18 Best Day Trips from Edinburgh (By a Former Local)

We lived just south of Edinburgh for four years, and in that time we made most of these day trips ourselves, by car and by train. So rather than a list scraped together from a map, this is our take on which day trips from Edinburgh are actually worth your time, how to reach each one, and when a guided tour beats going it alone.

If you only have time for one and you want the easy win, take the direct train to North Berwick for the seabirds and the beach, or to Stirling for the castle and the Kelpies. Both are under an hour from Waverley and neither needs a car. Want the classic Highland scenery of lochs and glens? That is a long day, so book a guided tour to Glen Coe and Loch Ness rather than driving 8 hours yourself in a single day.

You do not need a car for a lot of these. North Berwick, Glasgow, Stirling, Linlithgow, and Dunfermline are all direct trains of an hour or less, which is why we have put the car-free options first. Further out, places like Loch Ness, Glen Coe, and the Harry Potter filming sites in the Highlands are a long way to go for a day, and we will tell you when to make them an overnight or a tour instead.

Here are 18 day trip ideas from Edinburgh, ordered roughly from the closest and easiest to reach to the furthest. For each one we cover what there is to do, how to get there by car, train, bus, and guided tour, and our tips for making the most of the day.

 

Day Trips from Edinburgh at a Glance

Use this table to decide quickly. It covers the fastest public-transport option, the typical drive, whether we would book a guided tour, and the best time of year to go. Times are from central Edinburgh and are the typical fastest journeys, so allow extra at busy times.

Day Trip	Best For	By Train / Bus	By Car	Tour Needed?	Best Season
North Berwick	Seabirds, beach, easy car-free day	Train ~25 min (direct)	~45 min	No	Apr to Oct (boat trips)
Glasgow	City, free museums, music, shopping	Train ~50 min (direct)	~1h10	No	Year-round
Stirling & Falkirk	Castle, the Kelpies, Wallace Monument	Train ~45 min (direct)	~1h	No	Year-round
Linlithgow	Palace, loch walk, quick history fix	Train ~20 min (direct)	~35 min	No	Year-round
Dunfermline	Abbey, Robert the Bruce, Carnegie	Train ~30 min (direct)	~40 min	No	Year-round
Rosslyn Chapel	Da Vinci Code chapel, Roslin Glen walk	Bus ~50 min (no train)	~30-40 min	Optional	Year-round
Pentland Hills	Hill walking close to the city	Bus ~30-40 min	~20-30 min	No	Apr to Oct (best)
Scottish Borders	Ruined abbeys, Walter Scott, quiet towns	Borders Railway ~55 min	~1-1.5h	Optional	Apr to Oct
St. Andrews, Dundee & Fife	Golf, coast, university town, museums	Coach ~1h40-2h (no direct rail to St. Andrews)	~1.5h	Optional	Apr to Sep
Loch Lomond & the Trossachs	Loch scenery, hiking, boat cruises	Via Glasgow ~2h	~1.5-2h	Optional	Apr to Oct
Whisky Distilleries	Tours and tastings	Varies (some by train/bus)	30 min-2h	Recommended	Year-round
Outlander Filming Sites	Castles and villages from the show	Limited (2-3 sites max)	Under 2h	Recommended	Apr to Oct
Cairngorms National Park	Mountains, wildlife, families, skiing	Train ~2.5-3h to Aviemore	~2.5-3h	Recommended	Year-round (ski in winter)
Loch Ness	Nessie, Urquhart Castle, loch cruise	Long (4.5h+ each way)	~3.5-4.5h	Strongly recommended	Apr to Oct
Glen Coe & the Highlands	Dramatic glen scenery, photography	Long by bus	~3h	Strongly recommended	Year-round
Harry Potter Sites	Glenfinnan, Jacobite steam train, Alnwick	Varies (Fort William is far)	2h (Alnwick) to 3-4h	Recommended	Jun to Oct (for the train)
Hadrian’s Wall	Roman forts, Steel Rigg, Sycamore Gap	Very limited	~2.5-3h	Recommended	Apr to Oct
More Castles	Dunnottar, Doune, Blackness, and others	Varies	20 min-2.5h	Optional	Year-round

 

Which Edinburgh Day Trip Is Right for You?

If you are not sure where to start, pick the row that sounds most like you and go from there. These are the choices we point friends and family to most often.

If You Are…	Our Top Pick	Runner-Up
Car-free and short on time	North Berwick (25-minute direct train)	Stirling or Linlithgow
After classic Highland scenery	Glen Coe and Loch Ness guided day tour	Loch Lomond & the Trossachs
A history or castle lover	Stirling Castle & Falkirk	Linlithgow plus Dunfermline
Traveling with kids	Cairngorms (wildlife park, steam train)	North Berwick (seabirds and beach)
An Outlander or Harry Potter fan	Outlander tour (Doune, Linlithgow, Blackness)	Glenfinnan and the Jacobite train
Chasing landscapes and photography	Glen Coe	Pentland Hills at sunset
Mainly here for the whisky	Glengoyne, or a distillery day tour	Scotch Whisky Experience in Edinburgh first

 

North Berwick & the Scottish Seabird Centre

North Berwick is the easiest car-free day trip from Edinburgh. A direct train gets you to this seaside town in about 25 minutes, and once you arrive everything is walkable, which makes it our top pick if you want a proper day out without hiring a car.

The town’s headline attraction is the Scottish Seabird Centre, a charity-run discovery center that runs birdwatching boat trips and takes part in a number of local conservation efforts. The Firth of Forth is an important breeding area and is believed to be used by almost half of all of Europe’s seabirds.

Species that breed here each year include razorbills, Atlantic puffins, Atlantic gannets, Arctic terns, kittiwakes, shags, cormorants, and numerous duck species. Most notably, the world’s largest colony of northern gannets (over 150,000 of them) nest each year on Bass Rock.

The Discovery Centre is an interactive information and museum center, designed to be family-friendly. From here, you can learn about all the local species and even watch the birds on live cams that are set up on the island and local cliffs. There is also a cafe and gift center here.

The boat tours run from about April to November, and leave from the Scottish Seabird Centre. The boats go to or around one or more of the small rocks or islands where the birds nest each spring and summer. These include Bass Rock, Lamb, Craigleith, and the Isle of May. Some of the special tours include landings on either Bass Rock or the Isle of May.

We have visited twice and done two boat tours so far, one RIB boat tour that circled the three islands and one regular boat tour that landed on the Isle of May. Both tours were educational and really good fun, and we got to see a lot of birds on both trips. You can read about our experiences and tips for visiting the Scottish Seabird Centre to help plan your own trip. It is best to pre-book the boat tours in advance. In addition to birds, you also have the chance to see dolphins, seals, and whales in these waters.

North Berwick is a nice town to wander around and has a number of casual eateries and pubs, and we recommend trying the local seafood. Just along the coast is Tantallon Castle, a dramatic ruined 14th century clifftop fortress with a view across to Bass Rock (it is open to visitors, though a few interior areas such as the east tower staircase are currently closed). Families may also want to visit the National Museum of Flight nearby. There are also dozens of golf courses along the coast between Edinburgh and North Berwick, so book a tee time in advance if you want to play.

You can also combine a day trip out to North Berwick with a visit to other attractions such as Rosslyn Chapel in Roslin or Newhailes House & Gardens in Musselburgh.

 

How to Get from Edinburgh to North Berwick

It is easy to reach North Berwick by train, bus, or car. The train is the way we would go.

