Duncan heads home, replaced by another old friend, although I’m worried about food rations.
Miles of docks under damp grey skies. The North Carr Lightship awaits deconstruction.
Struggling in the bitter wind, weighed down with this stubborn cold, I shelter in the museum at Broughty Castle. Perhaps I should cut the day short? Visions of a warm bed.
Just a few more miles along the beach to Monifieth, but then the wind drops and the sun appears. What a difference it makes to my flagging morale — onwards!
The coastline is wild and inviting round Barry Sands. Sadly, red flags fly over the firing range. A burly, shaven-headed soldier leaves his hut for a “chat” to make sure I’m not tempted to continue along the sand. I ignore most warning signs but I’m not foolish enough to enter a live firing range.
Leaving the beach, the path arrows for miles between golf courses and the firing range, rattling with gunfire.
Fearsome guardians watch over a garden at East Haven.
It’s turned out to be a beautiful afternoon, the final five miles into Arbroath gently hugging the sea.
I finish at the pretty harbour before catching the train back to Dundee.
Next day
Still feeling unwell, the weather forecast is awful, so time for a rest day to explore the city.
The penguins at City Churches, sculpted by Angela Hunter, are often dressed up to join in city occasions, but they look a little bedraggled today, especially poor number four.
The entrance lobby of the DC Thomson headquarters is open to the public to browse a small number of paintings and sculptures of famous comic characters.
The highlight of the day is a visit to the McManus Art Gallery and Museum, especially the rooms for modern art and prints, including a painting of the Canadian Arctic by James Morrison. I’ve been drawn to icy landscapes since I hiked the Arctic Circle Trail.
Somewhat less formal art is to be found in the Wellgate car park.
My final stop is the V&A design museum on the waterfront. Both the building itself — interior and exterior — and the exhibits are wonderful, currently showcasing the Dundee Tapestry. In another room, a giant screen is running Lemmings, another echo from my past. I’d not realised Dundee is a major centre for computer games development.
There’s much to enjoy in Dundee. Having similarly taken a day to explore Edinburgh, I must do this more often. After all, I have a lifetime to complete my coastal walk — why rush?
Walk distance: 20 miles.
Total distance: 3,960 miles.
I really like Dundee, we’ve had a couple of short breaks and days out there in recent years – wouldn’t have down that before, but it has really come up in the world. I want to see the Dundee tapestry which wasn’t there last time we visited. There’s a Lemmings statue out near the university I had no idea what it was till I looked it up afterwards, not being into computer games.
https://anabelsblog.files.wordpress.com/2019/03/20181119_112036371_ios.jpg
I think you would enjoy the tapestry. I love the Lemmings statue. Hard to find everything on a day trip.
Yes I’m slightly guilty of not spending enough time exploring places I pass through at times. I’m curious about your route from Dundee to Monifieth. Did you follow the signed shared use path through the port? As I came across a locked gate and the person on the intercom insisted it was for cyclists only not pedestrians, so I had to head up to the dual carriageway instead. I was told the port had blocked it for pedestrians and the Council told me they would take down the “shared use” (I.E. cyclists and pedestrian) signs so maybe they have now.
I didn’t find Dundee a very friendly place to be honest.
I followed the cycle path through the port without any barriers. There was one point where the road went through a gate but the cycle path went round to the left side. Perhaps it’s been changed since your visit.