Last Updated on September 14, 2025
Anyone who visits Scotland gets curious.
Curious about the history. Curious about the traditions. And ultimately curious about what else the country has to offer.
While Auld Reekie is a destination in its own right, there is an ubiquitous pull to explore further and make some exciting day trips from Edinburgh.
Nearby is Scotland’s first National Park, a loch defined by a mysterious sea monster, a UNESCO City of Music, and many more places that retell the histories of this verdant green land.
Best of all, most of them can be accessed with a rental car, public transport, or guided tour, which I’ve broken down in this blog post. Each day trip is broken down with what to expect and what you need to know before heading out.
These are the eleven most magical and best day trips from Edinburgh.
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Edinburgh Day Trips At A Glance
1. Loch Ness
2. Stirling
3. Rosslyn Chapel, Hadrian’s Wall, and Melrose Abbey
4. Pitlochry
5. St. Andrews
6. Cairngorms National Park
7. Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park
8. Glasgow
9. Aberdeen
10. Pentland Hills
11. Jacobite Steam Train (via guided tour only) *see why in day trip notes
Best Day Trips From Edinburgh Without A Car?
Stirling, St. Andrews, Rosslyn Chapel, North Berwick, Glasgow, Pitlochry, Aberdeen, and Pentland Hills.
Urquhart Castle pictured along Loch Ness
1. Loch Ness
In a nutshell: Scotland’s largest lake by volume is home to a legendary mythical creature.
Distance from Edinburgh: 169 miles (272 km); 3.5 hours self-drive; 5 hours by public transit.
Dating back to ancient times, a large marine creature with a long neck and flippers was believed to inhabit the waters of Loch Ness.
It was largely associated with Scottish folklore until the 1930s. An alleged sighting and the famous “surgeon’s photograph” took the monster from local lore to an international sensation. Since then, millions of people, including monster hunters, have visited Loch Ness for their chance to spot the infamous “Nessie”, or Loch Ness Monster.
Which is why Loch Ness is one of the most popular day trips from Edinburgh.
There are many ways to enjoy a day trip to Loch Ness, including a boat tour, a brave dip in its cold waters, and sightseeing around Urquhart Castle. Stop at the Loch Ness Centre and Exhibition in Drumnadrochit to learn more about the stories of the legendary monster.
How To Get To Loch Ness
Whether you have a car or not, this is an ambitious day coming from Edinburgh, but a juice well worth the squeeze.
Independently: If you have your own set of wheels, it’s about a 3.5-hour drive to the lake to the northern access point, Inverness. Fort Augustus is the access point in the south. Get driving directions.
Public transport: The quickest way to get to Loch Ness is by first catching the train from Edinburgh to Inverness on ScotRail. Standard adult tickets go for £59 ($76 USD) per person one way and take around four hours. From there, catch a direct bus to Loch Ness with Scottish City Link. It takes about 50 minutes and costs £17 ($22 USD) for a round-trip ticket.
Guided tour: There are many guided day tours to Loch Ness from Edinburgh linked below, which include some additional stops in the Highlands worth seeing. It’s a jam-packed day, but a riveting one, and the cost is typically cheaper than taking public transit if you want to save some money.
Stirling Castle perched on its theoretical verdant throne
2. Stirling
In a nutshell: A gateway city that helped shape Scotland’s national identity through numerous battles, freedom fighters, and a castle built for royalty.
Distance from Edinburgh: 40 miles (65 km); 1 hour self-drive; 1 hour by public transit.
The town of Stirling serves as the gateway between the Scottish Highlands and Lowlands. There is plenty to see here, but the history of Scottish independence is the foundational history here, relived through many historic sites and monuments.
You’ll inevitably walk through Old Town, which has medieval streets, cafes, and a wee bit of shops. Don’t miss the fairytale Stirling Old Bridge going over the River Forth.
The main thing to see here is Stirling Castle. It’s one of the most historic castles in Scotland, which was home to many famous royal figures like Mary Queen of Scots, James IV, and James V. It also played a pivotal role in the Wars of Scottish Independence. Get tickets.
