Scotland's Tay Country…designed for the senses

East of Scotland is set to become the most talked about UK destination of 2018, when the first V&A museum anywhere in the world outside London opens in Dundee.
Stretching along the gentle banks of the Tay to the foothills of the Highlands, taking in the neighbouring regions of Dundee, Angus, Fife, Perth & Kinross – this is an area collectively rich in identity and culture, history and heritage and outstanding scenery.

In less than 5 hours by train, 2 hours by plane from London, visitors can look forward to experiencing a stimulating clash of culture meets countryside, from buzzing cultural cities to revitalising beautiful beaches and serene silent glens.

Get a taste for the region's food and drink …

Dining differently in Dundee: You won't find an identikit high street in Dundee. The thriving, contemporary food and drink scene is largely made up of independent home-grown businesses, from cultured cafes that double up as art and design boutiques to Michelin recommended fine dining and pop-up street food markets. A new beer brewery and award winning gin distillery are the latest additions to the city's food and drink offer.

The Unique Arbroath Smokie : The Arbroath Smokie is one of Scotland's best loved traditional fish delicacies. Taking its name from a fishing town in Angus it has been on the menu for a thousand years. Arbroath Smokies are hot-smoked, making them ready to eat straight from the smoker. A culinary delight exclusive to Arbroath, the Smokie is protected under European Law as a 'Protected Geographical Location' with the same regard as that maintained for Parma Ham and Champagne.

Fife – a food lover's paradise: Blessed with a fabulous natural larder, Fife offers an entire menu from coastline to countryside and boasts two Michelin star restaurants: The Cellar and The Peat Inn. Visit and you'll enjoy a feast of award-winning food and drink including Anster cheese and of course freshly caught seafood from the East Neuk. Lindores Abbey Distillery & Visitor Centre have opened on the site of the first record of whisky distillation - 1494. 

Perthshire's Larder: From the shores of Loch Leven to the heather-hued uplands of the southern Highlands, Perthshire is a region with deep traditions of good food and drink. From the days of the cattle drovers and the first whisky distilleries to ground-breaking innovations in crop research, food and drink has a place not just in the agriculture and business of Perthshire, but also its culture. The area has nurtured a number of Scotland's top chefs and led to the rebirth of the country's farmers' markets over a decade ago, providing a vital showcase that has allowed local producers to flourish and grow.

Gin from the Glens: The award-winning Gin Bothy is distilled by hand in the glorious glens of Angus by Kim Cameron and her small team following an ethos that's grounded in the Slow Food movement. The seasonal production calendar starts with Raspberry and Blueberry gins, then moves into Rhubarb, Chilli (made from Fife grown capsicums) and their extremely special Amaretto and Mulled gin. Their fruit is sourced less than five miles away, in an area famous for the berries that are grown on its fertile land - and the botanicals and grain spirit come from Glamis, just seven miles along the road.