[Closed] Dundee

places to avoid? Dundee

While Edinburgh has been called the "Athens of the North" Dundee would be more appropriately called the "Mogadishu of the North"

Horrendous place with virtually no redeeming features.

Didn't Jimmy Carr once remark that had Sex and the City been set in Dundee, the sex would have been anal...and non-consensual?

If you absolutely have to move to that part of Scotland then go up the coast towards Carnoustie or stay South of the Tay in area of Coupar/St Andrews. I lived in Arbroath 90-94 and St Andrews 04-07 and absolutely loved both areas, the countryside is magnificent, it will give you such an opportunity to get into a greater range of activities than you'd ever imagine. Dundee itself is not so good, and if you work there its a pain in the rrrs to commute into by road, but just outside, in almost any direction is great.

Horrendous place with virtually no redeeming features.

It's not Leamington Spa. This in itself is a redeeming feature.

Going up for work from wiltshire it was a bit of a shock but it didnt seem tooooo terrible just a bit grim.. I bet theres plenty of good riding though

On a serious note, Broughty Ferry is quite nice.

It's got a velodrome...

To fly in the face of the fashion to slag Dundee off, it's a great little city.
Lots of regeneration, good university, chosen as the location for the new V&A museum....
If you need any serious help, advice or pointers drop me a line (stevencro (at) gmail.com)

I lived in Arbroath 90-94 and St Andrews 04-07 and absolutely loved both areas,

Arbroath...that had me PSML!

Futureboy - valid point, I actually lived in Auchmithie but there's NO hope of anyone knowing where that is unless they're from the area

Don't know what all the guys in the other posts are on about. We worked in Dundee from 02-06. We lived in a little village called Bridgefoot about 5 miles from the city centre. Being a small city makes getting around by bike very easy. Compared to somewhere like Aberdeen or Edinburgh (I lived in both) the weather is positively tropical with lots of sun and little rain (for Scotland) Rental/buying and living in general is much cheaper than Aberdeen/Edinburgh. The Sidlaws are a hill range (ca 400m) and about 8 miles from the city centre (3 miles from Bridgefoot), while not the alps it has quite a bit to offer in terms of mountain biking. We spent many a long summer night up there, looping various tracks together gave a good 2-3 hr ride from house.

We only have fond memories of the place. Admitedly we spent alot of the time road cycling and mountain biking within Tayside, instead of passing the days in the city centre, but non the less the people were friendly and down to earth. The local road cycling clubs are very friendly. Tentsmuir beach across the Tay is a lovely with seals and sand dunes. And Tayside stawberries are amongst the sweetest you'll ever taste. Oh and Glenshee is about 45miles away for skiing when theres enough snow.

It does have some dodgy areas though (generally the housing estates 1 mile either side of the by-pass) but there are plenty of nice villages to live on the outskirts of Dundee. Parts of the city centre (west end) are also good.

Auchmithie...... the But'n'Ben. we used to cycle all the way from Dundee and back on a tandem just eat there. the tandem was needed so at least one of us could enjoy more than a few glasses of wine with the meal.

Futureboy - valid point, I actually lived in Auchmithie but there's NO hope of anyone knowing where that is unless they're from the area

Fair does! ;O)

I really liked Dundee, I went out with a girl there for ages although I guess I never really "lived" there for more than about 10 days at a time.

OK, it's got it's grotty areas (Lochee springs to mind!) but the town centre was nice enough, there's some decent road riding round there and a reasonable amount of MTBing in the Sidlaws nearby. Seemed to be a decent amount of stuff going on.

On the other hand everyone raves about how great Edinburgh is but I've never really seen that somehow, don't really know why.

It does have some dodgy areas though (generally the housing estates 1 mile either side of the by-pass)

I think that's what spoils most peoples opinion of Dundee, as (particularly if travelling in from the north) you tend to past the worst the city has to offer.

i once had a cooked breakfast in Dundee that had 7 types of sausage/pork product in the plate..

balanced breakfast...

also Dundee airport has a rescue hovercraft... just as a point if interest

Broughty Ferry is lovely - I sail up there at east coast sailing week every 3 years and have a lovely time every time I go. It does seem to be very dry and sunny by Scottish standards.

i once had a cooked breakfast in Dundee that had 7 types of sausage/pork product in the plate..

OK, I'm sold.

Forgot about all the different types of sausage. Farmers market was pretty ossum as well. mmmmm Dundee steak pie... yom yom

Best mate's inlaws are in Broghty Ferry. V Nice.

He and I go riding up the road in the Mount Keen area. Ace fun.