The Wallace Monument pays homage to William Wallace, a Scottish knight who famously fought for Scotland’s freedom. He was portrayed by Mel Gibson in the film Braveheart. Visit the Battle of Bannockburn Site to see where Robert the Bruce secured Scottish independence in 1314.
Travel tip | If you’re a Game of Thrones or Monty Python and the Holy Grail Fan, Doune Castle is a nearby filming location from Stirling if you want to visit another castle during your trip.
How To Get to Stirling
Stirling isn’t very far from Edinburgh, so it’s a solid day trip whether you have your rental car or not.
Independently: Stirling is a straightforward drive from Edinburgh. Head east via A985 and cross the famous Forth Bridge on your way, then continue to Stirling. Get driving directions.
Public transport: It’s a straight shot to Stirling aboard ScotRail. Round-trip tickets only cost about £20 ($27 USD) per person, and it takes about 50 minutes to get there. The train drops you off in the city center and the castle is a short walk from there.
Guided tour: The only guided day trips to Stirling from Edinburgh include a few other stops in the area, like Loch Lomond and The Kelpies. Luckily, these are other day trips I mention in this list, so if you want to kill two birds with one stone, check those tours out below.
The exterior of Rosslyn Chapel
3. Rosslyn Chapel, Hadrian’s Wall & Melrose Abbey
In a nutshell: A world-famous chapel featured in the Da Vinci Code, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that serves as one of the Romans’ largest frontiers, and prime Gothic architecture in Scotland that is the burial place of Robert the Bruce’s heart.
Distance from Edinburgh: 205 miles (330 km); 5.5 hours self-drive round trip; varies by public transit
Each of these destinations is easily combined well-rounded day trip around the Scottish Borders.
Rosslyn Chapel, known historically as the Collegiate Church of St. Matthew, was founded in the 15th century by Sir William Sinclair of Orkney. He employed over forty craftsmen to adorn the chapel in complex and ornate carvings, which were inspired by his travels through France.
Carved Biblical figures, Green Men (pagan gods of Christianity), geometric patterns, flora, and fauna are all over the church, some of which pose interesting questions. Some believe they have hidden meanings, and many myths and legends have been attached to the chapel because of the curiosities inside it. One of the most popular is that it’s the site of the Holy Grail.
Hadrian’s Wall was the north-west frontier of the Roman Empire for nearly 300 years. Emperor Hadrian visited Britain in 122 AD, and commanded that this wall be built to separate his empire from the “barbarians”. It’s a prominent figure of northern Britain today, so you will cross the border to see it.
Melrose Abbey was founded by David I in 1136, and it was Scotland’s first Cistercian monastery. At the time, it was one of Scotland’s richest and most powerful abbeys. Today, it boasts magnificent ruins where you can walk the same steps as the monks.
How To Get There
Independently: The best way to execute this day trip from Edinburgh is with your own set of wheels. Drive south out of Edinburgh, taking the A701. It takes 25 minutes to get to the chapel. From there, continue south on A701 for two hours until you reach Beattock, then take the A74 (M) the rest of the way to Gisland. To get to Melrose, take the A6 route that goes between the Kielder Forest and Northumberland National Park for the most scenic route that takes 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Public transit: Take Lothian Bus #37 from Edinburgh to Roslin. The ride is about 45-60 minutes and the chapel is only a short walk from the bus stop. From there, go to Melrose Abbey by taking the train to Tweedbank and walking to Melrose Abbey. From there, take the train to Carlisle or Hexham. Both are near sections of the wall. The AD122 Hadrian’s Wall Country Bus runs daily between Hexham and Haltwhistle and stops at major sites.
Guided tour: Some guided tours include all three of these stops, while others include two and another activity, so be sure to check the routes. See the top-rated tours below and view more on Viator.
A view of the region around Pitlochry
4. Pitlochry
In a nutshell: A small Victorian town that’s considered a gateway city to the Scottish Highlands.
