Whales, monkeys, dragons, bears, warrior dogs , ghost ships and green men.

Name: Whales, monkeys, dragons, bears, warrior dogs , ghost ships and green men.
Start: 2025-09-06T12:00:00+01:00
End: 2025-09-06T14:00:00+01:00
Location: 1 Riverside Esplanade,Dundee,DD1 4EZ,GB

Schedule

Sat Sep 06 2025 at 12:00 pm to 02:00 pm

UTC+01:00

Location

1 Riverside Esplanade,Dundee,DD1 4EZ,GB | Dundee, SC

Meet under a whale! Bad poems, heroes, murder, hidden closes, polar bears, lost castles, dragons and Green Men. Just a normal day in Dundee.

MEET right under the TAY WHALE SCULPTURE,next to the V&A please- you can`t miss it!
Learn the weird story of the Tay Whale and hear some of the worst poetry in the world at the same time. Stroll where submarines once bobbed at anchor , visit a lost medieval Close and hear stories of battles , polar bears , comic characters and naval heroes. Where do the underground rivers still run and who is the Green Man of the ancient Dundee Howff Cemetery? Spend around a couple of hours with a friendly local guide who will tell you all about these and much more.
Your Guide ,Alastair, has been a Volunteer onboard RRS Discovery for many years and will encourage you to visit in your own time, but soon please! EVERYONE is welcome .
I did warn you about the terrible poetry. Willam McGonagall may not have been a great poet- but he is now much loved in Dundee and getting better known across the world.He wrote the epic (and awful) poem The Tay Whale. So good/ bad that they made a sculpture of it for us.
Times were tough in Dundee, with great poverty and poor housing well in to the 20th Century.We will touch on this as we walk.
We have lost so many of our ancient buildings- but you may be surprised at how many clues remain if you know where to look......
All gone, but we will find them!
Mary Slessor. From tough mill worker to a woman revered to this day for her work in Africa.
No tour can go on without me trying to get the story of this amazing fighting Norwegian Sea Dog in. See the pub where he used to drink and break up fights whilst he was waiting to win the highest award for animal bravery.
My great hero- Admiral Adam Duncan. A Giant of a man who was a Dundee laddie , born in the Seagate. He acheived amazing sea victories.Here he is dealing with a sailor who thought he might lead a mutiny !
Anther famous Dundee sea farer - also born in the Seagate! Pirate Captain William Kidd. There must have been something in the water!
Yes, yet another Dundee laddie!
Your Dundee Waterfront Walks Guide - on the right.