Dundee
Dundee is the fourth largest city in Scotland, with a population about 10% larger than that of Oxford. Its main industries until recently were jute, jam and journalism. The last jute mill closed in 1998, but the surrounding area is still famous for its raspberries and tayberries. The Beano and the Dandy are products of Dundee, commemorated by life-size statues of Desperate Dan and Minnie the Minx in the main shopping street.
Location
Dundee is not even halfway up Scotland, but is further north than the
"central belt" linking Glasgow and Edinburgh where over 70% of Scotland's
population live. It is situated on the north bank of the River Tay, whose
wide estuary is bridged by the Tay [Rail] Bridge and the Tay Road Bridge,
each over 1½ miles long. The Tay Bridge was celebrated in verse by William McGonagall.The Tay is Britain's second fastest flowing river, and the most voluminous, draining more water than the Thames and Severn combined.
Dundee is not particularly wet, however! Most of the rain falls on the west of Scotland. Dundee is said to be the sunniest city in Scotland, and being close to the sea has milder winters. It can be quite windy though...
The conurbation stretches along the Tay from Invergowrie in the west to Broughty Ferry and Monifieth in the east. As soon as you get away from the river there are several steep hills, including Dundee Law, the remains of a volcanic plug, and Balgay Hill, which is the site of Britain's only municipal observatory.
Travelling
to Dundee
Photographs
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