 

By Public Transportation

North Berwick is well connected to Edinburgh by train, with a direct service from Edinburgh Waverley taking about 25 to 30 minutes (the fastest trains run it in around 24 minutes). The station is a short walk from the seafront and the Scottish Seabird Centre. You can book tickets via Trainline or ScotRail.

You can also take a bus (East Coast Buses, operated by Lothian Buses) to North Berwick, which takes about 1 hour.

 

By Car

It is about a 25 mile (40 km) drive from Edinburgh to North Berwick, which usually takes about 45 to 50 minutes. There is a pay-and-display car park located at the Scottish Seabird Centre, plus street parking in town.

 

Day Tours from Edinburgh to North Berwick

We are not aware of any group day tours that focus on North Berwick, but you do not need one as the town is so easy to reach by train. If you would prefer not to use public transport, you could arrange a private transfer or private driver.

 

Glasgow

Glasgow makes an excellent car-free day trip, with trains running between the two cities several times an hour and a journey time of under an hour. Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and well worth a visit as it offers a refreshing contrast to the more tourist-oriented Edinburgh. The city sits alongside the River Clyde and is only about 45 miles west of Edinburgh.

The city is home to lots of free museums and attractions, a thriving live music scene, lovely parks, a great street art scene, and the best shopping in Scotland. For architecture lovers, there are a large number of buildings in the city designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh. There are also breweries and distilleries you can visit and tour within the city.

If you are thinking of taking a day trip to Glasgow from Edinburgh, check out our guide to things to do in Glasgow and our Glasgow street art guide. There is a lot to do and see, so plan ahead to make the most of your day. Some of the city’s attractions and tours need to be booked in advance.

There is plenty to keep you busy for a day in central Glasgow, but some attractions outside of the center, depending on your interests, include Pollok House, House for an Art Lover, and the National Museum of Rural Life.

How to Get from Edinburgh to Glasgow

The easiest ways to get to Glasgow from Edinburgh are by train, bus, or car. You can also get there via plane, taxi, or day tour, but for a day trip the train is the easy winner.

 

By Public Transportation

Trains run very frequently between the two cities. The fastest service from Edinburgh Waverley to Glasgow Queen Street takes about 44 minutes, with most trains taking around 50 minutes, and they run up to several times an hour. Trainline and ScotRail are good places to check schedules and buy tickets.

Bus connections are also regular. You can check National Express for coach connections and prices, or book a CityLink shuttle bus which provides direct service between Edinburgh and central Glasgow.

 

By Car

Glasgow is about 50 miles west of Edinburgh and the drive normally takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes from the city center, though it really depends on traffic. There are two main routes, the M8 or the M9 and M80. Both take roughly the same time, but check traffic before setting out as this is often the busiest stretch of road in Scotland. We recommend avoiding the morning and afternoon rush hours.

 

Day Tours from Edinburgh to Glasgow

Glasgow is best visited by train or bus, as connections are so regular and you keep full control of your day. If you would prefer a tour, you might consider this private chauffeured trip to Glasgow.

 

Stirling Castle & Falkirk

Stirling is one of the best history-focused day trips from Edinburgh, and it is an easy one too: direct trains take around 45 minutes. Stirling was once a very powerful town, and Stirling Castle, alongside Edinburgh Castle, was one of the largest and most important castles in Scotland. It dominates the city’s skyline.

Today, Stirling Castle is the most popular visitor attraction in the city, and a tour here lets you learn about its long history, the people who lived here, and see its principal rooms. You may also want to visit the Church of the Holy Rude, a nearby church used by royalty staying at the castle in the medieval period.

Other things to see in or near Stirling include the battle site of the Battle of Bannockburn, a famous 1314 battle where Robert the Bruce’s army beat the army of King Edward II in what is often called the First War of Scottish Independence. You can learn more at the Battle of Bannockburn 3D Experience.

Nearby is the National Wallace Monument, a large memorial completed in 1869 to commemorate William Wallace, the Scottish knight famously portrayed by Mel Gibson in the 1995 film Braveheart. Wallace’s sword is on display here. You can see the 220-foot monument from a distance for free, but there is a fee to climb it.

On the way to Stirling you will pass Falkirk, which has a cluster of attractions of its own. The Kelpies are 98-foot (30 meter) steel horse-head sculptures, and they are the largest equine sculptures in the world. You can glimpse them from the motorway, but we recommend stopping to see them up close (free to visit, with a small fee if you want a tour inside one of them).

Other Falkirk attractions worth your time include the Falkirk Wheel, the world’s only rotating boat lift, which connects two canals and offers a short boat ride, and Callendar House, a grand 19th century mansion with a medieval core. For history buffs, a section of the Antonine Wall (a smaller northern cousin of Hadrian’s Wall) runs through the grounds of Callendar House.

How to Get from Edinburgh to Stirling & Falkirk

It is easy to get to both Stirling and Falkirk by train, car, bus, or day tour. For Stirling Castle and the Wallace Monument, the train is the simplest choice.

 

By Public Transportation

Direct trains from Edinburgh Waverley to Stirling take about 41 minutes at their fastest, typically under an hour, and Stirling Castle is a (fairly steep) walk up from the station. For Falkirk, trains take about 30 minutes. Note that Falkirk has two stations: Falkirk Grahamston is the one for the Kelpies and Falkirk Wheel side of town, while Falkirk High sits on the fast Glasgow line. From either you will usually want a local bus (check First Bus) to reach the attractions. Check ScotRail and Trainline for routes and tickets.

 

By Car

Stirling is about a 36-mile (58 km) drive from Edinburgh and takes about 1 hour to 1 hour 20 minutes. Falkirk is about a 45-minute drive. The M9 goes past both.

 

Day Tours from Edinburgh to Stirling & Falkirk

You can visit some of these sites, most notably Stirling Castle and the Kelpies, by day tour. This day tour visits Stirling Castle, Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park, and the Kelpies. If you want to focus on the Falkirk Wheel and Callendar House, you can also find Falkirk tour options on Viator.

 

Linlithgow

Linlithgow is one of the great quick wins for a car-free day trip, and one most visitors overlook. The direct train from Edinburgh takes only about 20 minutes, and the main reason to come, Linlithgow Palace, is a short walk from the station.

Linlithgow Palace is a partially ruined medieval royal residence and the birthplace of both King James V and Mary Queen of Scots. Outlander fans will recognize it as Wentworth Prison from the show. It is a great piece of history, although we had a confusing time finding our way around it thanks to the ruined layout, so give yourself time to wander and get a little lost. A couple of areas (the King’s Bed Chamber and the Court Kitchen) are currently closed for conservation, but the rest of the palace is open.

On a nice day, walk the path around Linlithgow Loch, which sits just below the palace, and combine your visit with a wander around the town and a stop at St. Michael’s Parish Church next to the palace. Because the visit is fairly compact, Linlithgow pairs well with Falkirk (one stop further along the line) if you want to combine the two into a single day.

 

How to Get from Edinburgh to Linlithgow

Linlithgow is easy to reach by train or car, and the train is the obvious choice.

 

By Public Transportation

Direct trains from Edinburgh Waverley to Linlithgow take about 20 minutes and run frequently (up to around four an hour). The palace and loch are a short walk from the station. Check ScotRail or Trainline for times and tickets.

 

By Car

Linlithgow is about an 18-mile drive from Edinburgh and takes around 35 to 50 minutes depending on traffic. There is parking near the palace and in the town center.

 

Day Tours from Edinburgh to Linlithgow

Linlithgow is easy enough to reach independently that a dedicated tour is not needed. It does, however, feature on several Outlander day tours from Edinburgh, which we cover in the Outlander section below.

