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V&A Dundee, Dundee

Companionship careDundee

Days out in Dundee for an older parent

Seven places in Dundee that make a good day out for an older parent, from V&A Dundee to Claypotts Castle. For each one: what its own access information confirms, what it costs, how long to allow, and the carers nearby who drive and could take them.

Researched by PrimeCarers from each place’s own website and access information  ·  Updated October 2026

V&A Dundee. Photo: Lucas Kendall, CC BY-SA 4.0

Seven days out across two towns

The best places to take an older parent in Dundee

Three of them are free to visit or to walk around. The access information for one describes a step-free route, and one confirms an accessible toilet. Where a place does not publish its access, we say so.

V&A Dundee, Dundee

Photo: Lucas Kendall, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Museum · Dundee

V&A Dundee

V&A Dundee is Scotland's design museum, in a building by Kengo Kuma on the Tay waterfront, with free Scottish Design Galleries and changing paid exhibitions. It has a café and restaurant, a shop and views over the river.

There is step-free access throughout the building, accessible toilets on every level, wheelchairs to borrow from the welcome desk and free Blue Badge parking on South Crichton Street.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free

What their access information confirms

  • Step-free route
  • Accessible toilet
  • Wheelchairs to borrow
  • Blue Badge parking

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Dundee

Discovery Point and RRS Discovery, Dundee

Photo: Lucas Kendall, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Museum · Dundee

Discovery Point and RRS Discovery

Discovery Point tells the story of Captain Scott's first Antarctic expedition, with galleries beside the ship itself, the Royal Research Ship Discovery, built in Dundee in 1901. Visitors can go aboard to see the cabins, mess deck and engine room.

The museum galleries are all on the ground floor with a level entrance, wheelchairs are lent free, Blue Badge holders park free next door and carers go free, although access on the ship itself is limited.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Paid entry, carers free

What their access information confirms

  • Partly step-free
  • Wheelchairs to borrow
  • Blue Badge parking

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Dundee

Verdant Works, Dundee

Photo: Colin Park, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Museum · Dundee

Verdant Works

Verdant Works is a restored 19th century jute mill in Dundee's West End that shows how raw jute was turned into cloth, with working machinery and the stories of the mill workers. Social history galleries upstairs cover life in the city during the jute era.

There are ramps wherever the floor level changes and a lift to the first floor, wheelchairs are lent free, parking with disabled spaces is behind the museum and carers go free, though the cobbled courtyard needs care.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Paid entry, carers free

What their access information confirms

  • Partly step-free
  • Wheelchairs to borrow
  • Blue Badge parking

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Dundee

Broughty Castle Museum, Broughty Ferry

Photo: Gordon Hatton, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Castle · Broughty Ferry

Broughty Castle Museum

Broughty Castle is a 15th century fort on the seafront at Broughty Ferry, beside the harbour and Castle Green, with free exhibitions on local history, the Tay's wildlife and whaling. The grounds look out over the Firth of Tay, and the beach and village cafés are close by.

Access inside is very limited because of the castle's steep stairs and the toilets are on the second floor, so a carer should treat the free parking at the front and the seafront grounds as the main part of the visit.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free entry, free parking

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Broughty Ferry

Camperdown Wildlife Centre

Animals · Dundee

Camperdown Wildlife Centre

Camperdown Wildlife Centre is a small zoo inside the large Camperdown Country Park on the north-west edge of Dundee, with brown bears, lynx, otters, farm animals and birds. There is a café by the entrance and the park around it has woodland walks.

The site is mostly flat with tarmac paths, adult wheelchairs can be borrowed free and there is free parking opposite the entrance, so it is a manageable loop with a café stop.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Paid entry

What their access information confirms

  • Wheelchairs to borrow
  • Café

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Dundee

University of Dundee Botanic Garden, Dundee

Photo: Ydam, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Garden · Dundee

University of Dundee Botanic Garden

The Botanic Garden on Riverside Drive has glasshouses of tropical and temperate plants, and outdoor collections of trees and shrubs from around the world. It is open every day and looks south over the Tay.

It is compact and on the flat riverside road, so a carer can plan a short circuit with time in the warm glasshouses, and it is worth ringing ahead about paths and toilets.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Paid entry

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Dundee

Claypotts Castle, Broughty Ferry

Photo: PaulT (Gunther Tschuch), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Castle · Broughty Ferry

Claypotts Castle

Claypotts Castle is a well preserved Z-plan tower house built in the late 1500s, standing on a green between Dundee and Broughty Ferry. It is looked after by Historic Environment Scotland and is viewed from the outside only.

This is a short free stop rather than a full outing, since the castle is seen from the grass around it, and it combines easily with Broughty Ferry's seafront a few minutes away.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Broughty Ferry

Regular groups and events in Dundee

Something to go back to every week or every year, from our research into what older people enjoy doing in Dundee.