Distance from Edinburgh: 71 miles (114 km); 1 hour and 30 minutes self-drive; 1 hour and 50 minutes public transit
Queen Victoria’s doctor once claimed the air in Pitlochry was good for the queen’s health, and since then, it’s been a popular weekend trip from major cities in Scotland.
Today, it makes an ideal basecamp for exploring the nearby Cairngorms National Park, but people come for more than just nature access.
Notable things to do here are to tour the Blair Athol Distillery, one of the oldest working malt whisky distilleries in Scotland, visit Blair Castle & Gardens, see the Dunfallandy Stone, catch a show at the Pitlochry Festival Theater, and see the Pitlochry Fish Ladder, and go shopping in town.
For nature lovers, a hike up Ben Vrackie is a straightforward and moderate to difficult walk up to a scenic vista. Nearby Killiecrankie is famous for one of the goriest battles in Jacobite history. The Killiecrankie Gorge Trail is short and sweet, with plenty of scenic viewpoints.
How To Get To Pitlochry
Independently: The quickest way to Pitlochry is via the M90 and A9, which goes north from Edinburgh across the Firth of Forth. The drive takes about 1.5 hours. Get driving directions.
Public transit: The train is the best way to get to Pitlochry without a car. It’s a bit longer of a ride and averages around two hours to get there. Round-trip train tickets cost on average £60 ($81 USD), but can be cheaper depending on the times you book. Find tickets on ScotRail.
Guided tour: There are no guided tours from Edinburgh that only visit Pitlochry. It’s best done as a self-guided day trip with your own car or public transport.
the sprawling coastline in St. Andrews
5. St. Andrews
In a nutshell: Seaside town northeast of Edinburgh known as the birthplace of 18-hole golf.
Distance from Edinburgh: 52 miles (84 km); 1 hour 15 minutes self-drive; 1 hour 30 minutes public transport
St. Andrews may be a tiny coastal town, but it’s one of the most famous places in Scotland for many reasons. It’s known to the world as the birthplace of golf, but it’s also home to Scotland’s oldest university, impressive medieval ruins, and a famous beach that’s been featured in movies.
Golf has been played in Scotland for upwards of 600 years. The Old Golf Course in the heart of the town is where the rules of the game were shaped, and for that reason, it’s one of the most iconic and prestigious courses in the world. It’s still a public course, but on Sundays it closes to the public and you can set up a picnic or roam the holes.
The University of St. Andrews is the third oldest in the English-speaking world, and has been a center for learning and debate since it was founded in 1413. It’s most famously known as where Prince William and Kate Middleton met as students, but many philosophers, royalty, and politicians are alumni here.
St. Andrews Cathedral was once the largest church in Scotland before it fell into ruin. West Sands Beach is a famous sweeping stretch of coastline along the golf course, and despite being steeped with ancient allure, the university keeps the atmosphere youthful and the restaurants hip.
It’s a bite-sized, easily walkable town that’s a perfect day trip from Edinburgh.
How To Get To St. Andrews
Independently: The fastest route from Edinburgh to St. Andrews is via the A92 that crosses the Firth of Forth and follows the eastern coastline to the town. It takes about an hour and 18 minutes with your own car. Get driving directions. With your own set of wheels, you can also include trips to the Fishing Villages of Fife.
Public transit: Every 30 minutes, there is a train departing Edinburgh Waverley to Leuchars. They cost £20 ($27 USD) for a round trip. Get tickets on ScotRail. From there, you’ll take Bus 77 from the rail station to Kinburn Park. The whole trip will take about an hour and a half one way.
Guided tour: There are many great guided day trips from Edinburgh to St. Andrews. See the top-rated tours below.
Prince Albert’s Cairn is just outside of Balmoral Castle in the Cairngorms National Park
6. Cairngorms National Park
In a nutshell: The largest national park in the United Kingdom with heather moor, munros, lochs, and a network of trails that weave throughout them.