We never got to Mt.Keen that often (we didn't have a car at the time, but would hire one from time to time for this purpose) There is some proper good riding to be had there from Tarfside though, picking up the fungal for a while dropping into glen Tannar and back over via mt.keen. Some epic all-dayers you'll be hard pushed to better.

Dundee does have a bit of a bad rep amongst most people, but it does seem that is not the whole truth.

On the other hand everyone raves about how great Edinburgh is but I've never really seen that somehow, don't really know why.

You're not alone.

Both my wife and I feel the same about Edinburgh.

Plus the tay valley is really nice too.
What about Perth, not that far away.

It's a bit grim in parts but improving. Good location though with easy access to nice countryside ... Angus glens, Perthshire, Glenshee/Braemar, beaches round the Fife coast etc.
And east coast is a lot drier than west coast.

There is some proper good riding to be had there from Tarfside though, picking up the fungal for a while dropping into glen Tannar and back over via mt.keen. Some epic all-dayers you'll be hard pushed to better.

Yep. Tarfside is a great place to base rides from. Last time i was there, we rode Mt Keen from the north side (having been over the Fungal). Well, I say "rode". We carried the bikes into a howling gale and thick clouds. I was wearing shorts and a gilet. Heehee!

I was brought up in dundee and lived here most of my life. I left in about '94 - what a shithole. However, afetr a few years on west coast, then a couple in Aberdeen, I found myself returning to Dundee in about '03. It's a completely different place. True there are some "best avoided" places but there is a much more positive vibe aout the place now than there was when I left. Apart from being home to a new branch of the V&A it's the only city i know which has a public observatory and employs a City Astronomer (not relevant, but floats my boat). Suffering from some serious long term indistrial decline, it's nott he best looking place int he world and some serious corruption in the council during the 60's saw some questionable demolition and building. However, it has an airport and reasonably good infrastructure inks, and there are around 20 or so munroes you can climb and be in the pub by 6 if you leave home by about 9 9but not all at once0. Mountain Biking? Mount Keen is about an hour away and bikable if you want to do it that way.
Nicer places to stay - the ferry as pointed out above, or "sarf of the rivah" (but it's a big river and roadworks can cause chaos) there's Tayport, Newport and Wormit, all very nice places, and easily ridable into town. Nice walk home of a suummer's night too, but a bit wild in winter.

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I've always had the impression it was pretty minging, I've never been there though.
However I know several people who have lived/are living there and they all speak pretty positively about the place.

Looks nice from the South of the river, at Bridges length if you will:

My in-laws live just up the road from Tayport and road riding round there is phenomenal.

One of my longer routes [url= http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=112411507155734164664.00048e97fd541d36e3e6c&z=12 ]here[/url]

It seems fashionable to knock Dundee but I can't see why.

I was brought up in Broughty Ferry which has expanded massively since I left in 91 but is still pretty nice. Easy flat commute into centre on the bike but a bit of a drag by car I would imagine now. West End also quite nice to live and the villages over the river are nice too though the bridge can be a traffic problem as well.

Might sound daft but Dundee is so easy to get out of! Lovely beaches, hills etc are all very easily reachable as are Edinburgh and Glasgow if you want more culture.

Don't know costs of rent etc but a quick google should see you right. off the Perth Road towards Ninewells (huge well respected teaching hospital) would be good or in The Ferry.

You'll need to [url=

the language[/url], ken?

Dundee is a lot better- used to be a total hole in the 80's & 90s but has improved a lot. Decent shops bars and restaurants now and the Perth Road area around the uni is pretty good. So is Broughty Ferry. It's only 1 hour to get to Edinburgh by road or rail and there's flights to London City airport which is handy.
As mentioned, the Sidlaws are good, in fact there's a lot of good trails nearby. Tentsmuir is fine for a little fly around too.
I definately wouldn't write it off. Housing prices are more favourable than similar in Edinburgh or Aberdeen (I've lived in both of these too)

The Dundee accent should be enough to put anyone off

If its anything to go by the Cake then pretty crap i would
have thought!

BoardinBob - Member
Horrendous place with virtually no redeeming features

BoardinBob - Member
The Dundee accent should be enough to put anyone off

...sounds like you have a few issues Bob if you took the time to post those pearls of wisdom! What's the story? Were you:

a) knocked back by a Dundee lassie
b) filled in by a Dundee laddie

c0ck!