 

Dunfermline

Dunfermline is another easy and underrated train day trip, reachable in about 30 minutes, and it is a particularly good choice if you are interested in Scottish royal history. This former capital of Scotland is known for its royal connections and its well-preserved historic buildings.

The standout is Dunfermline Abbey, originally founded in the 12th century during the reign of David I. The abbey is the burial place of several Scottish kings and queens, most famously Robert the Bruce, whose tomb lies beneath the pulpit of the working abbey church. The abbey church and nave are open to visitors, though do check ahead as hours can change around services. Note that the adjacent royal palace ruins, run by Historic Environment Scotland, are currently closed while high-level masonry inspections are carried out, so plan your visit around the abbey and the town rather than the palace for now.

Dunfermline is also the birthplace of the famous philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, and you can learn about his rise from a Dunfermline weaver’s son to one of the richest people in the world at the Andrew Carnegie Birthplace Museum. Pittencrieff Park, the green space Carnegie gifted to the town, is a lovely place for a stroll and connects the abbey area with the museum.

 

How to Get from Edinburgh to Dunfermline

Dunfermline is easy to reach by train, bus, or car.

 

By Public Transportation

Direct trains from Edinburgh to Dunfermline City station take about 30 minutes (the station was renamed from “Dunfermline Town” when Dunfermline gained city status). Buses also run from Edinburgh and take around 40 minutes. Check ScotRail and Trainline for train tickets, or National Express for coaches.

 

By Car

Dunfermline is about an 18-mile drive north of Edinburgh, usually around 30 to 40 minutes, crossing the Firth of Forth. Try to avoid leaving or returning to Edinburgh during rush hour, as the roads and bridges at Queensferry are often slow at those times.

 

Day Tours from Edinburgh to Dunfermline

There is no need for a dedicated tour, but Dunfermline does appear on some private Fife day tours, which we mention in the St. Andrews and Fife section below.

 

Rosslyn Chapel

Rosslyn Chapel is one of our personal favorites, partly because we lived within walking distance of it for years. Rosslyn Chapel, also known as the Collegiate Chapel of St Matthew, is a 15th century chapel in the small village of Roslin. It was built for the Sinclair family as a Roman Catholic church, but after the Scottish Reformation it became part of the Scottish Episcopal church. It is still an active church, privately owned by the Earl of Rosslyn.

The small chapel, with its intricate stonework alongside the ruins of Rosslyn Castle, has drawn famous visitors over the centuries including Samuel Johnson, James Boswell, Robert Burns, William Wordsworth, Queen Victoria, and Tom Hanks. The stone of the chapel’s pillars and arches is covered in carving work portraying religious and secular symbols. The most notable feature is the Apprentice’s Pillar, clearly the work of a really talented stonemason.

These days the chapel is best known for its speculated connection to freemasonry and the Holy Grail, made famous by Dan Brown’s bestselling novel The Da Vinci Code. Since the book and the subsequent film, visitor numbers have climbed and a new visitor center was built.

Adult admission is currently £12.00 (with concessions, and free entry for under-17s), and visits run on timed 90-minute slots, so we recommend booking ahead, especially in summer. Talks and tours are given regularly by staff each day and are free to take part in once you are inside, and there is a small cafe and gift shop. Photography is not allowed inside the chapel, though you can photograph the exterior.

We visited many times when we lived nearby. One resident we always enjoyed seeing was William, the chapel cat, who sadly passed away in August 2021. William was a beloved fixture for years, and I especially loved visiting him. You can still find him featured in some of the gift shop products and in a book about his life at the chapel, which makes a lovely memento.

If the weather is nice, take the walking path over to the ruins of Roslin Castle (part of this is a private residence, so stay beyond their parking area), then walk one of the trails in Roslin Glen Country Park. For more in the area, consider Newhailes House & Gardens in Musselburgh, Craigmillar Castle on the outskirts of Edinburgh, or the National Mining Museum in Newtongrange.

How to Get from Edinburgh to Rosslyn Chapel

It is easy to get to Rosslyn Chapel by car, bus, or day tour. There is no train station in Roslin.

 

By Public Transportation

There are regular buses from Edinburgh to Roslin, and the journey takes about 50 minutes. From the nearest bus stop (Rosslyn Inn), it is about a 3-minute walk to the chapel. Most of the other attractions in the area can also be reached by bus, and the National Mining Museum in Newtongrange can be reached directly by train from Edinburgh.

 

By Car

Rosslyn Chapel is about a 10-mile (16 km) drive south of Edinburgh, and it takes about 30 to 40 minutes. There is free parking for visitors at the chapel.

 

Day Tours from Edinburgh to Rosslyn Chapel

Several day tours from Edinburgh visit Rosslyn Chapel, and most pair it with other attractions. This day tour visits Rosslyn Chapel along with some attractions in the Scottish Borders, including Melrose Abbey.

 

Pentland Hills

The Pentland Hills Regional Park is one of the easiest ways to get out into proper hill-walking country without leaving Edinburgh behind, and it was one of our favorite places near the city when we lived in the area. The park stretches for about 16 miles along a chain of hills just south of Edinburgh, with the highest point being Scald Law at 579 meters (1,899 feet).

The Pentlands are popular with Edinburgh locals for walking, running, and mountain biking, but they stay quieter with tourists, which means you will quite often have the trails largely to yourself. There are well-marked routes for all abilities, from gentle walks around the reservoirs to more challenging ridge walks with panoramic views over Edinburgh, the Firth of Forth, and, on a clear day, all the way to the Highlands.

Laurence and I used to head out here regularly, and one of the things we loved most was the sunset views. If you time your walk right, watching the sun go down over Edinburgh and the surrounding countryside from one of the hilltops is something you won’t forget. Popular walks include the circuit around Bonaly Reservoir, the climb up Allermuir Hill (a good introductory hill with great city views), and the longer walk along the ridge to Scald Law. The Flotterstone area on the east side has parking and a pub (the Flotterstone Inn) for a post-walk meal.

How to Get from Edinburgh to the Pentland Hills

 

By Public Transportation

Several bus routes from Edinburgh pass close to Pentland Hills access points, with buses to Bonaly, Swanston, and Flotterstone from the city center. The journey takes about 30 to 40 minutes. Check Lothian Buses for routes and schedules.

 

By Car

The Pentlands are very close to Edinburgh. The nearest access points (Bonaly, Swanston, Hillend) are just a 20 to 30 minute drive from the city center. There are car parks at several trailheads, including Bonaly, Flotterstone, and Harlaw.

 

Day Tours from Edinburgh to the Pentland Hills

There are no group day tours to the Pentlands, and you do not need one. The hills are close enough that you could combine a morning walk here with an afternoon at Rosslyn Chapel, which sits just on the other side of the hills.

 

Scottish Borders

The Scottish Borders is the southern region of Scotland that borders England, and it is the area just south of where we used to live, so we have spent a lot of time here. It is a hilly, rural area that was once occupied by the Romans and saw the coming and going of many Scottish and English armies over the centuries. We enjoyed exploring it precisely because it stays under most tourists’ radar, despite all the scenery and history.

You will find historic market towns, Roman sites, ruined grand abbeys, brochs, castles, nature areas, and a network of hiking paths. Scenic towns that are easy to explore on foot include Jedburgh, Kelso, Melrose, and Peebles. The area is known for its four great ruined medieval abbeys (ruined during the reign of King Henry VIII) at Kelso, Jedburgh, Melrose, and Dryburgh. The most famous is probably Melrose Abbey, the first Cistercian abbey in Scotland.

