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You can take any number of day trips from Edinburgh in any direction to find action-packed adventures, gorgeous natural scenery and plenty of fulfilment for history buffs and foodies.

Public transport in the region is plentiful and very efficient if you’re taking day trips from Edinburgh without a car. Otherwise, you can always hire a vehicle and start exploring for yourself. You’ll be rewarded with sightseeing and activities for all ages and virtually all tastes. Let’s highlight some of the most interesting things to do and see in the region.

Historical and cultural day trips from Edinburgh

You can easily reach two of Scotland’s prominent historical attractions from Edinburgh, with plenty of time to spend at each.

Rosslyn Chapel

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Distance from Edinburgh: Approx. 40 minutes by car or 1 hour by bus.

Price: around £9.50 for adults, under-18s free in a family group.

Expert Tip: Don’t miss the ultra-modern Visitors’ Centre that displays the chapel’s history.

Rosslyn Chapel is famed for its unique and enigmatic carvings. Virtually every surface has carved stonework with texts that celebrate nature, convey moral messages and tell Bible stories. Parking is free, and you can relax at the attached coffee shop.

Doune Castle

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Distance from Edinburgh: Approx. 50 minutes by car or 2 hours by train/bus combination.

Price: Around £10 for adults, £8 for children under 16 (accompanied by an adult).

What to wear or bring: Your camera to capture the famous film locations.

Expert Tip: Visit the Musician’s Gallery in the Duke’s Hall.

History meets fantasy at Doune Castle. It was the seat of “Scotland’s uncrowned king”, Robert Stewart – the Duke of Albany – in the 14th century and is partly ruined, partly restored. The castle featured as an important place in numerous series and movies.

Most beautiful one-day hikes from Edinburgh

It doesn’t take long to escape urban Edinburgh into the scenic Scottish countryside, where you’ll find many beautiful unspoilt hiking trails. You can choose from a full spectrum of novice to expert walks. You can drive there or take these day trips from Edinburgh by train.

Pentland Hills

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Distance from Edinburgh: Approx. 40 minutes by car or 20 minutes by train.

Price: Free.

What to wear or bring: A good pair of hiking boots, water and trail snacks.

Expert Tip: You don’t have to stick to the trails – feel free to safely explore the wilderness.

The Pentland Hills offer some of the best mountain ridge walks, with a number of routes like Carnethy Hill and the Kips. These are easy hikes for kids, too. Allermuir Hill has exceptional panoramic views, while Scald Law presents a more advanced hiking challenge.

North Berwick Law

Windsurfers riding the turbulent waves along a broad beach lined with residences and tree groves.

Distance from Edinburgh: Approx. 35 minutes by car or 1 hour by train.

Price: Free.

What to wear or bring: Hiking gear and warm clothes outside the summer season.

Expert Tip: Keep an eye out for the replica whale jawbones in the summit area.

Head east to the seaside, where you’ll find the ancient volcanic hills of North Berwick Law. Originally formed from Ice Age glaciers, you can gaze across the ocean to Bass Rock from the highest point, and even glimpse Edinburgh in the distance. There are also relics of WWII look-out posts to explore.

Adrenaline-filled day trips from Edinburgh

You’ll find plenty of enthralling adventure activities on a day trip from Edinburgh, from physical challenges to fun-filled activities for the whole family to enjoy.

Mountain biking in Glentress Forest

A man bikes on an unpaved pathway in the middle of tall trees in a forest.

Distance from Edinburgh: Approx. 1 hour by car or 1h 30min by bus.

Price: Free, with all-day parking for £5.

What to wear or bring: Cycling gear and your bike (or hire one there).

Expert Tip: Enjoy a top-class meal of local produce at Glentress Peel Café.

Glentress is one of the award-winning mountain biking trails that make up the hugely popular 7stanes trail group. There are routes suitable for everyone, from novices to experts. You can also hone your technique at a skills training area.

Going ape in the treetops near Peebles

A young woman joyfully traverses a zip line, laughing and enjoying the thrilling adventure, with the natural surroundings beautifully blurred in the background.

Distance from Edinburgh: Approx. 1 hour by car or 1h 30min by bus.

Price: Treetop Challenge around £35 / Zip Line Experience around £25.

What to wear or bring: Outdoor or athletic clothing, plus a little courage.

Expert Tip: Look out for families of red squirrels in the forest.

The Go Ape treetop adventure course offers two exciting choices. The Zip Line Experience is an epic zip line ride through the forest, suitable for all ages. Or take on the more strenuous Treetop Challenge; you’ll climb high ropes, traverse gorges on a Tarzan swing and zipline much faster.

Cable wakeboarding in Dunbar

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Distance from Edinburgh: Approx. 40 minutes by car or 1 hour by bus.

Price: starting at £18 for 15 minutes.

What to wear or bring: Swimwear, sunblock and a hat. Wetsuits provided.

Expert Tip: Wear closed shoes that you don’t mind getting wet.

Head to Foxlake Adventures in Dunbar for cable wakeboarding – a thrilling combination of wakeboarding and zip lining . You can also attempt a rope course suspended above the water.

Delicious day trips from Edinburgh

Foodies have lots to seek out in the surrounding areas of Edinburgh. Two destinations, in particular, are highly recommended.

Taste Glenkinchie, the classic “Edinburgh Malt”

Two men looking at wooden barrels inside a distillery.

Distance from Edinburgh: Approx. 40 minutes by car or 1 hour by bus.

Price: around £19 per adult including 3 tastings / £9.50 for under 18s (without the tastings).

What to wear or bring: A clean, fresh palate.