I grew up just outside Dundee and went to Uni there and left in '95. As said above there are lots of advantages to living there if you are into the outdoors, hiking, biking, skiing, and sailing come to mind. Affordable housing, easy access to most things, congestion not that bad etc. I have worked and lived in many areas including abroad and its not the worst place to stay by far. One thing it does have going for it is that its general attitude is an earthy friendly one, more akin to a large town rather than a city. There are awful areas for sure but which city doesnt have them? Lots of great places to stay, I would recommend the west end rather than "the ferry". The west end is close to the uni and some decent pubs and restaurants etc.

You will also need to get a phrase book:

"Eh'll a plehn peh and an ingin ane an 'aw", is a phrase required for visiting the local pattisiere.

Also "eh fehl doon the wellgate steps an meh peh it went skeh heh" is another one.

Its a braw bricht moonlicht nicht the nicht

Cheers

🙂

or.
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a) knocked back by a Dundee laddie
b) filled in by a Dundee lassie

I hope this causes a riot.

I'd sooner spend a life time living in Dundee than a year living in Englandshire, with only muddy dwarf hillocks to climb, shared with 5329 other folk, whilst getting shot at by irate farmers and breaking trespass laws.

Nothing like sweeping generalizations. I'm off out on my bike.......

"aye, ye gan left at the circle, then right at the next circle"
circle = roundabout.
nothin wrong wi dundee, be choosy where you rent though, visit on an evening if poss.

Waderider all Sounds a bit ****enshire to me

Futureboy77 - Member

BoardinBob - Member
Horrendous place with virtually no redeeming features

BoardinBob - Member
The Dundee accent should be enough to put anyone off

...sounds like you have a few issues Bob if you took the time to post those pearls of wisdom! What's the story? Were you:

[b]a) knocked back by a Dundee lassie[/b]
b) filled in by a Dundee laddie

c0ck!

Your mum wasn't that fussy to be honest

Grew up in arbroath its a dump a92 dualer killed it nothing but tinks and charity shops left - went to uni in dundee - i liked it easy to get to good riding and plenty to do and see.

auchmithie - i used to do my hill climb training from the beach to the telephone mast !

Moved to aberdeen - what a shite hole compared to dundee ....least dundee folks are friendly..... Now live near stonehaven in auchenblae

East coast has alot of variety of places to live but the closer you get to aberdeen the more expensive - dundee is not that bad. Although bucking that trend St andrews is horrendous - missus went to uni there 120 quid a week for a bedroom in a shite flat.

So that was 1500 quid a month for small 3 bed flat - thats aberdeen prices ! - we were 525 a month for a 1 bed box.

In comparison my dad rents out 3 bed semi detatcheds in a not bad area of arbroath for 450 a month.

Only place youll find cheaper is brechin ! - by all accounts avoid brechin !!!!!

peh - made me giggle. Mum lives just over the river and I spent a lot of time in Dundee. Not sure I'd live there but on our list of possible spots is around the bit where my mum is cos i could ride into town easily enough. Great pubs - mennies etc. Hazy memories of quality Perth Rd pub crawls and then a peh on the way home.

some other Dundonianisms translations provided later (spellings probably lost in translation):

Kribby
keeker
cundie
Oxter
Howf
Pletty
Hulltoon
Tap O the hul
Half loaf
Circle
Peh
Lampy
Ben the hoose
Lobbie
Eh
Eh 'O eh
D' ye ken?
Oh eh ken
aye but do you ken
Eh itz affy iz it
Pint o heavy pal
Ehl hae a Pilz 'n black
Half 'n half
ehllhaeaplenaneananinginaneinawe

[url=

the Dundee way[/url]
what does it mean? [url=

dinnae ken[/url]

posted fae lochee by the way

Broughty Ferry is quite nice - I lived there for 4 years and enjoyed it. The West End is ok too. Some other ok areas and some nice places further out - there is some lovely coastline further up towards Aberdeen, Lunan Bay and St Cyrus are both really nice beaches.
Dundee was really cheap for houses when we moved up there (erm, about 10 years ago I think) but probably not such good value now as it was.

There is some good riding close by -the Sidlaw hills are good, or a little bit further away is Pitmedden forest which is one of my favourite places to ride - I still miss not being able to go there!

As with all cities there are nice bits and horrible bits.

Futureboy77 - Member

BoardinBob - Member
Horrendous place with virtually no redeeming features

BoardinBob - Member
The Dundee accent should be enough to put anyone off

...sounds like you have a few issues Bob if you took the time to post those pearls of wisdom! What's the story? Were you:

a) knocked back by a Dundee lassie
b) filled in by a Dundee laddie

c0ck!

Your mum wasn't that fussy to be honest

Stunning riposte BoardingBob.......are you 12???

