Are you in Edinburgh and looking to explore the region? Here are our 13 recommended day trips from Edinburgh!
Famous for its magnificent landscapes, Scotland is a great place to get away from it all, enjoy the pure Highland air and discover unique places. On a positive note, the capital, Edinburgh, is a beautiful city with a relaxed atmosphere and a great place to have fun!
Edinburgh is also the ideal starting point for day trips. And there are a plethora of excursions in Scotland! So we had to make some choices.
Here are the 13 day trips from Edinburgh we’ve selected for you.
1. Cairngorms National Park
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Jan Holm
📍 150 kilometers
🚗 By car: 2h20
📷 Things to see/do: Balmoral Castle, Highland Folk Museum, walks
Somewhat remote from Scotland’s capital, the Cairngorms National Park is nonetheless a great day trip from Edinburgh. Located at the cultural heart of Scotland, it’s home to the Highland Folk Museum, showcasing the region’s traditions.
The National Park is also home to a number of castles, the most imposing of which is Balmoral. And, weather permitting, there’s plenty of scope for hiking.
2. Loch Lomond
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Julietphotography
📍 127 kilometers
🚗 By car: 1h40
📷 Things to see & do: cruises, Dumberton and Balloch castles
Visiting Scotland without seeing a loch is a bit like going to Naples without tasting pizza. The loch is usually a lake, but not always. While you can’t take a trip from Edinburgh to see the most famous of them all, Loch Ness, you can admire the most beautiful.
Loch Lomond offers fantastic scenery. The best way to soak up the sights is to take a few hours on a cruise. During your visit, you’ll also have the chance to see a number of monuments, such as Dumberton and Balloch castles.
3. Northumberland National Park
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Dave Head
📍 87 kilometers
🚗 By car: 1h30
📷Sightseeing/activities: Roman fort and Hadrian’s Wall, Sycamore Gap Tree, hikes
As the only day trip from Edinburgh in England, the park can be divided in two. In the north of the park, it’s possible to hike up to the park’s highest peak.
To the south are the Roman ruins of forts here on Hadrian’s Wall, the ancient « border » between Scotland and England. Also to the south is the Sycamore Gap Tree, a famous maple tree offering splendid panoramic views.
4. St Andrews
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Julietphotography
📍 82 kilometers
🚗 By car: 1h25
🚆 By train and bus: train between Edinburgh Waverley and Leuchars, then bus 94/99/99C to St Andrews in 1h20 journey time
📷 Things to see & do: castle and cathedral, Old Course, aquarium, harbor walk, botanical garden
Of all the excursions from Edinburgh, St Andrews is the most historic. The town is famous for the ruins of its castle and cathedral, set on a hill and probably the most beautiful in the region.
St Andrews is also the perfect place to take a stroll along the harbour, discover the botanical gardens and the aquarium. Finally, St Andrews is home to the world’s oldest golf course, simply called the Old Course!
5. Dundee
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Edinburghcitymom
📍 90 kilometers
🚗 By car: 1h25
🚆 By train: regular trains from Edinburgh Waverley in 1h10
📷Sightseeing: McManus Museum, Broughty Castle, observatory, town center
Dundee is a little St Andrews, another day trip from Edinburgh to a historic city. Dundee is more modern, with museums including the famous McManus, Broughty Castle and a major observatory.
You can also discover Dundee by strolling through the city center. There are plenty of pubs and a cool Scottish atmosphere!
6. Scottish Borders region
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Aybige Mert
📍 61 kilometers
🚗 By car: 1h15
🚌 By bus: 1h30 journey: direct X95 bus to Selkirk from Waterloo; other buses reach the other villages
📷Sightseeing/activities: villages of Selkirk, Melrose, Dryburgh, Kelso and Jedburgh, numerous ruined abbeys
Despite its name, the Scottish Borders does not form the border between Scotland and England. It’s a region of countryside and small villages. It’s a great place for walking and admiring the beautiful scenery.
The most famous villages are Melrose, with the ruins of its abbey, and Selkirk, a small hilltop village. An excursion from Edinburgh for a breath of fresh air!
7. Glasgow
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Todor N Nikolov
📍 76 kilometers
🚗 By car: 1h05
🚆 By train: regular trains from Edinburgh Waverley in 45 minutes
📷 Things to see/do: Kelvingrove museum, Clydeside distillery, Drygate brewery, cathedral, enjoy the atmosphere
Scotland’s second largest city, Glasgow is a traditional day trip from Edinburgh. Aside from the Highlands scenery, Glasgow is the epitome of what you’ll find in Scotland: museums, a cathedral, a distillery, a brewery and lively streets!
