Dundee Historic Environment Trust works in partnership with a range of organisations to stimulate the understanding of Dundee’s historic built environment and beyond. The Trust supports the promotion of historic Dundee as an attractive place for people to live, work, visit and invest in.
Dundee Heritage Walks
Our walks offer a range of self-guided tours by foot around historic Dundee, giving you an opportunity to discover Dundee’s past and experience its rich and diverse heritage.
The heritage walking guide series was originally created in partnership with the Rotary Club of Dundee and supported by Dundee City Council’s Environment Department. Additional sponsorship was provided by local partner organisations. Our recent update was funded by Dundee Historic Environment Trust and supported by Historic Environment Scotland.
The City Centre walk can also be undertaken using audio guidance via the Geotourist App which is available to download free at the App Store and Google Play.
Updated for 2026, printed leaflets are available to pick up from our office and from local visitor information points.
Electronic versions are available here:
Links to local organisations and events
The Eight City Heritage Trusts
MixMap
MixMap works closely with front-of-house teams and accommodation providers to create the tourist edition of MixMap, available free from many accommodation locations throughout the city. High quality, lovingly made, free to end user printed maps of Dundee and Broughty Ferry — produced annually to celebrate and promote the very best in local businesses, attractions, and more. MixMap is a shining example of what happens when a community comes together. The City Trails of their Dundee Tourist Guide contains links to other walks which would make a great companion to our Dundee Heritage Walks.
Dundee Civic Trust
Dundee Civic Trust is a voluntary body and charitable trust whose membership is open to individuals who support its aims. It supports the protection and conservation of Dundee’s historic buildings and open spaces, supports new developments which improve the quality of the built environment, and opposes proposals which will have detrimental effects. Dundee Civic Trust also runs the Dundee Civic Trust Award scheme to encourage good building design. Dundee Historic Environment Trust and the Dundee Civic Trust give a joint award for conservation projects.
Check out their series of talks on winter evenings which are open to non-members and browse their publications, which include an annual journal, Civic Dundee, and a regular e-bulletin, Newsflash.
The Architectural Heritage Society Scotland
The AHSS is a Scottish charity with over 1000 members dedicated to the conservation, study and appreciation of Scotland’s historic buildings. It has regional groups organising local activities and carrying out casework through local volunteer run cases panels who review and comment on local planning and listed building consent applications. Dundee city falls under the Tayside and East Fife regional group, and there is a regional cases panel that reviews planning matters in the group area. The AHSS also publishes a twice-yearly magazine and arranges lecture programmes and study tours.
Abertay Historical Society
Abertay Historical Society promotes interest in the history of Dundee, Angus, Fife and Perthshire. The Society organises regular talks for its members, usually in Dundee, and publishes a long-established series of invaluable books on local history and related matters.
Abertay Historical Society also leads on the community based research project Woven Together, exploring the history of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people in Dundee.
Dundee Heritage Trust
HMS Unicorn
Events: HMS Unicorn events
Dundee City Archives
Dundee City Archives holds the records of Dundee City Council and its predecessors.
The Friends of Dundee City Archives was established in 1989 to support the work of the archivists in Dundee. This group raises public awareness of the work of the Archivist’s office and in normal years arranges activities including a series of lunchtime talks. The Friends of Dundee City Archives also publishes useful works relating to the history of Dundee.
Their ‘house history’ page provides a detailed guide explaining how the different types of record held within the Archives can assist the public research the history of their own homes.
HMS Unicorn
Dundee Institute of Architects is the local regional professional organisation for architects who are members of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) or the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). The DIA provides local member events and local design awards.
Dundee Local History Centre
The Local History Centre has a collection of over 20,000 items relating to the City of Dundee. It is located in the Central Library in The Wellgate Shopping Centre.
V&A Dundee
Scotland’s Design Museum opened to the public in September 2018. It houses the Scottish Design Galleries exploring Scotland’s design landscape, historically and today.
The Museum runs a regular events programme:
Doors Open Day
Doors Open Day is an annual event, first arranged in Glasgow and Ayr in 1990, and in other areas, including Dundee, from 1991. This continues today. Dundee Historic Environment Trust is one of several organisations to have arranged the Dundee event in the past. DOD involves opening buildings or parts of buildings that are of interest but which are not normally publicly accessible, free of charge. Different areas open up during each weekend of September.
SPAB Scotland
Members of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings living and working in Scotland have their own semi-autonomous group and get all of the benefits of SPAB membership, plus a dedicated series of events.
Contact the Scotland Officer for further details.
The SLCT is a ‘not for profit’ organisation which promotes the appropriate repair of Scotland’s traditional and historic buildings for the benefit of the public. It also provides advice, training and practical experience in the use of lime for the repair and conservation of buildings; and promotes and furthers the preservation and development of Scottish building traditional, crafts and skills.
SLCT is based in Charlestown in Fife and is an essential source of technical information and training for traditional building conservation, repair and construction projects.
Scottish Civic Trust
The Scottish Civic Trust has been campaigning for the protection and improvement of Scotland’s built environment and supporting local amenity societies since 1967. Based in Glasgow, the SCT is the catalyst for a number of initiatives, including the conservation of the Edinburgh New Town, the revitalisation of New Lanark, and for bringing the annual Doors Open Days event to the UK.