Dundee, Great Britain

Dundee is a vibrant small city with a thriving arts scene, and plenty of cafes, restaurants and shops and now the newly-opened V&A Museum of Design. Some of our favourite places would be Dundee Contemporary Arts (for exhibitions, cinema, and a bustling bar and restaurant); the Rep Theatre; Aga Can (a tiny, eccentric restaurant serving great Turkish food); Baxter Park for slow walks amongst Victorian architecture and trees.
It's also a fantastic base from which to explore some of the riches of Scotland...

For golf, it's 20 minutes to Carnoustie, 25 to St Andrews, and 45 to Gleneagles.

There are lovely sandy beaches by the town and cafes at Broughty Ferry (10 minutes) or St Andrews, by the forest (with nesting sea eagles) at Tentsmuir (20 min); the secluded cove of Lunan Bay (45 min) or the lovely fishing villages of the East Neuk of Fife at Elie, St Monans (visit the Smoke House for stunning fresh fish in a simple and beautiful setting) and more (45 min).

If you like city life then Edinburgh and Glasgow are each only 90 minutes drive or by train - each bursting with history, beauty, and life. Perth is just 30 minutes and Aberdeen an hour up the road.

If you like getting out into the hills then, as well as the coastal areas above, the lovely Angus Glens are around 45 minutes drive and an hour will take you into the wilds of the Cairngorms and some of Scotland's highest peaks and most dramatic scenery. The river Tay offers all sorts of watersports from white water rafting up stream to sailing in the estuary.

If castles are your thing you can choose from the outlandishly beautiful ruins of Dunnottar, royal Glamis Castle, Scone Palace the ancient coronation seat of the Scottish Kings, Balmoral, Edinburgh or St Andrews.