Distance from Edinburgh: 75 miles (120 km); 1 hour and 30 minutes self-drive; 4 hours and 5 minutes by public transit (varies by route)
Cairngorm National Park was established in 2003, but the lore of this massive nature dates back to ancient times. It’s home to the top five highest peaks in Great Britain, the Balmoral Estate, and sprawling verdant lands rife with outdoor activities.
Sir David Attenborough called Rothiemurchus “one of the glories of wild Scotland”. This treasured area has a hairy coo safari, where you can see these famous cows up close. Loch an Eilein is a scenic trail that features castle ruins a top of a lake, and there are many other trails to check out here.
For a real hiking adventure, look to the five largest peaks: Ben Macdui, Cairn Gorm, Cairn Lochan, Beinn Mheadhoin, and Derry Cairngorm. All of these can be completed as day hikes, and some routes include multiple peaks if you want an all-day adventure.
The Balmoral Estate has been the Highland home of the British Royal family since 1852. It’s open seven days a week, but it closes if the Royal family is in Scotland, so be mindful of that. Tickets cost £18.50 ($25 USD). You can also book afternoon tea here, which I highly recommend.
Near the Balmoral is Prince Albert’s Cairn, an elusive pyramid in the middle of the Cairngorms. It was erected by Queen Victoria in 1862 after her first love’s passing. Given the backdrop and the sheer oddity of it, it’s a really interesting stop while exploring the park. It’s less than a 2-mile walk to get to the cairn and back.
How To Get To Cairngorms National Park
Independently: The best way to get to the park is with a rental car. Following the M90 and A9 north, it takes about 1.5 hours to get to Killiecrankie, a small town at the park’s southern border.
Public transit: There are multiple ways to access the Cairngorms National Park via public transit. These are the train stations within the park: Blair Atholl, Dalwhinnie, Newtonmore, Kingussie, Aviemore and Carrbridge. Do note that it’s tricky to get around the park without your own set of wheels, so you may be limited to how much you can do and see in a day. Get tickets on National Rail.
Guided tour: It’s rare to find a guided tour to the Cairngorms from Edinburgh, but there are some from Inverness worth considering down below. Keep in mind that many don’t actually do anything significant in the park, and it’s just a stop along the way. Read the tour descriptions so you know what to expect and aren’t disappointed. Also, you’ll need to find transport to Inverness from Edinburgh, which is around a 3.5-hour journey by train.
The view along the banks of Loch Lomond
7. Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park
In a nutshell: The largest lake in Scotland by surface area is surrounded by a nature area chock-full of hiking routes, scenery, and history.
Distance from Edinburgh: 74 miles (119 km); 1 hour and 30 minutes self-drive; 2 hours by public transit
Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park is like if Loch Ness and The Cairngorms had a just as cool little sister. It’s often coined as the “Highlands in Miniature”, and for that reason, it’s a perfect day trip for nature lovers who want to get out of the city and see Scotland’s rugged countryside.
The loch is on the fault line that divides the Lowlands from the Highlands, so you get rolling verdant hills and woodlands in the south that blend seamlessly into the dramatic, narrow gorges and munros (mountains) in the north. Together, they create Scotland’s first National Park.
Notable lochs here are Loch Katrine, Loch Achray, and Loch Ard. Mountains like Ben A’an, Ben Venue, and Ben Ledi have popular walking trails with sweeping vistas. Ben Lomond overlooks the eastern edge of Loch Lomond and has a huge wow-factor at the top. Bike rentals and loch cruises can be booked on Loch Lomond or Katrine in Balloch and Tarbet, the two main gateway cities with access to the park.
How To Get To Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park
Independently: Balloch and Tarbet are two main entry points into the park, but you can access certain hikes in Callander. Depending on what you’re doing, you’ll enter through one of those three towns. Take the M9 west from Edinburgh and follow the A84 to Callander, or follow the M8 through Glasgow to access Balloch and Tarbet. Both drives take about an hour and a half.
Public transit: Take the train from Edinburgh Waverley to Queen Street Station in Glasgow. From Queen Street, take another train to Balloch. The journey takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes one way and costs around £45 ($60 USD).
