Scotland’s Tay Country – covering Fife, Dundee, Angus and Perthshire – has been working in partnership with VisitScotland and AccessAble on a new accessible tourism training programme helping local businesses meet the needs of disabled travellers and transform the regional visitor experience.
But what are the highlights?
DUNDEE: A SMALL AND WELCOMING CITY
Dundee is a great starting point. Sitting on the banks of the River Tay, it’s a compact city with a relatively flat city centre, which means it’s simple to get around and full of things to do.
Even better, there’s a real sense that accessibility is being taken seriously here. Attractions across the city have been investing time in training and improvements to make sure that all visitors feel welcome from the moment they arrive.
Following on from the training programme and the recent Scotland’s Tay Country conference, there’s been a renewed focus on how spaces and experiences are presented.
Advocate Carrie-Ann Lightley, who was involved in the training programme and was one of the conference keynote speakers praised the work that was being done, highlighting its importance:
“I really enjoyed speaking at the conference and it was great to see genuine interest in the conversation around inclusive tourism. It means a lot to hear that the sessions made people think about how they present their businesses and facilities. If it helps build a bit more confidence around accessibility, then that is exactly the outcome I hoped for.”
Advocate Carrie-Ann Lightley
That confidence is starting to show. From museums to its science centre, Dundee feels like a city that’s not just accessible, but is actively thinking about how to keep improving.
Other key accessible attractions that make Dundee a great place to visit for people of all ages and interests include V&A Dundee, Discovery Point, Dundee Science Centre, Dundee Museum of Transport, and The McManus – Dundee’s Art Gallery & Museum.
FIFE: ENJOY THE FRESH AIR AND FREEDOM TO EXPLORE
If you head over the bridge and into Fife, you’ll find beautiful landscapes right on the city’s doorstep. Fife’s the perfect place for coastal walks and getting outdoors. More importantly, these experiences are open to as many people as possible.
In fact, at Cambo Estate, accessibility has become a key part of how they welcome visitors to their captivating gardens. After taking part in the VisitScotland workshops, the team has been looking at how to make the estate even more inclusive. Elise Methven explains:“At Cambo Gardens, we’re committed to ensuring we deliver on ‘access to nature for all’. Guidance from Tay Country Accessible Tourism Workshops has helped us become more confident in implementing changes to our main visitor offerings. Feedback from visitors has been fantastic and we frequently hear how much these changes mean to individuals and families when they come to Cambo.
“In addition to the wonderful paths, we’ve also invested in mobility equipment for visitors who may require additional assistance, and we have members of staff who are able to advise on Dementia Friendly walking and wheeling routes around the Estate.”
Elise Methven
Set within beautifully maintained grounds, the estate offers visitors a well-rounded and welcoming experience, complete with a charming café, exhibition spaces, formal gardens, expansive parkland and an on-site shop. All the amenities are thoughtfully provided, and include convenient parking with designated Blue Badge spaces.
Cambo’s stunning 2.5 acre walled garden dates from the 1800s, and the Gardens and Woodlands house a Plant Heritage national collection of snowdrops. The Gardens are open seven days a week and have four step-free entrances, including the main entrance, plus step-free access throughout the single-floor interior.
You can also expect attentive support from staff, alongside a range of accessibility features such as seating areas, large-print and audio information, audio description, and companion discounts.
Other places like Lochore Meadows really bring accessibility to life too. It’s not just about their accessible path – although its 5km circular route is one of the best-rated in the UK – it’s about the whole experience. Their adapted bikes and buggies, inclusive play areas, and even accessible sailing opportunities mean more people can properly enjoy being outdoors.
If you’re a water baby, Fife Sailability is an inclusive sailing club based at Lochore Meadows, which offers a variety of adapted boating experiences. There’s even a fully accessible powerboat designed for wheelchair users.
ANGUS: TAKE THE TIME TO SLOW THINGS DOWN
In Angus, things feel a little more rural, in the best possible way. This is where you can take your time, enjoy good food, and reconnect with nature across the countryside and stunning coastline. From Lunan Bay beach, where a community-led charity built a new viewing platform in 2025 to improve access for visitors with mobility issues, to Monikie Country Park, there are plenty of accessible outdoor spaces where people can relax and enjoy the scenery.
What’s encouraging is how local businesses are embracing accessibility alongside that laid-back charm. Places like Murton Farm, Tearoom and Nature Reserve offer a relaxed day out with accessible paths and welcoming spaces, while The Bothy Experience in Glamis brings together food, drink and storytelling in a way that feels inclusive and engaging.
Meanwhile, if you’re looking for accommodation, Forbes of Kingennie is home to a new accessible Escape Pod. Offering a touch of luxury with features including a hoist system throughout the living area, bedroom, and bathroom, level access throughout, adjustable height furnishings, wet room, and even a hot tub with fully automatic spa elite lift, it’s a brilliant accessible addition to the area’s accommodation offer.
Many of these businesses have also taken part in VisitScotland’s training programme, which has helped them think differently about their visitors and how to meet a wider range of needs.
PERTHSHIRE: NATURE FOR EVERYONE
Perthshire is known for its scenery: the lochs, woodlands and wide-open landscapes. Here, you can really feel the growing effort to make sure more people can experience it.
Accessibility has been built into the redevelopment of the Scottish Crannog Centre. The business has made thoughtful design changes and updated its staff training to help create a more inclusive visitor experience. Meanwhile, places like RSPB Loch Leven offer accessible trails where you can get close to wildlife without worrying about difficult terrain.
It’s a reminder that accessibility isn’t just about buildings: it’s about making those big, memorable outdoor moments possible too.
A REGION WORKING TOGETHER
What really ties Tay Country together is the sense that everyone is moving in the same direction. The VisitScotland destination training programme hasn’t just been about supporting individual businesses: it’s helped create a shared understanding across the region.
That shows in how easy it feels to travel through each region. There’s clear accessibility information, better awareness, and a willingness to keep learning so that Scotland’s Tay County becomes a destination where people feel confident to explore.
Because, in the end, that’s what accessible travel should be about. Not limitations or barriers, but the freedom to enjoy a place properly.
In Scotland’s Tay Country, that freedom is becoming easier to find.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
VisitScotland: visitscotland.com/accessible
AccessAble: accessable.co.uk/scotland-s-tay-country
VisitScotland Business Support Hub: support.visitscotland.org