There are also castles, museums, and historical attractions. Castles open to the public include Floors Castle, Hermitage Castle, and Thirlestane Castle. Museums include the Mary Queen of Scots Visitor Centre in Jedburgh, Jedburgh Castle Jail and Museum, and the Coldstream Museum.

Many sites in the Borders have a connection to the writer Sir Walter Scott, who spent much of his childhood in the area and later made it his home. You can find a plaque and bust in Kelso, visit the courthouse museum in Selkirk where Scott served as sheriff for almost 30 years, tour his grand house Abbotsford, and see his burial place in Dryburgh Abbey.

If you would like to hike, check out local walking routes here. History walkers might consider a section of the 65-mile Borders Abbeys Way, which connects the four abbeys, or the Sir Walter Scott Way, which also runs through the region. The Borders is a large area, so what you do really depends on your interests, but it is well worth exploring if you want a quieter side of Scotland. You can read about the first two trips we took here in our guide to things to do in the Scottish Borders.

How to Get from Edinburgh to the Scottish Borders

You can reach the area easily by car, bus, train, or day tour.

 

By Public Transportation

The most useful rail option is the Borders Railway from Edinburgh to Galashiels and Tweedbank, which takes about 55 minutes to an hour and runs roughly half-hourly at peak times. Galashiels is the largest town in the Borders and has the best transport links, and from either station you can connect by bus or taxi to other towns. You can also reach Melrose, Selkirk, Kelso, and Peebles directly by bus (check Borders Buses), with travel times of roughly 1 to 2 hours. Book rail tickets via ScotRail or Trainline.

 

By Car

It takes about 1 hour to 1.5 hours to reach the main Borders towns. For reference, Peebles is 23 miles (37 km), Melrose is 37 miles (59 km), Selkirk is 39 miles (62 km), and Jedburgh is 48 miles (77 km) from Edinburgh.

 

Day Tours from Edinburgh to the Scottish Borders

Several day tours give you a taste of the region. This Rabbie’s tour visits Rosslyn Chapel and Melrose Abbey, this one combines the Borders with Hadrian’s Wall, and this day tour visits Alnwick Castle with a stop in Kelso.

 

St. Andrews, Dundee & the Fife Coast

Fife is both a historical area, often called the Kingdom of Fife, and a council region of Scotland. The big draw is St. Andrews, but there is enough in this corner of the country to fill several day trips. (Dunfermline, also in Fife, has its own section above.)

St. Andrews sits on the northeast coast of Fife. It is best known for the University of St Andrews, one of the oldest universities in the world, the ruins of St. Andrew’s Castle and the Cathedral of St Andrew, and as the birthplace of modern golf. It is also where Prince William went to university and met Kate Middleton.

The town offers museums and attractions, the oldest golf course in the world (the Old Course), and plenty of shops and well-rated restaurants, which is more than enough for a full day. If you want to play a round, book a tee time well in advance. About 7 miles outside town is the Secret Bunker, a Cold War nuclear command center opened to the public (closed for part of the winter).

The small historic fishing villages along the Fife coast are lovely spots for a seafood lunch and a stroll along the harbor. Many also have attractions of their own, such as the Scottish Fisheries Museum in Anstruther. A few villages to consider are Crail, Anstruther, Elie, and Pittenweem.

Just north of Fife is Dundee, a coastal city on the Firth of Tay and a UNESCO City of Design. It is best known for its maritime attractions, including Discovery Point, home to Captain Scott’s Antarctic ship RRS Discovery, and the HMS Unicorn, a 19th century Georgian wooden warship. The city’s newest landmark is the V&A Dundee, Scotland’s first design museum, which opened in 2018 (free to visit, with a charge for some temporary exhibitions).

If you are driving, we recommend a quick stop to take in the three bridges crossing the Firth of Forth. The Forth Rail Bridge is a UNESCO-designated Victorian rail bridge that was the longest single cantilever bridge span in the world when it was completed in 1890.

How to Get from Edinburgh to St. Andrews & Fife

The easiest way to reach St. Andrews is by car, coach, day tour, or private transfer. Dundee and the rest of Fife are well served by train.

 

By Public Transportation

The catch with St. Andrews is that it has no train station, and the nearest, Leuchars, is about 5 miles away. The simplest public-transport option is a direct Stagecoach coach from Edinburgh bus station, which takes about 1 hour 40 minutes to 2 hours. Alternatively, take a train to Leuchars (“Leuchars (for St Andrews)”) and connect by a short bus or taxi into town. Dundee is easy to reach by train in about 1 to 1.5 hours. For complex multi-stop itineraries around Fife, Traveline is the best tool. Check ScotRail and Trainline for trains and National Express for coaches.

Note: a proposal to reopen the railway to St. Andrews was declined by the Scottish Government in 2025, which favored improved bus connections with Leuchars station instead. So for now, the bus or taxi from Leuchars remains the best way to reach St. Andrews by rail.

 

By Car

St. Andrews is about 50 miles from Edinburgh and takes around 1.5 hours, while Dundee is about 60 miles and takes 1.5 to 2 hours. Parking is limited in St. Andrews town center, but there are free and paid areas as you enter the city. We normally parked in the large area next to the British Golf Museum, just across from the Old Course (free in low season, with a charge during busier times).

 

Day Tours from Edinburgh to St. Andrews & Fife

Several day tours head up to Fife, most focused on St. Andrews. We have done and enjoyed this day tour, which stops at St. Andrews, the historic town of Falkland, and a couple of the Fife fishing villages. There is also this full-day private tour, which combines St. Andrews, Dunfermline, and the Fife coast.

 

Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park

Loch Lomond & the Trossachs was designated Scotland’s first national park in 2002. The large park takes in mountains, forest, lochs, small villages, and farmland, and Loch Lomond itself is the largest inland body of water by surface area in the UK. It makes a good day trip and an even better overnight one.

The park is popular for hiking, camping, biking, and water sports, and is crossed by two of Scotland’s most popular long-distance paths, the West Highland Way and the Three Lochs Way. There are also historic villages, scenic viewpoints, adventure parks, and boat cruises. This is also the land of the Scottish outlaw and folk hero Rob Roy MacGregor. If you are planning a visit, our guide to the top things to do in Loch Lomond will help you plan your time.

How to Get from Edinburgh to Loch Lomond

The easiest ways to visit are by car or day tour, but you can also reach the park by train and bus if you plan carefully.

 

By Public Transportation

There is no direct train, so the usual route is to take a train to Glasgow and change for Balloch (Glasgow to Balloch is about 50 minutes), for a total of roughly 2 hours. If you get off at Balloch, you can walk to several attractions, including the Balloch boat pier for loch cruises, the aquarium, and Balloch Castle Country Park. Tarbet is also on a rail line. By bus or a bus-and-train combination you can reach villages such as Luss, Balloch, Tarbet, Callander, and Killin, though almost all routes involve changes and journeys run from 1.5 to 3 hours. Use Traveline for multi-stop planning, and ScotRail or Trainline for trains.

 

By Car

The park covers a large area, but it is about 80 miles from Edinburgh, and it takes between 1.5 and 2 hours to reach the village of Luss alongside Loch Lomond.

 

Day Tours from Edinburgh to Loch Lomond

Several day tours include Loch Lomond, such as this one, which also visits Stirling Castle and the Kelpies, this one, which pairs the loch with two whisky distilleries, and this one, which adds three castles. If a cruise matters to you, check the tour description before booking, as several include an optional boat trip on the loch.