Guided tour: Most guided tours of Loch Lomond include other areas of the Highlands and don’t do an in-depth tour of the loch and the National Park. Depending on the type of tour, it may leave a lot to be desired, which is why I recommend a rental car for a day trip to Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park. On most trips they only stop to take a photo of the lake and don’t include any hikes in the area.
a view from one of the side streets in Glasgow
8. Glasgow
In a nutshell: Scotland’s largest city is known for its people and creative, vibrant culture. It’s a UNESCO City of Music and boasts superb Victorian and Gothic architecture.
Distance from Edinburgh: 48 miles (77 km); 1 hour and 5 minutes self-drive; 58 minutes on public transit
Glasgow is best known for its people. So much so that the city slogan is “People Make Glasgow” because of how they shaped the city and the direct impact that had on its culture.
It was a powerhouse during the Industrial Revolution, but declined in the 20th century and faced unemployment and urban decay as the shipbuilding and heavy industries collapsed. But because of the people, the city was transformed from a post-industrial cloud to a vibrant city recognized for music, arts and culture.
There are a lot of interesting things to do here, including the Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Glasgow Cathedral, the main shopping street called Buchanan, the Glasgow University Cloisters, the weekends-only Barras Market, and the Finnich Glen to Devil’s Pulpit Hike if you have your own car to get to the hike.
For food, look to the Michelin Bib Gourmand and recommendations to start. Instead of having a star distinction, they’re selected for cooking techniques and their value, so you can get great food, but not with the egregious price tags. Go to Ocho and Zennor for coffee and Copperbox Coffee for something fun.
How To Get To Glasgow
Edinburgh and Glasgow are so well connected that it’s not necessary to have your own set of wheels to day trip from Edinburgh.
The fastest and easiest way to get to Glasgow is by taking the train. It takes a little less than an hour and costs around £33 ($45 USD) for round-trip tickets. Purchase tickets directly on the ScotRail website for the best prices.
Guided tours: While there aren’t any tours that take you from Edinburgh to Glasgow, there are plenty in the city when you arrive. See the top-rated tours below.
the vibrant blue shoreline near Aberdeen
9. Aberdeen
In a nutshell: The third largest city in Scotland with a rich history, an emerging culinary scene, and unique character.
Distance from Edinburgh: 127 miles (204 km); 2 hours and 25 minutes self-drive; 3 hours and 15 minutes by public transport
Aberdeen is a wonderful coastal city with enough things to do to fill a full day trip from Edinburgh. It’s dubbed as “The Granite City” or “The Silver City” due to most of the city’s buildings being made with this pretty stone.
The Aberdeen Harbor is teeming with wildlife like bottlenose dolphins, puffins, and, more spectacularly, basking sharks. You can take cruises with Aberdeen Harbor Tours. One is an hour tour of the harbor (£40 per person; $54 USD) and the other is a coastal tour that lasts two hours and costs £80 ($108 USD).
Things to see in town include the Aberdeen Art Gallery, Duthie Park, Old Aberdeen, Provost Skene’s House, and the oldest bridge in Scotland, Brig o’ Balgownie.
Café Bohème and Amuse by Kevin Dalgleish are two excellent restaurants to consider for dinner. More great options are The City Bar and Diner, Moonfish Cafe, and Cafe Harmony. Go to Cult of Coffee for a strong brew.
With your own car, consider visiting the nearby Dunnottar Castle, Newburgh Seal Beach, Balmedie Beach, and any stone circle like Sunhoney, East Aquhorthies, or Loanhead of Daviot. It’s not well known that Aberdeen has 10% of the total number of stone circles found in Great Britain. Many of them date back millennia and come with intriguing stories.
How To Get To Aberdeen
Independently: The quickest way to get to Aberdeen is by self-driving. Take the M90 and A9 north over the Firth of Forth through Dundee, and it’ll take 2.5 hours to get there. Get driving directions.
