City of Discovery

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Overview

Dundee is situated along the north bank of the Firth of Tay and is the fourth-largest city in Scotland that has a rich history and cultural significance.It was granted burgh status by King William the Lion in the 12th century.

The area was known for its strategic location as a trading port. In the Middle Ages, Dundee developed as a centre for the textile industry, particularly for jute production in the 19th century, which played a crucial role in its economic growth.

This tour can be done in any order and is accessible on foot for the first three stops listed in the recommended tour: the Verdant Works Museum, the McManus Art Gallery, and Discovery Point with Captain Scott’s 1901 Antarctic Ship, RRS Discovery. The V&A is located next to Discovery Point. It may be worthwhile to check the current exhibits and themes as they change periodically.

A short drive up to the top of Dundee Law a prominent hill that offers stunning panoramic views of the entire city, the Firth of Tay and surrounding landscape.

Broughty Ferry (optional stop) is a suburb of Dundee and just a short drive away. This option if selected will allow us to see both the Castle and the Ferry on foot, especially if the weather is kind. The Castle offers a brief yet enriching experience, and the high street features numerous intriguing independent shops, several pubs, and an array of excellent dining establishments.

 

“Mistakes are the portals of discovery”          James Joyce

A Quick Look
How it works?

Please refer to our tours and destinations page for further information

Tour time

5 hours & 30 mins (approximate time for our recommended tour).

Primary stop

Discovery Point

Recommended tour

Discovery Point, McManus Art Gallery, Verdant Works Museum, Dundee Law.

Optional Stops

V&A (Victoria & Albert), Broughty Castle, Broughty Ferry

Abbreviations
Booking advised
Booking required
Time slot given
Open certain days only
Toilet
Cafe
Restaurant/eatery

Primary, recommended and optional stops with locator map 

The last tour will close approx 1 hour before closing time.
Stop title Visit days Opens Closes Cost from
Discovery PointDaily10am/11am5 pm
£13
McManus Art Gallery & MuseumMon-Sat (Sun)10am (12.30)5pm (4.30)Donation
The Verdant Works MuseumMon-Sat (Sun)10am (11)5pm (5pm)£12-£14
Dundee LawDailyN/AN/AN/A
The V&ADaily10am5pmFree
Broughty CastleWed-Sat (Sun)10am (12)4pm (4)Free
Broughty FerryDailyN/AN/AN/A
Carnoustie Golf LinksDailySeasonal Seasonal Seasonal
Urban Beach RestaurantMon-Fri (Sat & Sun)9am (9.30)5pm (4pm)Various
The Ship InnDaily (Sun)11am (12am)12pm (12pm)Various

Booking, Pricing & Deposits

Deposit price £280 4 hours

A £280 deposit is needed to secure your booking and covers up to 4 hours of private touring, our minimum tour duration. Any additional time is charged at £72 per hour, calculated in 15-minute increments, ensuring you only pay for the extra time you use. All timings are approximate. As this is a personalised tour, the duration may vary depending on your interests, comfort breaks, traffic conditions, and the pace of the day.