 

Whisky Distillery Tours

Whisky is the drink most associated with Scotland, and many visitors want a chance to learn how it is made and taste a few drams. There are no distilleries currently open to the public in Edinburgh itself, but there are several within a 1 to 2 hour drive of the capital, and a distillery visit is a great rainy-day option since the tours take place indoors.

If you are new to Scotch, our advice is to do a tasting in Edinburgh first to work out what you like, then build a day trip around it. The Scotch Whisky Experience and this local history and tasting tour are both good places to start. After that, pick one or two distilleries based on a brand, a style (single malt or blended), or a flavor profile (peaty or fruity) you enjoy. Most tours are fairly similar, so one or two are plenty for most people, and you can easily combine them in a day.

When we did this whisky tasting tour from Edinburgh, it stopped at both Glengoyne Distillery and Deanston Distillery. I actually opted to visit Doune Castle (right nearby) instead of Deanston, since the tour gives you the flexibility to do as much or as little as you like at each stop. That flexibility is one reason we lean toward a tour or a designated driver here: Scotland’s drink-driving laws are strict, so if you drive yourself you will be sticking to the to-go sample cups most distilleries provide for drivers.

Here are several distilleries within about a 2-hour drive of Edinburgh to get you started:

• Glenkinchie Distillery – A single malt Lowlands distillery just a 19-mile (31 km) drive from Edinburgh (30 to 40 minutes), near Tranent. Offers tours and tastings.
• Glengoyne Distillery – A popular distillery in Dumgoyne, about 55 miles (88 km) from Edinburgh (1.5 hour drive). It has been in continuous operation since 1833 and makes its unpeated single malt using slow, traditional methods. Tours and tastings available.
• Deanston Distillery – A distillery in Doune alongside the River Teith, about 45 miles (72 km) from Edinburgh (1 to 1.5 hour drive). It produces single malt and offers tours and tastings.
• Glenturret Distillery – In Crieff, about 55 miles (88 km) from Edinburgh (1 hour 20 minutes to 1 hour 50 minutes). Produces single malts and offers tours and tastings, with pre-booking recommended.
• Aberfeldy Distillery – The Dewar’s Aberfeldy Distillery is outside Aberfeldy, about 74 miles (119 km) from Edinburgh (1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours). Produces single malt and offers tours and tastings.

There are also newer distilleries within driving distance, like Clydeside Distillery in Glasgow, which has been releasing its own single malt whisky since 2021 alongside its gin. Most distilleries offer several tours a day, and many can be booked on arrival, but some require advance booking (especially in low season), and special tours and experiences usually need to be booked ahead. A distillery visit combines easily with Loch Lomond, Stirling, Falkirk, Glasgow, Doune Castle, or Rosslyn Chapel.

How to Get from Edinburgh to Whisky Distilleries

The easiest ways to visit a distillery are by car or day tour, though public transport works for some.

 

By Public Transportation

Some distilleries can be reached by bus or train and some are not well served at all, so check the specific distilleries you want on Traveline. You can reach Glengoyne, Deanston, Aberfeldy, and Glenturret by public transit, but in most cases a day tour is easier and more time-efficient than piecing together buses and trains.

 

By Car

All of the distilleries can be reached by car, and most have free parking. They range from 30-minute to 2-hour drives from Edinburgh. Remember the strict drink-driving limit, so plan a designated driver if you intend to taste.

 

Day Tours from Edinburgh to Whisky Distilleries

Several tours include a distillery stop. This whisky tour visits two single malt distilleries plus Loch Lomond, this day tour adds villages, viewpoints, and Highland lochs, and this day tour combines Stirling Castle, Loch Lomond, and a distillery.

 

Outlander Filming Sites

Outlander is a romantic fantasy drama set in Scotland, adapted from the bestselling books by American author Diana Gabaldon. The story moves between the 1940s and the 18th century as Claire Randall is transported back to 1743, where she meets a Highland warrior named Jamie Fraser.

We are not huge fans of the show, but we have visited most of the filming locations for Outlander and most are worth visiting whether you are a fan or not. If you are a fan, a themed tour is a fun way to spend the day with other fans. The show was primarily shot at a studio near Glasgow, but many scenes were filmed at locations across Scotland. Here are some of the better-known ones within a 2-hour drive of Edinburgh, and you can pick a handful for a full day:

• Blackness Castle – A 15th century sea-edge fortress shaped like a ship, about 20 miles (45-minute drive) from Edinburgh. It was used as Fort William, where Jamie is flogged by Captain Randall.
• Culross – A village of historic buildings under the care of the National Trust for Scotland. It was used as Cranesmuir, and you will find Claire’s herb garden here. About 25 miles (45 to 55-minute drive) from Edinburgh.
• Doune Castle – Built around 1400, it was the fictional Castle Leoch, and is also the primary setting for Monty Python and the Holy Grail. About 45 miles from Edinburgh (1 to 1.5 hour drive).
• Falkland – A small historic village in Fife, about 40 miles (50 to 60-minute drive) from Edinburgh. Its landmark is Falkland Palace (run by the National Trust). Falkland stood in for 1940s Inverness.
• Hopetoun House – A 17th century mansion that featured as the home of the Duke of Sandringham, about 14 miles from central Edinburgh (30-minute drive). Open seasonally.
• Midhope Castle – A tower house (Lallybroch in the show) on a private part of the Hopetoun Estate, sometimes accessible to visitors. The building is derelict, so you can only see the exterior, and a parking pass is needed. Open seasonally.
• Linlithgow Palace – Featured as Wentworth Prison, and an easy train trip in its own right (see the Linlithgow section above).

Almost all of these charge for entry and many close in winter, so check ahead. For the full list, see our detailed guide to all the Outlander filming locations in Scotland.

How to Get from Edinburgh to Outlander Sites

The easiest way to see several Outlander sites in a day is by car or day tour. You can reach many sites by public transport, but you would struggle to visit more than 2 or 3 in a day that way.

 

By Public Transportation

Several sites, including Linlithgow Palace, Falkirk, Blackness Castle, and Newhailes House, can be reached by bus or train. Check Traveline for the best routes to the sites you most want to see.

 

By Car

All the sites can be visited by car, and all are within a 2-hour drive of Edinburgh, with several within an hour.

 

Day Tours from Edinburgh to Outlander Sites

Several tours visit several Outlander sites in a day. We have done this 1-day Rabbie’s tour, which includes Culross, Blackness Castle, Doune Castle, and Linlithgow Palace. Super-fans might prefer this 4-day tour covering nearly all the major sites, or this 2-day option.

 

Cairngorms National Park

Cairngorms National Park was the second national park established in Scotland and is the largest national park in the British Isles. It is best known for its mountain range, the Cairngorms, and is a popular area for outdoor activities including hiking, climbing, fishing, camping, skiing, and birdwatching. It is a long day trip from Edinburgh, so it suits travelers who want a full day out and don’t mind the travel time, and it is excellent for families.

There is plenty here for kids, including the Landmark Forest Park (an adventure park), the Highland Wildlife Park (an animal park), and G2 Outdoor (adventure activities). The Strathspey Railway, which runs steam train rides, is a hit with all ages.

There are also castles and historical attractions in the park open to the public, including Blair Castle, Braemar Castle, Ruthven Barracks, and Balmoral Castle (the King’s private residence in Scotland). Museums include the Highland Folk Museum (a large open-air museum) and Grantown Museum. The park is also home to several whisky distilleries, including Dalwhinnie, Glenlivet, Tomintoul, and Speyside, the best known being Dalwhinnie Distillery.