Public transit: The best way to get to Aberdeen using public transport is by taking an Ember bus. They’re fully electric buses with all the modern amenities. Best of all, they’re affordable with an abundance of timetables, so you can maximize your day trip. Round-trip fares start at £33.60 ($45 USD) from Edinburgh City Center to Aberdeen City Center and take around 3.5 hours.
Guided tour: The best guided tours of Aberdeen are in the town itself. Any tours coming from Edinburgh do not visit Aberdeen exclusively, so it’s best to take public transit and join a tour when you get there.
one of the best viewpoints over the Pentland Hills
10. Pentland Hills
In a nutshell: A pretty regional park rife with hiking trails and views.
Distance from Edinburgh: 8 miles (13 km); 22 minutes self-drive; 1 hour and 30 minutes public transport
The Pentland Hills Regional Park is often an overlooked nature gem just a short ride south of Edinburgh. It has nine peaks that are over 1500 meters, which offer views of Edinburgh and the surrounding natural area.
Car parks around the area serve as trailheads for all different types of hikes and walks, so you’ll need to keep that in mind when planning your arrival. Know what trails you’re hiking and the corresponding car park.
The hiking trails are condensed over all the peaks, so it’s easy to connect trails if you’re feeling fit enough for a longer hike and want to see more. The Pentland Ridge Loop takes you to the viewpoint you see in the photo above and makes for a solid half-day trip to Carnethy Hill.
Another great example route would start by taking a Lothian Bus to Hillend. From there, hike up Caerketton Hill to Allermuir Peak. On the way, there are Highland Cows you can spot, and you’ll complete the loop trail through Swanston. See the map.
When you get hungry, visit the nearby Secret Herb Garden & Bistro for a pick-me-up. The Free Company is a farm-to-table restaurant nearby, Clubbiedean’s Coffee is an adorable place for a coffee near Currie, and Nat‘ A‘ Napoli serves the post-hike pizza of your dreams.
View more great hikes in the Pentland Hills here.
How To Get To The Pentland Hills
Independently: The quickest way to get to the Pentland Hills is with a rental car. Go south on the A702 and you’ll be there in about half an hour. Car parks here fill up rather quickly so get here early.
Public transit: There are a variety of Lothian Buses that serve the Pentland Hills area. It’s crucial for you to take the right bus to drop you off near the proper trailhead or car park.
Guided tour: If you’re not an experienced hiker, I recommend this guided tour with a local in the Pentland Hills.
The Jacobite Steam Train going over the Glenfinnan Viaduct
11. Jacobite Steam Train (via guided tour)
In a nutshell: World-famous railway journey featured in Harry Potter.
Distance from Edinburgh: 146 miles (235 km); 3 hours and 2 minutes via guided tour transfer.
I wouldn’t usually recommend making a day trip from Edinburgh to ride the Jacobite Steam Train, because if you book train tickets independently, a two-way ticket is required.
Which means you have to ride the train from Fort William to Mallaig. Wait. Then take the train back to Fort William. And factor in the drive to and from Edinburgh.
It’s time-consuming, and given the fact that Fort William is in the Highlands, there are better things you can do with your time than that. However, when I saw this Jacobite Steam Train tour, I knew I wanted to include it in this list because it’s the only way you can get a one-way ticket to ride the train.
For die-hard Harry Potter fans and people who want the opportunity to ride the train, this is huge. There is an upcharge since you’re taking private transport and making other stops along the way, but it can be worth it for some people who don’t want to miss this opportunity.
While you’re aboard, don’t forget to see the actual train cars they used to film the movies, and money for chocolate frogs!
If you have any other questions about visiting Scotland, please reach out! Otherwise, browse my other Scotland guides to help you plan your trip:
10 Tips For Traveling Scotland On A Budget
Best Coffee Shops In Edinburgh
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Great ideas. I had limited time last time I was in Edinburgh but did a day trip to Loch Ness. On the trip though, we passed Ben Nevis and also got to spend time at Urquhart castle on the banks of Loch Ness which was really good. Beautiful scenery the whole day.
Love this!! Such a great post, will be using for my trip to Scotland in January!
Thank you so much! I am glad you loved it! (: