Discovery Point

Discovery Point at the heart of Dundee's waterfront is home to the Royal Research Ship Discovery; built in Dundee in 1900 and launched in 1901, for Captain Scott's famous first Antarctic Expedition. Since opening in 1993, Discovery Point has welcomed hundreds of thousands of visitors and won numerous awards, most recently being recognised by the prestigious Sandford Awards for Education.

Dundee had long been a centre for the whaling industry – the shipyards were well-known for their robust whaling ships capable of surviving rough seas and Arctic Pack Ice. Sir Clements Markham harnessed this expertise to construct the Discovery, the first ship in the British Empire to be constructed specifically for scientific research. While the design was based on the great Dundee whalers, some modifications were needed.

The commission was given to the Dundee Shipbuilders Company to construct the ship at the city’s Victoria Dock. She was built in just 12 months, and launched on 21st March 1901 on the British National Antarctic Expedition under the command of Robert Falcon Scott.

Discovery and her men arrived in Antarctica in 1902, where they remained locked in theice until 1904. During this pioneering Expedition, many discoveries were made that shaped the future of our understanding of Antarctica and climate science. After her 1901-1904 Expedition, Discovery went on to be used by the Hudson Bay Company, andwas taken back into Southern oceans by the Oceanographic Expeditions of 1925-1927; following her refit for oceanographic research use and oﬃcial designation as the UK's very first Royal Research Ship.

https://www.dundeeheritagetrust.co.uk/attraction/discovery-point/

Our Happy Community

    
 
 
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   Michael Hamby 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 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 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 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 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 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 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 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 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 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 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 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 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 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.