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
Doune Castle
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
North Berwick Law
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
Going ape in the treetops near Peebles
Cable wakeboarding in Dunbar
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”
Make chocolate with a world master at Cocoa Black
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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:
- 10 best free things to do and see in Edinburgh
- Edinburgh’s best LGBTQ hotspots
- The best restaurants in Edinburgh
- The finest architecture in Edinburgh
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.