It is one of the best wildlife and birding areas in Scotland, home to red squirrels, capercaillie, osprey, deer, badgers, and the Scottish wildcat. You can take a guided wildlife tour with Speyside Wildlife or visit the Osprey Centre. In winter, the park is the most popular area for winter sports in Scotland, home to three of Scotland’s five ski resorts. If you are visiting in the colder months, see our guide to visiting the Cairngorms in winter and our guide to skiing in Scotland.

How to Get from Edinburgh to the Cairngorms National Park

The best way to reach the Cairngorms is by car, but you can also get here by bus or train. Some towns, such as Aviemore, are well connected, while others, such as Braemar, are not.

 

By Public Transportation

Trains run to several towns including Aviemore, Dalwhinnie, Blair Atholl, and Newtonmore, taking 2 to 4 hours depending on the destination and route. There are also bus connections to towns including Aviemore, Blair Atholl, and Newtonmore, with the best links to the southern and western areas of the park. Check ScotRail and Trainline for trains, and Stagecoach (the main local operator) and National Express for buses.

 

By Car

It takes about 1.5 hours to reach the southern part of the park (for example, Blair Atholl). It is about 130 miles (209 km) to Aviemore, the largest town in the park, and that drive takes about 2.5 to 3 hours.

 

Day Tours from Edinburgh to the Cairngorms

We do not know of any day tours from Edinburgh that focus only on the Cairngorms, although some pass through. If exploring the park is a priority, we would recommend taking the train to Inverness or Aberdeen and booking a day trip from there, since both are closer. This day tour from Inverness and this day tour from Aberdeen both explore parts of the park.

 

Loch Ness

Loch Ness is the big bucket-list name, but be realistic about the distance: it is a long way for a day trip, so we would do it as a guided tour or an overnight rather than driving yourself there and back in one day. Loch Ness is a large, deep freshwater lake in the Scottish Highlands, the second deepest loch in Scotland and the largest body of water by volume in the UK (it holds more water than all the lakes in England and Wales combined). It is best known for sightings of the Loch Ness Monster, “Nessie,” the first reported in 1933.

The most popular thing to do is take a cruise on the loch, which range from about 30 minutes to 3 hours. A visit to the ruined Urquhart Castle can be done as part of a cruise or on its own. Other places of interest are the village of Drumnadrochit, the Loch Ness Centre, scenic Glen Affric, and the town of Fort Augustus, a good spot to see the Caledonian Canal. There is even a little beach near the Dores Inn. For more, see our complete guide to visiting Loch Ness.

How to Get from Edinburgh to Loch Ness

The easiest ways are by day tour or car, but you can also reach Loch Ness by bus or a combination of train and bus. Whichever you choose, this is a long day.

 

By Public Transportation

By public transport you can reach Drumnadrochit, Clansman Harbour (one of the cruise departure points), Urquhart Castle, and Fort Augustus, by bus or a bus-and-train combination, with many journeys routing through Inverness. Travel time is 4.5 to 5.5 hours each way, often with changes, which makes it impractical as a day trip. If you want to go independently, we would strongly suggest staying overnight in Inverness instead. Use Traveline to plan, and check ScotRail and Trainline for trains.

 

By Car

It is about a 175-mile (281 km) drive to Drumnadrochit from Edinburgh, taking between 3.5 and 4.5 hours depending on traffic. Given that you would be looking at 7 to 8 hours of driving in a single day, we recommend doing this as an overnight trip or a guided tour instead. In winter, the limited daylight means you would be driving back in the dark.

 

Day Tours from Edinburgh to Loch Ness

Several companies run day tours from Edinburgh to Loch Ness, including a Rabbie’s tour that also visits scenic Glen Coe and this day tour option. A day tour from Edinburgh is a long time on a bus, so if you can, take the train to Inverness and do a tour to Loch Ness from Inverness to see more at a slower pace.

 

Glen Coe & the Scottish Highlands

Glen Coe (or Glencoe) is a glen of volcanic origins in the Scottish Highlands, well known for its scenery and atmosphere. If your main goal is the dramatic Highland landscape Scotland is famous for, this is the day trip we would point you to, though, like Loch Ness, it is far enough that a guided tour usually beats driving yourself. Most of the glen is owned and conserved by the National Trust for Scotland.

It is also the site of a terrible massacre in 1692, the Massacre of Glencoe, in which 38 members of the MacDonald clan were killed by men who had been given their hospitality. The government-backed massacre was led by a member of the Campbell clan, sparking a feud that lasted for generations.

Most people, though, come for the scenery. Glen Coe is a draw for photographers and has appeared in films including Highlander, Rob Roy, Braveheart, and the Harry Potter series (you can see our Glen Coe photography guide). It is popular for hiking, climbing, and mountaineering, and nearby Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in the British Isles. There is a visitor center (fee for non-members) run by the National Trust, a good place to stop for information and routes, and the Glencoe Folk Museum, which presents local history in thatched cottages. On the way to Glen Coe, you might stop to explore part of Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park.

How to Get from Edinburgh to Glen Coe

The easiest way is by car or day tour, though you can reach the village and many parts of the glen by public transit too.

 

By Public Transportation

You can travel to Glen Coe by bus or a bus-and-train combination, but it is a long journey with changes. See Traveline to plan your route. For a day trip, a guided tour is far simpler.

 

By Car

It is about a 120-mile (193 km) drive from Edinburgh to Glencoe, taking about 3 hours, longer in heavy traffic. The drive up the A82 past Loch Lomond is scenic but includes single-carriageway stretches and plenty of coaches and caravans, so don’t count on the fastest possible time.

 

Day Tours from Edinburgh to Glen Coe

There are day trips from Edinburgh to Glen Coe, such as this one, which visits both Loch Ness and Glencoe, and this similar tour.

 

Harry Potter Filming Sites

Although much of the Harry Potter books were written in Edinburgh by J.K. Rowling, the city was never used as a filming location. (You can still find several Harry Potter sites in Edinburgh itself.) Hogwarts is set in Scotland, and there are a number of Harry Potter filming locations in Scotland, though there is not much to see at some of them.

Be warned that most of these are 3 hours or more drive north of Edinburgh, so this makes for a really long day trip. The closest by far is Alnwick Castle in Northumberland, England, a 2-hour drive away. Here are the main ones to consider:

• Glenfinnan Viaduct – The railway viaduct on the West Highland Line, opened in 1901, that the Hogwarts Express crosses in the films.
• The Jacobite Train – The West Coast Railways steam train used for shots of the Hogwarts Express. It mainly runs between Fort William and Mallaig (crossing Glenfinnan Viaduct), not from Edinburgh. For the full experience, book the first-class “Hogwarts-style” carriage. In 2026 it runs roughly from June to late October, and it sells out weeks or months ahead in summer, so book early.
• Rannoch Moor – A boggy moorland near Loch Rannoch, where the Death Eaters board the Hogwarts Express in Deathly Hallows: Part 1.
• Steall Falls in Glen Nevis – Scotland’s second-highest waterfall, used in the background of the Triwizard Tournament dragon scene in Goblet of Fire. Hiking information is here.
• Alnwick Castle – In northern England, the castle exterior and courtyard were used as Hogwarts in the first two films, including the broomstick-flying lessons. The castle offers Harry Potter activities like broomstick lessons, and has also stood in for Downton Abbey. Well worth a visit in its own right, with a lovely garden next door.
• Glen Coe – The scenic glen, best known here as the location for Hagrid’s Hut (the hut itself was a film set). See our Glen Coe photography guide.