Stunning riposte BoardingBob.......are you 12???

13

BoardinBob,

from your reply his mam wasn't too fussy but still knocked you back.

How hairy are yor knuckles

Brilliant, best thread this week !

As mentioned in a few posts above plenty to do outside Dundee some great countryside
iv'e always found Dundee quite a nice place, like every city it has its dodgy areas but there
easily avoided ,we have mates in Carnoustie so were up that way quite a bit

I went to Dundee once. The crucial word in that sentence is "once".

My girlfriend asked me to kiss her where it stinks.
I drove her to Dundee.
That's not what she meant.

More seriously, it was a dump in mid-late 90s when I formed my impression of it (was at St Andrews University so nearest big city), grew up near Middlesborough and Stockton so I know a dump when I see one.

Last time I was there (May this year) I found it was massively improved. Real positive vibe about the place, great Italian restaurant and some nice pubs. It's a reasonably large town surrounded by lots of great countrysides and coastline. Like much of Central Scotland it's very mixed but definitely on the up.

Go and have a look and see what you think.

Being a resident in Dundee i will try and pass on my opinion of the city.

I grew up in Carnoustie but moved out due to the small town mentality, small fish in big ponds, everybody knowing your business, seemingly becoming full of twa##, and the good old rumour mill being in full functioning order..don't miss it one bit, only go there to visit family and friends now, No socialising..

I did move to Forfar for a bit....momentary lapse in concentration!

Anyway Dundee,

I have lived here for a while now and lived at both ends, i stayed on Laird street near Clatto country park, nice area where i was but a bit dodgy round the Ardler area. I never had any problems mind you so i guess it comes down to how you come across to other people, tolerance and how much attention you pay to other people.

I then moved into the Morgan street area as i got a flat with my partner, it was our first place together and near to her work.....Now while i liked the flat and our closey (tenament), the area itself was full of..well not very nice people, alot of unemployment and substance abuse in the area..plus a problem with "business" ladies, which was stamped out by the police to be fair.

We recently moved to a nice wee cottage on the Perth road, it is like a different city, nice and quiet as we are set back off the road, sorrounder by gardens, Perth road shops/pubs are nice, close to Magdelane green which is a big park where people have bbq's in the summer and sit and soak up the sun (when it shines) and look out over the Tay to Fife.

Dundee and sorrounding areas have alot to offer, granted during the 90's and early 00's the place was a bit of a dive, but now the majority of the city has been revamed, redesigned and tidied up. They are continuing to improve the city and its facilities all the time, everything you need in in Dundee, good shops in the centre of town, good retail parks on the outskirts, sorrounded by good walks, biking, beaches and hills.

The people in the majority are friendly, the traffic is never that bad, Edinburgh is 1 hour away, Glasgow is 1.5 hours away, good road and rail links, good bike shops nearby aswell..Cycle World in Arbroath, Bikeworx in Dundee, Alpine bikes in Perth to name just 3. Laggan wolftrax is 2 hours up the A9, Fort Bill is 3 hours max, Glentress is 2 hours max..loads of good riding closer to hand aswell. Dundee has a good Ice rink, swimming pool, cinemas, nice parks, good country parks within 30 mins drive, plenty eatries and nice wee pubs aswell. Sure there are minging bits, but it is the same wherever you go, Dundee has got a crappy reputation from it's past, all change now though.

Rental prices are reasonable, we were paying £435 in Morgan Street, payng a bit more now but worth the extra for peace and quiet, you will easily be able to rent a good 3 bed property for £650. Broughty Ferry will be more expensive, as will Carnoustie. In my opinion you can't go far wrong with Dundee if you pick the right area.

Hope that has helped you a bit and hasn't bored you, im pretty sure you will enjoy living here (stick to the west end of the city though).

If you require and further info please feel free to email me at mikedonald@hotmail.com.

Thanks,

Mike.

So whats the Visiting Times

Thanks for the information all! We're really hoping it all goes ahead - we're sick of living in an (expensive) off-road biking void, and Mr Toast misses the sea!

For info

When Mike's talking about living near Magdalene [b]Green[/b], this is what he's talking about.

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[img] [/img]

Stu-n's got it pretty much spot on - used to a total dump, but hugely improved, which is where you'll get a lot of negative vibe from

Also, keep an eye on [url= http://www.thecourier.co.uk/News/dundee.html ]this[/url] - the local paper, see what the news actual is. today, woman gets attacked, design for V&A to be decided shortly, new swiming baths to be built and one of the football teams in administration. Small town news.