Visiting Dundee Scotland - the blink and you will miss wonderful streetscape, and more

Dundee, Scotland is no ordinary city. Yes, it has the usual tourist attractions, including the marvellous V&A Dundee design museum, but a primary reason why we found it to be a delightful place is the street art and sculpture. It is not surprising that Dundee received the prestigious UNESCO City of Design award in 2014 as a recognition of the city's contribution to global design. 

As a pedestrian-friendly city, walking around is comfortable whether you wish to set out on a treasure hunt to locate the sculptures and statues that are around the city, or dine in charming cafes and pop into shops to take home a souvenir. Mind you, if you are not observant enough, the streetscape will result in a blink-and-miss walkabout! 

Admiral Adam Duncan Statue

The statue of Admiral Adam Duncan is located on High Street, near St Paul's Episcopal Cathedral. Admiral Adam Duncan was a British admiral who led his naval fleet to victory against the Dutch fleet at the Battle of Camperdown. The bronze statue stands on a stone plinth, with the Admiral holding a telescope. Do read the metal plaques that give details about the Admiral.

Admiral Duncan Statue

St Paul's Episcopal Cathedral

The fun statues

One of the most familiar sights in Dundee is Desperate Dan with Dawg and Minnie the Minx just behind, the two bronze statues located at High Street sculpted by Tony and Susie Morrow. These two are characters brought to life by well-known Dundee cartoonists Leo Baxendale and Dudley D Watkins in The Beano and The Dandy children's comic magazines (Dan featured in The Dandy; Minnie in The Beano). The eight-foot statue of Dan is pretty impressive in a confident striding pose, with his pooch on a leash.

Desperate Dan and Dawg, with Minnie the Minx behind

There is the menacing-looking green dragon at Murrygate with good detailing of the features. This bronze sculpture was completed by Tom Morrow after the death of Alaistar Smart, the original sculptor.

Green Dragon

Just outside the Old Steeple Tower, Nethergate you'll see the waddling penguins sculpted by Angela Hunter. It instantly brought to mind the Happy Feet movie. You can't help but grin and, like in the film, recall the scene where Mumble takes the plunge off the cliff into the ocean below, while the others hesitantly huddle on the edge. So the thought springs up of a tub of water for these five bronze sculptural icons to dive into!! Would you have spotted them if they had been hidden under a bench as per this nugget of info? On the other side of the Old Steeple Tower where this 'March of the Penguins' is located, is the Dundee Parish Church (St Mary’s Church.)

March of the Penguins

Dundee Parish Church (St. Mary's)

Some more walking around will lead to the discovery of-

• Oor Wullie
• Bruin the Polar Bear and a local draper
• Sculptural works around the city centre, each symbolically representing one of the Nine Incorporated Trades of Dundee- Bakers, Cordiners, Glovers, Tailors, Bonnetmakers, Fleshers, Hammermen, Weavers and Dyers. There is also the 'Ring O' Rose'. 
• The red squirrel

Did you find these and others on your walkabout? 

Other things not to miss-

1. The automated nursery rhyme clock on the second floor next to the Central Library of theWellgate Shopping Centre, Victoria Road.

2. The Optical Express building on the east end of High Street.

Optical Express building

3. Street benches like this one-

Dundee Street Bench

4. Tree-guards-

Dundee Tree Guard

5. Bollards on the street, the design of which is based on the Lilies from the Coat of Arms and a twisted jute rope-

Bollard

6. The padlocks attached to the railings on the viewing platform at the Tay Road Bridge. Known as love locks, these padlocks are to be found in many cities across the world, put there by couples to show their undying affection for each other. 

Padlocks just below the rim of the viewing platform

7. Tay Whale Sculpture designed by Lee Simmons. It looks awesome against the stunning skyline of the Riverside Esplanade with the V & A Design Museum in the background. Did you know that it was constructed at Littlehampton Welding and transported here on a flat-top pontoon barge?

Tay Whale Sculpture

Here is a popular place to dine and in front of which many tourists take selfies-

City Quay Restaurant

Reaching there

We stayed at an Airbnb in Inverkeithing and travelled from there by train. Dundee is easily accessible by flight from London and Belfast, and by train as well from Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, and other places.

An interesting resource, especially for those in the field of architecture: 15 Places to Visit in Dundee

So if anyone asks, "Is Dundee worth visiting?" it will be a resounding "Yes!"

Here's a photo to conclude this informative blog, capturing the city centre against the skyline-

Do visit Dundee, Scotland. You'll be glad you did!

Trip suggestion Put on your itinerary a visit to Calton Hill, Edinburgh, a short journey by train from Dundee.