When the air becomes much colder and the trees begin to exchange green for gold, Dundee is the best place to start exploring the beauty that surrounds it. In no more than a short excursion, there are serene glens, towns in the sea, walks in the byways of rivers, which are even pleasant in the fall light. Others visit to enjoy the scenery and air, and others simply need a little break. In any case, these day trips demonstrate what there is to see without traveling far out of the city.
Perth: The Riverside Colours
Perth is as near as half an hour, though it seems to be a different world the minute you get there. It borders the River Tay, which just flows through it, shining in the light as the leaves change on the banks. The position most generally commenced with is North Inch Park, consisting of broad open lawns with glowing trees, and right on the opposite side of it Kinnoull Hill rises above the town, and with one of the best views on the spot. The valley on a clear day extends miles, in every shade of red and yellow.
Perth is easy-going in autumn. You may dodge along little stores, nip into a bakery, or slide into one of the quaint old-fashioned cafes in which the tea never appears to run out. It has a slow rhythm that is difficult to hurry in a small city.
Just outside town, Perth Racecourse brings a livelier kind of day out. The track sits in open countryside beside Scone Palace, surrounded by the colours of the season. On race day, it’s full of noise, movement, and laughter, a gathering spot for locals and visitors alike. You don’t have to know much about racing to join in. Many first-timers look up tomorrow’s horse racing tips before they go, just to have a name or two to cheer for. The races, the sound of hooves, and the fresh autumn air make for a day that’s as Scottish as it gets.
St Andrews: History by the Sea
It takes half an hour to get to St Andrews, a place which is both old and new at the same time. The paved streets, medieval ruins, and the noise of the university make it very peculiar. Autumn is a perfect season, the crowds of tourists become thinner, the North Sea wind blows more, and the entire town feels so relaxed.
There is something windswept about the ruins of St Andrews Castle that stands on the cliffs, which never grows old. There you may walk the ocean, or watch the waves smashing on the rocks below, with the cathedral in your presence. To do something at a slower pace, go into a museum or one of the numerous cafes that are scattered throughout town. The combination of history, salt air, and student life allows one to spend an entire day unaware of how time has gone by.
Golf might have helped St Andrews to end up on the map, but during autumn, it is the air that is worth writing home about; the gulling, the crunching of leaves, and the sea air, which finds its way into every niche.
The Angus Countryside: Glens, Wildlife, and Smokehouses
The north of Dundee, the Angus country, is spread out in every direction, with glens that appear to border on all sides, silent farmlands, and shoreline interspersed with fishing towns. It is a slower place, particularly at this time of the year.
The Angus Glens, as Clova and Esk, are best in autumn. The paths twist through woods and up into the hills, and the sunset light renders the entire view a rich copper. No matter what your hiking plans are or if you are merely visiting to take snapshots, there is always another place to stop by and take a picture.
The Montrose Basin is a must for those who love nature. It is among the most ideal birdwatching sites in Scotland, particularly in the autumn months when there are thousands of geese flying in the Arctic. No one can forget the sound of them pulling out of the mudflats when they are nightfall.
The old ways are still practiced in small towns, such as Arbroath on the coast. The scent of oak smoke spreads up and down the streets as a result of the smokehouses around the community. Take an Arbroath Smokie, which is still hot, and have it on the wall of the harbour as fishing boats come in. It is little things like that which make this place special.
Broughty Ferry: The Sea on Dundee’s Doorstep
Closer to home, Broughty Ferry offers a quick seaside escape without the long drive. It’s technically part of Dundee, but it feels like its own little town, one with a slower heartbeat.
Walk along the esplanade and you’ll see Broughty Castle standing by the water, with the River Tay stretching out beyond it. On breezy days, waves crash against the walls and the air smells of salt and seaweed. Autumn here feels peaceful. People stroll with dogs, children chase gulls, and cafés along Brook Street fill with chatter and the clink of coffee cups.
It’s the kind of place where you can spend an hour or an afternoon, and still feel like you’ve taken a proper break.
Dunkeld: Woods and Waterfalls Worth the Drive
Dunkeld is tiny, an hour and a half north of Dundee, but it is almost as though it were in a picture in the fall. The village is by the River Tay, and is enclosed by wood which shines in all the colours of the season.
The Hermitage is the object of the greatest attraction to most persons, a wood walk, which leads to the Hall of Ossian, and commands the Black Linn waterfall. The sound of the water and the view of the same border with orange and gold trees is not a sight you are going to forget easily.
It’s a longer drive than the others, but worth every minute once you step out into the crisp air and see the first leaves fall into the Tay. Sometimes that’s all you need, a short drive, a bit of quiet, and the feeling that the season has changed.
