Day trips from Glasgow are filled with the promise of beautiful and rugged natural scenery, offering hikes, adventure activities for the whole family and cultural and historical experiences. You’ll also have the chance to sample a dram or two of the sought-after Scottish whiskies.
You won’t have any trouble finding trains in the region, so you don’t have to drive anywhere if you’d rather let someone else do that chore while you relax.
It’s equally easy to hire your own car, which will give you more independence and flexibility, as you won’t be reliant on train or bus schedules and their departure and arrival points.
Day trip to Belfast from Glasgow
Glasgow is close enough to Belfast to make a day trip out of it. It’s an excellent chance to drive through western Scotland and do some sightseeing. Alternatively, you can catch a bus all the way to the ferry across the Firth of Clyde, where it meets the Irish Sea.
Distance from Glasgow: Approx. 4 hours by car and ferry / 6 hours by bus and ferry.
Price: Around £40 total, including £26 for ferry.
What to wear or bring: Comfortable travelling clothes.
Expert Tip: Take some time to visit one of Scotland’s important cultural sites, the Burns Monument and Memorial Gardens, in Ayr.
To travel by bus, board at Glasgow Buchanan Station on the 923 Busferry Line. You’ll head south through the towns of Kilmarnock and Ayr, before passing through Girvan on the way to the Stena Terminal in Cairnryan. Here the bus will cross to Northern Ireland on a ferry to the Belfast Stena Line Terminus, arriving finally at Belfast Europa Bus Centre. You’ll follow the same route if you choose to drive.
If the weather is good and you’ve hired a car, spend a while at the seaside on the way. Ayr Beach is one of the most popular beaches in Scotland, especially for picnics and boating.
Three accessible hikes to do in one day from Glasgow
The region around Glasgow is a veritable hiker’s paradise. There are numerous hills and trails to explore, of varying difficulty. No matter whether you want a leisurely walk with your family or a strenuous hike to challenge your fitness, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
North Berwick Law
Distance from Glasgow: Approx. 1h 15min by car or 2 hours by train.
Price: Both the hiking trail and parking are free.
What to wear: Light hiking clothes and a hat, plus snacks or a picnic lunch – there’s no on-site restaurant or café.
Expert Tip: Don’t miss the replica whale jawbones at the highest point on the ridge.
While quite a way east, past Edinburgh, this is undoubtedly one of the best areas for hiking within a day trip of Glasgow. North Berwick Law is a set of volcanic hills eroded out of glaciers dating back to the Ice Age. From here you can see out over the North Sea to Bass Rock and explore old WWII lookout posts.
The Whangie
Distance from Glasgow: Approx. 30 minutes by car or 1h 10min by bus.
Price: No charge for the hike or for parking.
What to wear or bring: Good hiking or athletic gear plus waterproof hiking shoes.
Expert Tip: Approach this trail carefully, as it starts out on solid ground but can get muddy and slippery later on.
The Whangie is a very popular hiking spot, both for casual walking and among rock climbers. It’s a striking rock promontory that looks out over Loch Lomond, the Campsies and the Scottish Highlands countryside. The trail is a steep climb in places but is otherwise a pleasant hike.
The Pentland Hills
Distance from Glasgow: Approx. 1 hour by car or 2 hours by bus.
Price: The various hiking trails are free, as is parking
What to wear or bring: Proper hiking boots, trail snacks and water.
Expert Tip: If you’re an experienced hiker, you can safely deviate from the official trails.
This is arguably the best place to head for mountain ridge hikes with varying degrees of difficulty. Families with children can easily walk up to Carnethy Hill and along the Kips. If you’re after something more challenging, you can take on the Scald Law route. To be rewarded with stunning panoramic views, walk up Allermuir Hill.
Cities to visit on day trips from Glasgow by train
Scotland is quite a compact country, so it’s not far from Glasgow to some of the country’s other major cities. Here are two of the most significant.
Edinburgh
Distance from Glasgow: Approx. 50 minutes by train or 55 minutes by car.
Price: Around £14 for the train trip.
What to wear: Casual walking clothes for sightseeing.
Expert Tip: After arriving, enjoy a late Scottish breakfast at one of the best places for it in Edinburgh, Nobles Bar and Restaurant.
Edinburgh is the closest Scottish city to Glasgow. It’s a world-renowned centre of culture, known for attractions like Edinburgh Castle and the Scottish National Gallery and Portrait Gallery, arguably the most important in the country. It also has a bustling modern social scene, centred around the George Street district.
Stirling
Distance from Glasgow: Approx. 45 minutes by bus, or 35 minutes by train or car.
Price: Around £7 for a bus, £9 for a train.
What to bring: Binoculars and an appetite for history.
Expert Tip: See the interactive 3D displays at the Battle of Bannockburn Experience.
Stirling is a historic Scottish city built around the medieval Stirling Castle. The Abbey Craig outcrop where it’s located looks out over the site of the famous Battle of Stirling Bridge, which Scotland’s national hero, William Wallace, won against the English.