In Glasgow, it’s easy to sample whisky and beer and learn how they’re made. You can also drink either, in moderation of course, in one of the city’s many pubs. Glasgow is appreciated for its festive, jovial atmosphere, which (re)puts a smile on your face!
8. Tour of castles: Craigmillar, Blackness, Thilestane, Stirling, Doune
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Portadown
📍 70 kilometers to Doune Castle, the furthest away
🚗 By car: 1 hour 05 minutes to Doune, 10 minutes to Craigmillar (Edinburgh suburb)
📷 What to see / What to do: visit the castles
Scotland is home to more than a dozen castles. While it’s impossible to see them all on a trip from Edinburgh, we’ve selected four.
Let’s start with Doune, a 15th-century castle and famous film location. It was the setting for Winterfell in the first season of Game of Thrones.
Then there’s Blackness, located on the North Sea estuary, another 15th-century castle and setting for the Outlander series.
Alternatively, close to Edinburgh is Craigmillar Castle, dating back to the 14th century. Beautifully preserved, it takes us back into Scottish history.
Finally, Stirling Castle is one of the largest, best preserved and most important in Scottish history.
9. Stirling
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Milosz Maslanka
📍 58 kilometers
🚗 By car: 1h
🚆 By train: 1h10 journey from Edinburgh Waverley, with change at Croy
📷 Things to see & do: Stirling Castle, Holy Rude, Cambuskenneth Abbey, Stirling Smith Museum
Famous for its castle, Stirling is also a charming Scottish town. It’s well worth a day trip from Edinburgh. Highlights include Holy Rude Church and Cemetery, and Cambuskenneth Abbey.
Stirling is best explored on foot, through its sloping streets, pubs and cultural venues.
10. Whisky distilleries: Glenkinchie, Deanston, Glenturret, Glengoyne
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Marten_House
📍 94 kilometers to Glengoyne and 30 kilometers to Glenkinchie
🚗 By car: 1h30 to Glengoyne and 25 minutes to Glenkinchie
📷 What to see / What to do: distillery tours and whisky tasting
It’s hard to miss out on whisky in Scotland! There are so many distilleries. So we had to choose four. The choices were based on their remoteness for a day trip from Edinburgh, their accessibility, their popularity and, of course, the possibility of tasting!
Glenkinchie, Deanston, Glenturret and Glengoyne are famous whiskies that are not necessarily well known in France. A real discovery for whisky lovers. Of course, you can adapt your distillery tour as you wish, Generation Voyage simply suggests an itinerary.
11. North Berwick
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Riska Parakeet
📍 40 kilometers
🚗 By car: 45 minutes
🚆 By train: regular trains from Edinburgh Waverley, 45-minute journey
📷Sightseeing / activities: castle ruins, cliff walk, Scottish Seabird Centre, beach
A classic excursion from Edinburgh for locals, North Berwick is prized for its sandy beach. Higher up, after a stroll along the cliffs, discover the ruins of the few castles that once dominated the area.
North Berwick is also famous for its Scottish Seabird Centre, a nature reserve and bird paradise. A must for nature lovers.
12. Falkirk
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Unique Vision
📍 42 kilometers
🚗 By car: 45 minutes
🚆 By train: regular trains from Edinburgh Waverley, 25-minute journey
📷Sightseeing / activities: the Falkirk Wheel, the Kelpies, Callendar House, the ruins of Antonin’s wall
Falkirk is an amazing day trip from Edinburgh. Here you’ll find such strange monuments as the Falkirk Wheel, a famous lock with a distinctive design. Spectacle guaranteed! You can also discover The Kelpies, huge sculptures of horse busts.
The Callendar House is surrounded by parkland featuring the ruins of Antonin’s wall, which dates back to Roman times.
13. Roslin
Photo credit: Shutterstock – Kraft_Stoff
📍 12 kilometers
🚗 By car: 20 minutes
🚌 By bus: Bus 37 from North Place, direction Penicuik, for approx. 1 hour’s journey
📷Sightseeing / Activities: Roslin chapel and castle, village walk
The last excursion from Edinburgh in our selection, Roslin is a village famous for its chapel and castle ruins. If you take your time, you’ll also be able to enjoy beautiful walks around the castle. Roslin is very close to the Scottish capital.