Dundee is surrounded by the beautiful Fife countryside, which is easily accessible by both car and public transport.
Closer to the city centre, there's Dundee Botanic Garden, a 23-acre green space which opened in 1971. Housing a varied mix of native and exotic plants, the collection is right on the waterfront of the river Tay.
Other splashes of green close to the city centre can be found in the form of Dundee's oldest city park, Magdalen Green; the quirky multifunctional space of Slessor Gardens, which comprises a series of small plots, and the Riverside Nature Park, created on an old landfill site (and thankfully much nicer-smelling these days!).
Camperdown Wildlife Centre & Country Park are must-visits for families spending time in Dundee. Camperdown Country Park is the largest public park in Dundee, covering 400 acres of green space and situated just 3 miles from the city centre. The Wildlife Centre is in the south-west corner of the park, home to a range of birds and exotic animals. Entry to the park is free, but tickets need to be purchased for the Wildlife Centre.
We also recommend a visit to the pretty and quaint suburb of Broughty Ferry, a former fishing village, especially if the weather is characteristically sunny. Located four miles to the east of Dundee city centre, it has a beach, a castle and a lovely range of shops, cafes and restaurants stretching along the seafront.
If you're down at the waterfront, and especially if you decide to take a boat trip on the river, don't forget to keep your eyes peeled! A pod of bottlenose dolphins resides in the Tay and they can often be spotted from Dundee by lucky locals and visitors.
Just a short trip away is the golfing paradise of St Andrews, with a huge range of courses in the area to choose from to suit all abilities and interests.