You can’t visit all of these in one day, so decide which matter most to you. You can fit several into a day if you head northwest, but Alnwick is in the opposite direction (south, in England) from the rest. If you want just one Harry Potter thing to do, we would choose the Jacobite train ride (a fun experience with great scenery), a visit to Alnwick Castle (an iconic castle with broomstick lessons), or a trip to Glen Coe (dramatic scenery and good walking). For more, see our Harry Potter Scotland guide.

How to Get from Edinburgh to Harry Potter Filming Sites

You can reach the sites by car or day tour, and some by bus and/or train.

 

By Public Transportation

Many locations can be reached by bus and/or train, including Fort William (where the steam train departs), Alnwick, Glenfinnan, Rannoch Moor, and Glencoe. Check Traveline for the best routes to each.

 

By Car

Alnwick Castle is a 1.5 to 2 hour drive, while the rest are 3 to 4 hours from Edinburgh. If you are heading north toward Fort William and Glen Coe, we would do this as an overnight trip if you can, perhaps staying overnight in Fort William, or take a day tour so you are not doing the driving.

 

Day Tours from Edinburgh to Harry Potter Sites

Some tours include several Harry Potter sites, though most focus on Alnwick since it is much closer. This day tour visits Alnwick Castle, the Scottish Borders, and the Northumberland Coast. For the Jacobite Steam Train, this day trip with train ride includes transport from Edinburgh, the train ride, and Highland filming-location views. If Glen Coe is your priority, consider this tour that combines Glen Coe and Loch Ness.

 

Hadrian’s Wall

Hadrian’s Wall was a defensive fortification built by the Romans in the northernmost part of the Roman province of Britannia, in what is now northern England. Construction is believed to have started around 122 A.D. during the reign of Emperor Hadrian, and the Romans used it until they left Britain in the early 5th century. It is 73 miles long and runs from Wallsend to the Solway Firth. It is one of the more rewarding day trips for history lovers, though public transport is very limited, so most people drive or take a tour.

Game of Thrones fans may like to know that George R.R. Martin’s book series was inspired by his 1981 visit to Hadrian’s Wall. He has said the Wall was the first thing he developed for the books, which you can read about in his 2014 interview with Rolling Stone.

Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987, the wall is a popular attraction. Many people, especially UK residents, walk its full length over about a week in summer, but as a day trip you can still see a good section and visit a fort. One of the most popular places to see the wall up close is Steel Rigg. Nearby is Sycamore Gap, for years one of the most photographed spots on the wall, where a lone sycamore grew in a dip between two hills (famously featured in the 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves). Sadly, the tree was deliberately felled by vandals in September 2023. The site is still worth seeing for the dramatic scenery, but the iconic tree is gone.

There is a parking area at Steel Rigg with a fine view, and you can follow a path along a well-preserved section. Please do not sit or walk on the wall itself, as it is a protected and fragile monument. An alternative is Heddon-on-the-Wall, another well-preserved stretch that sees fewer visitors (street parking only). Before or after seeing the wall, we recommend visiting one of the forts and museums. There were at least 14 larger Roman forts along the wall, and we would suggest either Housesteads or Vindolanda, both with fort ruins and a museum of archaeological finds.

If you want a long walk, this 8-mile circular walk takes in Steel Rigg, Housesteads, and a lake, and takes about 3 hours at a normal pace, starting and finishing at the Housesteads Visitor Center. A day trip here pairs well with a short stop at Rosslyn Chapel or a Borders town such as Melrose or Jedburgh, and you might also stop at Carter Bar on the Scotland-England border for a photo. For our own experience, see our guide to a day trip to Hadrian’s Wall from Edinburgh. If you want to plan in detail, a recent guidebook on the wall helps you choose the best sites.

How to Get from Edinburgh to Hadrian’s Wall

The easiest ways are by car, a day tour, or a private transfer. Public transport is very limited.

 

By Car

Hadrian’s Wall is about a 100-mile (160 km) drive south of Edinburgh, and it takes about 2.5 to 3 hours to reach the main sites. The sites are spread out along the wall, so try to stick to ones within 30 to 60 minutes of each other.

 

By Public Transportation

Public transport in this rural area is very limited, and many of the best sites are outside towns. If you want to visit without a car, we would book a day tour from Edinburgh.

 

Day Tours from Edinburgh to Hadrian’s Wall

There are several day tours, many of which also stop in the Scottish Borders. This day tour (which we have done) stops in a Borders town, Carter Bar, Steel Rigg, and usually Vindolanda. To combine Rosslyn Chapel and Hadrian’s Wall, consider this tour, although it spends less time at the wall.

 

More Castles Worth the Trip

Scotland has so many castles that several deserve a mention beyond the ones already covered above. Castles were built here from the 11th to the 20th century and range from tower houses to fortresses to fairytale palaces, and many are within day-tripping distance of Edinburgh. If a particular castle is on your list, look at the area around it to find others nearby, since it is easy to see 3 to 4 in a day if you plan ahead. A good starting point is this castle list, which organizes castles by council area.

Here are several within about a 2.5-hour drive:

• Craigmillar Castle – A ruined castle with parts dating to the 14th century, used by Mary Queen of Scots. Only a 20-minute drive from Edinburgh.
• Blackness Castle – A 15th century, ship-shaped castle on the south shore of the Firth of Forth and an Outlander filming location. A 45-minute drive from Edinburgh.
• Thirlestane Castle – A privately owned 16th century castle in the Scottish Borders, home to the Maitland family. About a 45-minute drive away.
• Doune Castle – A castle dating to about 1400, restored in the 20th century, and a filming location for Monty Python and the Holy Grail and Outlander. A 1 to 1.5 hour drive from Edinburgh.
• Alnwick Castle – A mighty castle in northern England with sections dating to the 11th century, seat of the Duke of Northumberland and a filming location for Harry Potter and Downton Abbey. A 1.5 to 2 hour drive away.
• Dunnottar Castle – A dramatically sited ruined medieval fortress on the coast. About a 2 to 2.5 hour drive from Edinburgh.
• Balmoral Castle – Built for Queen Victoria and now the private Scottish residence of King Charles III. The grounds and certain rooms are open at certain times of year. About a 2.5-hour drive away.

All of these charge admission, of course. If you plan to visit several castles and historic sites, the Historic Scotland Explorer Pass can be good value: it covers entry to over 70 Historic Scotland sites (including Edinburgh, Stirling, Blackness, Craigmillar, and Doune castles) and is valid for 14 consecutive days. Current prices are £48 for an adult, £39 concession, £29 for a child (7 to 15), and £100 for a family. You can also join the National Trust for Scotland for free entry to their properties. Most castles have seasonal hours and some close in winter, so check ahead. We have visited loads of castles in Scotland, so if you want a recommendation for a particular area or type, ask us in the comments.

What We’d Skip, and Common Day-Trip Mistakes

After years of doing these trips ourselves, here is the advice we wish more guides gave you.

The biggest mistake we see is trying to do too much in one day. Loch Ness and the Isle of Skye in a single day from Edinburgh is less a day trip than a coach marathon with a few photo stops, and you will spend most of it in a seat. If you want the Highlands, give them an overnight, or accept that a day tour to Glen Coe and Loch Ness is mostly about the journey and the scenery rather than time on the ground.