Expert Tip: The distillery offers a daily minibus shuttle from the centre of Edinburgh.

Set in barley fields, the Glenkinchie Distillery produces a lowland whisky known as “Edinburgh Malt”, due to its proximity to the city. You can tour the distillery itself and its model exhibition and museum. It’s great for families with kids, as there’s lots for them to see while you sample a drop or two.

Make chocolate with a world master at Cocoa Black

A chef using a piping bag to fill moulds.

Distance from Edinburgh: Approx. 40 minutes by car or 1h 10min by bus.

Price: Free to visit / Classes start at £70.

What to wear or bring: Sensible shoes and your own apron if you like.

Expert Tip: The Chocolate Pâtisserie is the height of indulgence here.

Cocoa Black, in Peebles, is a pilgrimage site for international chocolatiers and chocolate lovers alike. It’s where you can see and taste the incredible craft of Ruth Hinks, Scotland’s UK World Chocolate Master. You can even book classes with her and learn to make your own truffles, ganache and praline.


The perfect day trip from Edinburgh, by Marc Pienaar

One of my very favourite excursions is a day trip to Loch Ness from Edinburgh. This route encompasses Scotland’s most popular natural attractions and showcases the country’s history. It’s one of the most fascinating day trips from Edinburgh.

Falkirk

A tiny boat is moored on a boardwalk against the Falkirk Wheel, a spinning boat lift connecting canals on opposing sides of the region. 

Start your day trip early! Leave Edinburgh at around 07:00 am, first travelling through a region steeped in Scottish folklore, where the heroic tales of William Wallace still resonate. Between Falkirk and Grangemouth, look out for the largest equine sculptures in the world – the 30-metre-high horse heads known as the Kelpies. This leg takes about 35 minutes.

Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park

A highland cow on a rugged grassy hill with a view of steep rocky mountains.

Next, head to Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, roughly a 55-minute drive from Falkirk. Stop to appreciate the natural rock formations dating back around 600 million years. Or visit Duchray Castle, where the Scottish Robin Hood, Rob Roy, took refuge from the British Army in the 16th century. This route also makes a great Edinburgh to Loch Lomond day trip in itself.

Glencoe

Clear waters flow across a rocky stream between the grassy valleys.

You’ll now enter the fabled Scottish Highlands, filled with rugged mountains and lush forest glens. Glencoe is a great place to stop to admire the scenery and snap some memorable photos. It takes about 1hr 15min to reach the town, in time for a light snack at Clachaig Inn. You can make this its own day trip from Edinburgh to the Highlands too.

Ben Nevis

Two male hikers embark on an adventurous journey, descending a rugged stone path on the slope of a lush mountain.

Your next stop during this day trip from Edinburgh is Britain’s tallest mountain, Ben Nevis, near the town of Fort William, about a 30-minute drive on the A82. It’s roughly a 2-mile walk from the village to Ben Nevis Inn at the start of the trail – a perfect place to have lunch and admire the views.

Loch Ness

A young woman sits on a dock with a view of a  large freshwater lake surrounded by lush mountains.

Drive roughly another 40 minutes and you’ll reach Fort Augustus, on the southern tip of Loch Ness. You can spend about 1 hour at the loch, to make it back to Edinburgh by nightfall. Go on a boat cruise or just wander along its shores as you fancy.

Blair Castle and Gardens

Amidst the challenging conditions of mud and rain, a determined individual clad in a blue windbreaker emerges from a white car, equipped with a flask.

Choose a different route for your return trip, through Cairngorms National Park (about 1h 15min from St Augustus), and then along Loch Laggan to Blair Castle and Gardens in Perthshire (around an hour’s drive).

The Forth Bridge

The foreground vegetation is set against a massive body of water that is crossed by a three-tower cable-stayed bridge.

For the final leg back to Edinburgh, cross the Forth Bridge over the Firth of Forth, a UNESCO World Heritage structure. This stint will take roughly 1h 30min.


Discover more Edinburgh delights

We’ve only really scratched the surface of what the Edinburgh region offers. If you want to explore more, have a look at some other guides:

Fascinated with Edinburgh? Then discover what other magnificent places you can visit in Scotland, and don’t forget the breathtaking beaches.

Frequent questions about Day Trips from Edinburgh

Can you do a day trip to the Scottish Highlands from Edinburgh?

You can reach the Scottish Highlands from Edinburgh in under an hour on a Scotrail train to Stirling. A Scottish Citylink bus will take about 1h 30min. It’s roughly 50 minutes by car, leaving you lots of time to explore.

How to get to Isle of Skye from Edinburgh?

It’s about a 10-hour return drive and ferry trip to the Isle of Skye via Fort William, so you best budget more than a day. You can also catch a train to the town of Mallaig and then the ferry to Armadale on the isle. This takes around 9 hours each way.

How to explore Scotland from Edinburgh?

Edinburgh is well-placed for you to explore many different regions of Scotland. The most convenient and flexible way to sightsee is to hire a car; otherwise, public transport is comprehensive and reliable, whether by train, bus or ferry.

Can you do a day trip from Edinburgh to Glasgow?

Glasgow is close enough to take day trips from Edinburgh with plenty of time to sightsee and explore. You can drive there in under an hour, or catch a train taking about 50 minutes or a bus that takes roughly 1h 20min.

About the author

Marc PienaarBorn in South Africa, Marc adores discovery, from nature, history and world cultures, to forensic psychology and digital technology. His writing is coloured by his rich experiences as a professional touring musician, a combat medic and a business analyst. He loves rugby, random acts of kindness, the emptiness of the desert and cats.   Follow Mark onInstagram and Linkedin for more travel inspiration.

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