Holiday Inn Express Dundee

A short walk from the RRS Discovery is another moored ship, the HM Frigate Unicorn. Known as Scotland's only wooden warship, it has a prancing white unicorn with a golden mane and beard as its figurehead, instead of the traditional female form. Exhibitions on four decks tell the story of this ship, one of the six oldest in the world, and of Scotland's naval prowess through the years.

Scotland is renowned for its natural beauty, and the area around Dundee is no exception. Just north of the town of Alyth, about a half an hour's drive from Dundee, is Reekie Linn Waterfall. Actually two linked waterfalls on the River Isla, Reekie Linn is quite easy to get to, with parking only a five-minute walk away, making it a great choice for visitors pressed for time or with small children.

Dundee Law is many things: an extinct volcano that once housed an Iron Age fort, a site of prehistoric graves, a treasure trove of city artefacts dating back to Roman times, a Dundee landmark and the city's highest point. If you can't resist those panoramic views, make the 35-minute trek up from the hotel for a glimpse at the River Tay and two bridges, including the two-mile-long Tay Rail Bridge.

Few visitors know that the River Tay has its very own bottlenose dolphins. The warmer months between March and September are the best time for sightings. Although you can book a boat trip to seek them out, you may get lucky on summer evenings near Broughty Ferry, when the tide is coming in. Just take a pair of binoculars, or a camera with a zoom lens, and prepare for some marine magic.