The three best day trips from Glasgow for whisky lovers
Whisky lovers won’t need a second invitation to tour some of the famed distilleries around Glasgow and sample their wares. There are at least three within easy reach of the city centre.
Blair Athol Distillery and Visitor Centre
Distance from Glasgow: Approx. 1h 30min by car or 1h 45min by bus.
Price: The basic Blair Athol Signature Tour costs around £17.
What to wear or bring: Just yourself.
Expert Tip: True whisky connoisseurs can taste six whiskies with a tutor for £40.
Blair Athol is one of the oldest legal whisky distilleries in Scotland. Situated in Pitlochry, it has its own ancient water source, the Allt Dour, that flows down from Ben Vrackie Mountain. It offers a variety of tasting tours and is open every day of the week.
Glengoyne Distillery
Distance from Glasgow: Approx. 20 minutes by car or 1 hour by bus.
Price: Starts at £18 for a casual tasting tour.
What to bring: A ready palate.
Expert Tip: On the Malt Master Experience, you’ll create a small bottle of your own personalised single malt to take home.
Glengoyne Distillery is one of the few original distilleries in Scotland that is still operating, having opened in 1833. It lies at the base of picturesque Dumgoyne Hill, and there’s a choice of whisky-tasting tours to enjoy.
Glenturret Distillery
Distance from Glasgow: Approx. 1 hour by car or 2h 45min by bus.
Price: around £15 for a distillery tour and a taste of its whisky.
What to bring: The whole family.
Expert Tip: Enjoy lunch at the on-site Glenturret Restaurant.
Glenturret Distillery is possibly the oldest in Scotland, starting out in 1763 as Thurot Distillery. It’s distinguished by its authentic hand-stirred mash tun with an open top. This is a family-friendly place, although children aren’t allowed on tasting tours.
The perfect day trip from Glasgow, by Marc Pienaar
One of the most interesting day trips from Glasgow by car, and a personal favourite, is to drive to Loch Ness. What I love about this route, besides its wonderful destination, is that it allows us to see some of the most notable natural and human-made tourist attractions in Scotland.
Loch Lomond
Get an early start to make sure you can fit in all the tourist attractions and be back in Glasgow in time for dinner. The first leg of the trip will take you to Loch Lomond. It’s about a 30-minute drive, most of it following the banks of the Clyde River. The lake is in Trossachs National Park, so spend some time exploring the area. You can also do a self-contained Glasgow to Loch Lomond day trip.
Glencoe
Continuing north, you’ll enter the fabled Scottish Highlands, known for its rugged countryside and stark beauty. Here, the Lowlands plains give way to mountains and valleys. You’ll be driving in the Breadalbane “High Country of Scotland”, characterised by heather fields and peat bogs, until you reach the town of Glencoe. This stretch takes roughly 1h 15min.
Fort William and Ben Nevis
Next, you’ll head to one of Scotland’s most famous natural wonders, Ben Nevis, the tallest mountain in Britain. It’s close to Fort William, from where you can take the short 2-mile walk to the start of the mountain trail at Nevis Bank Inn. Spend a while enjoying the views over lunch. The travel time from Glencoe is roughly 30 minutes.
Fort Augustus and Loch Ness
Now comes the highlight of this road trip, as you travel to Fort Augustus on the shores of Loch Ness. It’s only about a 40-minute drive, which will leave you plenty of time to explore the lake area or take a cruise out on the water. Budget about 1h 30min for this.
Pitlochry
You’ll take a slightly different route back, driving through quaint villages like Kincraig and Boat of Garten, before arriving in Pitlochry. This is a holiday town, so stop to visit its museums and grab something to eat and drink at Victoria’s Restaurant. It will take around 1h 45min from Loch Ness, and you’ll then drive for roughly another 1h 30min through Stirling into Glasgow.
Discover more of Glasgow
Glasgow City itself offers a treasure chest of activities, experiences and tourist attractions. Here’s some more information on what to see and do:
Frequent questions about Day Trips from Glasgow
Where should I go for a day trip from Glasgow?
If you’re not staying in Glasgow for long and need to choose a day trip from everything on offer, we recommend driving to Loch Ness. This will give you the chance to see a lot of the typical Scottish countryside and visit some of its most famous tourist attractions on the way. It’s about a 6-hour round-trip by car.
What is less than 2 hours from Glasgow?
Going to the Cairngorms Mountain Range makes for one of the most enjoyable day trips you can take within 2 hours of Glasgow. It’s in Cairngorms National Park, where you can go walking and cycling. You can enjoy water sports in summer and snow sports in winter or brave a bungee jump off a bridge. There are also several golf courses.
What is the prettiest place near Glasgow?
Loch Lomond is the usual nominee for this title. Surrounded by scenic hillsides, it’s as picture-perfect a place as you could wish for. Even the surrounding villages radiate unique Scottish charm with their age-old architecture.
Is Glasgow a day trip?
Depending on where you’re coming from, you can easily make Glasgow a day trip. It’s relatively close to the Scottish capital, Edinburgh; you can drive to Glasgow from there in about an hour, while a train takes roughly 50 minutes. This will give you plenty of time to explore this historic city on a day trip.