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Our Happy Community

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Michael Hamby profile picture
Michael Hamby
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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ An Absolutely Outstanding Day with David! We had an absolutely fantastic day with David and Beyond St Andrews. From beginning to end, he was far more than simply our driver — he genuinely became part of what made the day so memorable. David was personable, knowledgeable, funny and incredibly easy to spend the day with. His knowledge of the area was outstanding, and as an avid golfer, he seemed to know virtually every golf course we passed — along with some wonderful stories and local insight that you simply wouldn’t get touring on your own. The black Mercedes V-Class was beautiful and extremely comfortable, but the real highlight was David himself. Nothing felt rushed or scripted. The entire day was relaxed, interesting and fun, and his personality turned what could have simply been transportation and sightseeing into one of the highlights of our time in Scotland. We’ve traveled extensively and have used many private drivers and guides over the years, and David is exactly what you hope for when booking this type of experience. If you’re considering Beyond St Andrews, ask for David. We would book with him again without hesitation. Five stars aren’t enough!
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Mary Topian profile picture
Mary Topian
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Laurie and David were very knowledgeable, warm and lovely to be around. They were also flexible as to where we wanted to go and what we wanted to see. We would highly recommend Beyond St. Andrews and will definitely use them again on our next trip to Scotland!
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Clare Woodward profile picture
Clare Woodward
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Whilst on holiday with my father, I used this company to help me explore the surrounding areas. I found Laurie to be very helpful, knowledgeable and friendly and would definitely recommend his services and would definitely use him again.
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Nicola Beaumont profile picture
Nicola Beaumont
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I wanted to step outside of St Andrews and opted for the City of Discovery tour to include all 'Recommended Stops', it did not disappoint. We were pleasantly surprised by the history and museums of Dundee, and were pleased with the advice and knowledge that Laurie offered, and of course, the luxury mode of travel!
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Robert Geddes profile picture
Robert Geddes
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We chose the “Heart of Scotland” tour and enjoyed an exceptional day exploring its many memorable sights. Our first stop was the Wallace Monument, where a shuttle bus took us from the car park to the base. We then climbed the 246 steps—phew—up the narrow spiral staircase, with three welcome levels along the way to catch our breath and learn more about William Wallace. From the summit, the countryside views were spectacular; on a clear day like ours, you could see for miles. Just three miles further on, we reached Stirling Castle and the Church of the Holy Rude. The castle’s rich history was captivating, and the excellent free local guide was both knowledgeable and friendly, as were all the staff. On our way back to St Andrews, we ended the tour at dusk beneath the Forth Road Bridge, which was stunning. Scotland is a truly beautiful and striking country. Our host Laurie answered all our questions thoughtfully and gave us time to chat among ourselves, without the constant commentary often found on guided tours. We highly recommend this excursion and will definitely book another tour with the Company the next time we return to St. Andrews. Many thanks to the Beyond St Andrews team for making both the booking and the tour such a pleasure. Bobby and friends.
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alan clason profile picture
alan clason
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We arranged a trip with Beyond St Andrews to Glamis Castle in Sept, 2025 and had a truly wonderful experience. The Mercedes van used by Beyond St Andrews provided a very pleasant travel experience on some narrow and windy roads. Our driver Laurie provided excellent coverage of local places and events on the journey. On arrival we were dropped off at the entrance to Glamis Castle with detailed advice provided by Laurie on how to make the best of the visit. We spent a very nice afternoon on the guided tour of the castle, visiting the various sites around the grounds. The Castle Kitchen Restaurant was highly recommended by Laurie and the food there was excellent, we had the Glamis Bridie a tasty pastry parcel of venison. The reference to the “Thanes of Glamis” in Shakespeare's play MacBeth was highlighted by some amazing wood sculptures, in the MacBeth Loop, depicting scenes from the play. We were picked up promptly at the arranged time and the journey back to St Andrews was very pleasant with Laurie providing an entertaining guide to points of interest in the area. Dundee was navigated with ease, and we were very pleased with our outing to Glamis Castle and would highly recommend Beyond St Andrews. Alan and Alison Ottawa, Canada
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Jared Marinelli profile picture
Jared Marinelli
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Five stars all the way. Our trip from St Andrews to The Macallan Distillery was fantastic, and Beyond St Andrews made the whole experience feel special. The vehicle was incredibly comfortable, clean, and relaxing, which made the drive just as enjoyable as the destination itself. The service was amazing from beginning to end. Everything was handled so professionally, and we felt completely taken care of throughout the trip. It was smooth, stress-free, and felt like a truly premium experience. Visiting Macallan was already a highlight of our time in Scotland, and Beyond St Andrews made getting there and back a real pleasure. I would highly recommend them to anyone wanting a comfortable, first-class experience.
"Surely no stay in Scotland would be complete without exploring some of its history"
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