  • Gardening · DundeeNinewells Community GardenA community garden in the Ninewells Hospital arboretum with flowers, fruit, vegetables, herbs and an orchard, set up to encourage activity and wellbeing through gardening. A carer can come along for a session so an older gardener does the sowing and weeding while heavier jobs are left to others.Details
  • Cooking & Baking · DundeeDundee Flower and Food FestivalAn annual September festival in Camperdown Park combining horticultural competitions with food stalls and cookery demonstrations. A carer can arrange a mid-week style early arrival, use the marked parking and plan seated breaks between the marquees.Details
  • Music · DundeeDundee Choral UnionA choir founded in Dundee in 1858 that has been part of the city's musical life ever since, performing large choral works. A carer can help a former singer get to rehearsals or simply make a habit of attending the concerts together.Details
  • Dancing · DundeeScottish Dance Theatre at Dundee RepScotland's flagship contemporary dance company is based at Dundee Rep and began as a community company in 1986, performing and running participation work. A carer can book a matinee or a community session so watching dance stays part of the week even when joining in is no longer easy.Details
  • Fishing · DundeeDundee Angling ClubAn angling club instituted in Dundee in 1862, among the earliest in the country and a founder member of the national association. A carer can help with membership paperwork, permits and transport so an experienced angler keeps fishing with company.Details
  • Reading · DundeeDundee Book FestivalA book festival run by Leisure and Culture Dundee, first held in June 2025 across venues in the city and returning with author events since. A carer can book a single daytime event and sort the seating and transport rather than attempting a full day.Details

Hobbies and carers who share them in Dundee

At a glance

The seven places side by side

What each place’s own access information confirms. “Ask” means it does not say, not that it is missing.

PlaceTimeCostStep-freeToiletCafé
V&A DundeeDundeean hour or twoFreeYesYesAsk
Discovery Point and RRS DiscoveryDundeehalf a dayPaid entryPartlyAskAsk
Verdant WorksDundeean hour or twoPaid entryPartlyAskAsk
Broughty Castle MuseumBroughty Ferryan hour or twoFreeAskAskAsk
Camperdown Wildlife CentreDundeehalf a dayPaid entryAskAskYes
University of Dundee Botanic GardenDundeean hour or twoPaid entryAskAskAsk
Claypotts CastleBroughty Ferryan hour or twoFreeAskAskAsk

Where the places are in Dundee

The county’s boundary, numbered as on this page, with the main towns for reference.

1234567
  1. 1V&A Dundee, Dundee
  2. 2Discovery Point and RRS Discovery, Dundee
  3. 3Verdant Works, Dundee
  4. 4Broughty Castle Museum, Broughty Ferry
  5. 5Camperdown Wildlife Centre, Dundee
  6. 6University of Dundee Botanic Garden, Dundee
  7. 7Claypotts Castle, Broughty Ferry

What it costs

What a day out with a carer costs in Dundee

Carers in Dundee charge £19 to £25 an hour through PrimeCarers, typically £20, with our fee included. A four-hour outing is about £80 for the carer’s time. Entry, food and parking are extra, and travel costs are only payable if you agree them with the carer in advance, in writing. The cost of home care in Dundee has the full figures.

Photographs on this page are from Wikimedia Commons, credited under each one.

Questions

Questions families ask about days out in Dundee

V&A Dundee in Dundee, Discovery Point and RRS Discovery in Dundee, Verdant Works in Dundee, Broughty Castle Museum in Broughty Ferry, Camperdown Wildlife Centre in Dundee, University of Dundee Botanic Garden in Dundee and Claypotts Castle in Broughty Ferry. Each has its own section on this page with what its access information confirms, the cost and how long to allow.

The access information for V&A Dundee describes a step-free route. V&A Dundee has an accessible toilet. V&A Dundee, Discovery Point and RRS Discovery, Verdant Works and Camperdown Wildlife Centre lend wheelchairs. Access changes, so ring ahead about anything your parent depends on.

V&A Dundee, Broughty Castle Museum and Claypotts Castle. Parking is often charged even where entry is free.

Yes. A companion carer can drive your parent there, walk at their pace, help with the toilet and meals, and bring them home. 8 of the carers with a rate near Dundee drive. Visits are booked by the hour, typically £20 an hour here with our fee included. Companionship care in Dundee shows who is available.

Often. Many attractions let a carer or companion in free, or at a reduced price, with a disabled visitor, and some ask for proof such as a letter or a benefit award. It varies, so check each place’s access or prices page before you go.

Where the nearest carers live

From the profiles of the carers based within about 45 minutes of Dundee

Where the nearest carers live. A carer close to home can manage a longer day out.

Companionship care in the counties around Dundee

Days out in the areas around Dundee

Find a carer who could take them out in Dundee

See carers near Dundee who drive, with their photos, interests, rates and reviews. Talking to them is free and nothing is booked until you say so.

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