco (great butcher here on the main road, and a Bayne's across the pedestrian crossing have apple turnovers to make your mouth water)
The fish supper from there is great and not too bad for a fiver, kids meal boxes with little toy are about £2.50iirc.
Pleasureland in Arbroath is a bit tatty, but the kids will love it - get a wristband for unlimited rides on the jetplanes, dodgems etc. or buy tokens for just a couple of rides.
Carnoustie has a newly built big playpark, but it's more waterbased so not for October!
I agree with the recommendation for Crombie Country park, there's a deer hide you can climb up into , never saw any deer yet, but it's quite a novelty for kids! It's next door to Monikie reservoir where you can fish if you have the right permit, run by Angus Council if you're looking for website for directions.

Do you have a spree book? Plenty of savings to be had there.

I'd also head to Broughty Ferry for a wander round the shops and the lovely sandy beach -to the east of the castle, lovely views across to Fife, and by the castle (castle is free entry, run by Historic Scotland) there's another playpark round behind the hill - fenced off, but easy to get into.
Broughty Ferry has a good range of small local businesses selling jewellery, cards, gifts and has a couple of cafes, though it now also has a Costa Coffee, a Cafe Nero, Tesco Express and a little M&S which takes the shine off it being so different from the rest of Scotland's towns.:rolleyes:
There's also the 'Factory skatepark', which is popular with the 10yo boys in my DD's class, but we've never been there so can't really say whether it's great or not, opposite the Odeon multiplex.

In Dundee city, there's avertical world, an indoor climbing centre, for active types who don't want to freeze. There's also Olympia swimming pool with flumes, river rapids and wave pool, the waves come on every 15 minutes with plenty warning for non swimmers to get to the shallows.

Verdant works is in the city centre too, a jute mill which has been restored, lets you see what factory life was like, has running exhibits and guides to show you how it was done.

I found this - only works if you've a smartphone, though, and it costs money!!
http://www.huntfun.co.uk/Family/Dundee.php
http://www.angusanddundee.co.uk/ is the link for free info - forgot about Arbroath Abbey - fairly ruined, but has a good visitor centre, and it'll be a good talking point as this is where the Declaration of Arbroath was signed

_Declaration_of_Arbroath wrote:

as long as but a hundred of us remain alive, never will we on any conditions be brought under English rule. It is in truth not for glory, nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting, but for freedom -- for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself.

If you need any other help, let us know!

p.s. The two big wind turbines you can see are part of the Michelin Tyre Factory site, you can impress the kids with that knowledge, they're bound to ask when you're up the Law Hill or driving out to Arboath(extinct volcano)

Happydaze

Thanks - you have given me loads of ideas, much better and more detailed than tourist info I have been browsing online - By the sounds of things there is much more than Tourist info promotes!! I really want to make sure we have lots to do so that we all have a great week otherwise we'd be as well at home!! We are staying at Piperdam Golf resort so hopefully we will be well located fpr travelling about.
Thanks again Skintbint and Ailuro2:beer:

1-0totheArsenal

murrays fish n chips at b ferry. stick to the bottom end and away from hilltown. people die to go there literally.
i normally stay at the queens very central and famous for w churchill staying there. not been decorated since though.

skintbint_2

when you're coming in and out of Piperdam double check you mirrors before any manouvre as its on a really long straight where people tend to go hell for leather and overtake as its about the only decent bit of road for a few miles, remember passing there a few years ago when my daughter was about two and she howled all the way to Blairgowrie because i wouldnt stop and take the lambs to Grans as it was raining and they were cold!

ailuro2

Piperdam is along the same lines as Kingennie, you're close to Camperdown park - massive, includes a golf course, has a big play area down the bottom - find it on Google earth before you travel, it's not very well signposted once into the park.

Camperdown also has a zoo, but we don't go as it has captive bears, which I don't agree with.;)
To get to the centre of Dundee, go towards the start of the Perth Road and use Riverside Drive - much better road than trying to use the Kingsway then cutting through Forfar Road to get into town (one ways and driving through rougher parts of the city etc;))

Hope you have a fabulous time.

bubblegumcola

Piperdam is a lovely resort, make good use of the swimming pool! My kids love the playpark there, there used to be Ospreys on the Loch but I don't think they've come back due to them building further houses up there which is a real shame, the kids loved going to see them.