If you are car-free and short on time, don’t feel you have to chase the famous far-flung names. A direct train to North Berwick, Stirling, or Linlithgow will give you a fuller, more relaxed day than a rushed dash north. We would take a calm day in North Berwick over a frantic Highlands day tour any time you are weighing the two.

A few more things we have learned. Book the popular tours early, as the Loch Ness and Highlands tours, the Outlander filming tour, and the Jacobite steam train can sell out weeks ahead in summer. Watch the seasons and the daylight, since many castles and outdoor attractions have reduced winter hours, and Highland day trips in winter mean driving home in the dark. And do not underestimate Edinburgh itself, as we regularly hear from visitors who did so many day trips that they barely saw the city they came for. Two or three full days in Edinburgh first, then a day trip or two, is the balance we would aim for.

 

Tips for Planning Day Trips from Edinburgh

Here are our tips for planning day trips from Edinburgh, organized by how you plan to travel.

 

Driving Tips

If you are driving, try to avoid rush hour when leaving or returning to Edinburgh on a weekday. Morning rush hour is normally about 7:30am to 9:30am, and the afternoon about 4:00pm to 6:00pm. Check road conditions and traffic at Traffic Scotland.

When planning day trips, we recommend sticking to places within about a 2.5-hour drive of the city. Any further and you spend half the day driving and see much less. Take daylight hours into account too, as you have far fewer in winter.

If you need to hire a car for your trip, we use Discover Cars to compare rental prices across companies in Edinburgh. New to driving in the UK? See our tips for driving in the UK and for single-track roads.

For taxis and private transfers, Uber is available in Edinburgh and Glasgow but not widely elsewhere in Scotland, and Bolt operates in Edinburgh. Outside the two main cities you will need local taxi companies. We often used minicabit to compare fares when we lived in the area.

 

Public Transport Tips

We recommend the Traveline website for planning UK public-transport journeys, especially multi-leg trips where you are not sure which bus or train to take.

If you are traveling by coach, note that there are several bus stations in Edinburgh, but most companies start and end at the Edinburgh Bus Station (also known as St. Andrew Square bus station) on Elder Street. You can often buy bus tickets online through National Express or the local operator, while others are bought in person or from the driver (contactless payment is now widely accepted).

There are two main train stations in central Edinburgh. The main one, where most trains arrive and depart, is Waverley Station, and there is also Haymarket Station, which handles a lot of commuter traffic, so be sure you know which one you need. If you plan to do a lot of trips by train or bus, we recommend booking accommodation within walking distance of Waverley or Haymarket to make your travel days easier. And if you want to visit more than one place in a day, check routes and schedules in advance, as services are not frequent in some areas.

 

Tour Tips

For day-tour operators in Edinburgh, we can recommend Edinburgh-based Rabbie’s, whose small-group tours we have used and enjoyed. You can also browse a wider selection of tours on GetYourGuide and Viator. If you enjoy your tour, a small gratuity for your guide or driver is appreciated, though not required.

 

General Planning Tips

It rains a lot in Scotland and can be windy, so bring rain gear, warm layers, and practical shoes, and check the forecast before you set out. Don’t let bad weather stop you, just be prepared.

For places further afield, such as the Isle of Skye or the northern Highlands, we strongly recommend an overnight or multi-day trip. Many operators such as Rabbie’s offer overnight tours from Edinburgh to more far-flung parts of Scotland and England.

Finally, allow enough time for Edinburgh itself. If you have worked through the top things to do in Edinburgh, also check out our list of lesser-known things to do. For more ideas elsewhere, see our guides to day trips from Glasgow and day trips from Inverness.

 

Books & Planning Resources

If you like to plan with a guidebook, we recommend Rick Steves Scotland, which has good practical coverage of Edinburgh and the day-trip regions in this guide, from the Borders to the Highlands. For hiring a car, we compare prices at Discover Cars, and for accommodation near Waverley or Haymarket (handy if you are doing trips by train), we use Booking.com.

 

Frequently Asked Questions About Day Trips from Edinburgh

What are the best day trips from Edinburgh without a car?

Several of our recommended day trips are easy to reach by direct train or bus. North Berwick (for the Scottish Seabird Centre and the beach) is about 25 minutes by train. Glasgow is under an hour. Stirling is about 45 minutes, Linlithgow about 20 minutes, and Dunfermline about 30 minutes, all direct.

For the Scottish Borders, take the Borders Railway to Galashiels or Tweedbank. For destinations that are harder to reach by public transport, such as Loch Ness or Glen Coe, a guided day tour from Edinburgh is the best option.

What is the best day trip from Edinburgh for first-time visitors to Scotland?

Our pick for a first visit is a guided day tour that combines Glen Coe and Loch Ness, which covers a lot of ground and gives you a taste of the classic Scottish scenery of lochs, hills, and glens in a single day.

If you would rather stay closer and keep the day relaxed, we would choose Stirling Castle combined with the Kelpies, or an easy train trip to North Berwick. Both work well by public transport or car.

Is it better to rent a car or take a tour for day trips from Edinburgh?

For closer destinations like Glasgow, St. Andrews, North Berwick, Stirling, Linlithgow, and Dunfermline, public transport works well and you do not need a car or a tour at all.

For remote destinations like Loch Ness, Glen Coe, and the Highlands, a guided tour is usually the most practical choice, as it saves you 7 to 8 hours of driving in a single day. If you want full flexibility to stop where you like, hiring a car gives you the most freedom (we compare prices at Discover Cars), but remember that Scotland drives on the left and some roads are narrow.

How many days do you need in Edinburgh before doing day trips?

We recommend at least 2 full days exploring Edinburgh itself before venturing out. The city has a lot to offer, from the main attractions to lesser-known things to do. If you have 3 or more days, that is a good point to start thinking about a day trip or two.

Can you visit the Scottish Highlands as a day trip from Edinburgh?

Yes, but the Highlands are a large region and a day trip will involve a lot of driving or time on a bus. Places like Glen Coe (about 3 hours’ drive) and Loch Ness (3.5 to 4.5 hours’ drive) are possible as day trips, but you will only get a taste rather than explore in depth.

We would strongly recommend joining a guided tour or planning an overnight if you have the time. For the Isle of Skye or the far north, a day trip from Edinburgh is not practical.

What is the best time of year for day trips from Edinburgh?

The main tourism season runs from April to September, when you have the longest daylight, the most attractions open, and the best chance of decent weather. May, June, and September tend to be the sweet spot, with good conditions and fewer crowds than July and August (when Edinburgh’s festivals are in full swing).

That said, Scotland is worth visiting year-round, and a clear winter day can be a wonderful time to explore without the crowds. Just note that some attractions, especially castles and outdoor sites, close or reduce hours in winter (October to March).

Do you need to book day tours from Edinburgh in advance?

We recommend booking ahead, especially in the peak summer months (June to August) and around holidays. Popular tours like the Loch Ness and Highlands tour, the Outlander filming tour, and the Jacobite steam train experience can sell out days or weeks in advance.

In quieter months you may be able to book a day or two before, but it is always safer to book ahead to guarantee your spot.

 

Final Thoughts on Day Trips from Edinburgh

Edinburgh is one of the best bases in the UK for day trips, with everything from a 25-minute train to the seaside at North Berwick to a full day in the Highlands within reach. Our advice is simple: match the trip to the time and transport you actually have, lean on the easy car-free wins when you are short on either, and save the far-flung Highland names for a tour or an overnight so they feel like a treat rather than a slog.

Have you done any day trips from Edinburgh? If so, tell us about your experience and how you planned it in the comments below, and feel free to ask us any questions.