About three months ago, I signed up for a 5k race near Dundee. This weekend, my grandmother (who is visiting from California) and I traveled by bus from Edinburgh to Broughty Ferry for the race.
The drawbridge and entrance to the castle.
Damage done by a cannon ball. When the castle was restored, they left this damage to show visitors how much destruction cannons can cause.
Broughty Ferry (called "The Ferry" by locals) is a suburb of Dundee located on the shore of the Firth of Tay. It has a small town feel, and the locals seem to know each other well. No one can be sure, but some speculate that the name Broughty Ferry is derived from the Lowland Scot word "Broch", which means some sort of fortification, and the 'ty' part may be a shortened version of the name of the nearby river, Tay. There is a fortification on Broughty Ferry: Broughty Castle, which was possibly first fortified in 1454 by the Fourth Earl of Angus. It is set on a rock bluff at the mouth of the Tay. The castle was used as recently as WWII as a defense, and has now been converted into a museum. It still has a lowered drawbridge entrance, three large cannons on display, and evidence of damage from cannon balls on the side of it. Upon entering the castle, one can walk up a steep, narrow spiraling staircase to any of the four levels of exhibitions describing life in Broughty Ferry from before the 1400s to today. From the castle windows, one can see Broughty Ferry Beach, a lovely sand beach, and much of the town. Apparently, up until the early 18th century Broughty Ferry was mainly a fishing village. Later, around 1790, its fresh sea climate made it a popular weekend destination for those working in factories in Dundee. The air still has that freshness coming off the sea. Perhaps it is still a popular vacation target for those working in Dundee, which has much more of bustling city feel to it.
Broughty Castle
In Broughty Ferry, we stayed in a guest house called Ashley House. The owners were extremely accommodating and friendly, and suggested numerous places to visit around the town. The run I did was put on by the Running Sisters Tayside running club, and it just so happened that the woman who owns Ashley House is a member of the running club and was entered in the same race as I was. When we asked about bus directions to the park where the run was to be, she immediately offered us a ride, and even gave me an energy drink for the run. Once we arrived, she introduced us to all her running friends, making the experience much more fun than it would have been had they all been strangers. After the run, members of the running club produced baskets and trays full of home baked goods, as well as juice, tea, and coffee, to celebrate the success. The warm drinks were especially welcome, as it was very cold and foggy.
Tree roots in Monikie Park.
The run took place in Monikie Country Park, which is a beautiful park comprising of, among other things, a forest and two former reservoirs. The run was two loops around a muddy grass trail surrounding the smaller of the two reservoirs, then along a single track through the forest. The whole park was ensconced in a thick layer of fog, making it impossible to see much further than a few feet ahead of you, and as I ran past the reservoir I could only just make out the figures of a few hale fisherman standing in gently rocking fishing boats. The fog stuck in the trees, and as I ran through the forest it dripped off periodically, creating an irregular symphony of drops hitting leaves, the muddy forest floor, and my head. After the run, the refreshments were set up in a classroom behind the Byzantium Cafe, which is an inviting rest stop after a cold day in the park. The classroom and an Adventure Playground in the park make it an ideal place for children, and as well as acres of trails, there is a 50 acre watersports area advertising sailing, kayaking, and windsurfing. It is a beautiful and well kept multipurpose park, and well worth visiting if you ever find yourself in Broughty Ferry.
Dundee Rep at night.
We did venture out of Broughty Ferry and into Dundee to watch a play based on Agatha Christie's novel And Then There Were None at the Dundee Repertory Theatre. The Dundee Rep is beautiful, and has a restaurant and full bar. It is one of the top regional theaters in the UK, and once you enter the building, it is easy to see why. The people who work there are wonderfully efficient, and it is quick and easy to get your tickets and find your seat. Those who want refreshments during the intermission can order them ahead of time, and then the drinks will be waiting at a table with their names on it so that there is no long line to wait in. There were people selling ice cream during intermission as well. I have never been to a theater where you can order intermission food ahead of time and buy little ice cream pots at the door, and I was impressed.
The Discovery ship and museum.
Nearby the theater is the Discovery: the last traditional wooden three masted ship to be built in the UK, used for Antarctic exploration. This was the ship used by explorers Scott and Shackleton, and you can see it in all its glory right in the Dundee harbor. There is a museum next to the ship with information about Antarctic exploration, and in the museum you can purchase tickets to tour the Discovery. Sadly, we arrived at the museum just as it was closing, so we did not get to tour the ship, but we did get to see the outside. Looking at the Discovery, it was amazing to imagine that anyone would agree to go out to sea on that boat, entrusting their lives to it in such a harsh place as Antarctica. If the Discovery had sprung a leak or broken in any way, the sailors would have all been lost.