15 best day trips from Edinburgh, Scotland

Edinburgh is one of my favourite cities to live in and visit, but half the joy of being based here is how easy it is to get out of the city for a day. Within an hour by car or train, you can be exploring a Royal palace, walking on a white-sand beach, climbing a volcano, touring a distillery, or wandering through 17th-century streets used as Outlander filming locations.

This is my locally-curated guide to 15 of the best day trips from Edinburgh. I’ve grouped them by direction so you can plan a logical itinerary, and I’ve included how to get there (with and without a car), what to do when you arrive, where to eat, and where to stay if you want to stretch the day into a weekend.

Everything below has been personally tried and tested.

At a glance

• Easiest by train (no car needed): North Berwick, Linlithgow, Stirling, Glasgow, St Andrews
• Best for castles & history: Linlithgow, Stirling, Rosslyn Chapel, Culross
• Best for the coast: North Berwick, Anstruther, St Abbs
• Best for the Highlands feel: Loch Lomond, Pitlochry, Dunkeld
• Best for Outlander fans: Culross, Linlithgow, Doune Castle
• Best for foodies: Anstruther (fish and chips), North Berwick (lobster), Pitlochry (whisky)
• Best with kids: The Kelpies & Falkirk Wheel, North Berwick, the Scottish Seabird Centre

East from Edinburgh

1. North Berwick: beaches, lobster and seabirds

North Berwick is East Lothian’s old-fashioned seaside resort and one of the loveliest day trips from Edinburgh. Two town beaches, a brilliant seabird centre, a harbour for boat trips out to Bass Rock, fish and chips on the seafront, and plenty of independent galleries and shops to wander between.

• Visit: Scottish Seabird Centre with live cameras on Bass Rock and the world’s largest gannet colony.
• Walk: Climb North Berwick Law (4.25 miles) for views to Edinburgh, the Forth Bridges and across to Fife.
• Eat at: The Lobster Shack on the harbour for fresh local lobster eaten on the harbour wall (they serve champagne too). Steampunk does excellent coffee just off the high street.
• Get there: 45 minutes by car east on the A1. Direct train from Edinburgh Waverley, 30 minutes. Book train tickets with trainline.com.
• Make it a weekend: Stay at the Marine North Berwick

Read more: my full guide to things to do in East Lothian and North Berwick.

2. St Abbs: sea cliffs, crab sandwiches, Avengers filming

The Borders coastal village of St Abbs is a thriving fishing harbour with six lobster boats bringing in daily catches of lobster and edible crabs (known locally as “Poos”). The cliffs and seabird colonies of St Abbs Head Nature Reserve are extraordinary, and the village itself stood in for “New Asgard” in Avengers: Endgame.

• Visit: St Abbs Head Nature Reserve, one of the best clifftop walks on Scotland’s east coast.
• Eat at: Ebb Carrs Café for crab sandwiches with a sea view.
• Get there: 1 hour east of Edinburgh by car. Perryman’s Bus 253 from Edinburgh, or the 235 from Berwick-upon-Tweed.
• Make it a weekend: Stay at the Allanton Inn.

Read more: how to visit St Abbs.

North into Fife

3. Culross: Outlander tales and a perfect Royal Burgh

The pretty village of Culross on Fife’s south-west coast is one of Scotland’s best-preserved 17th-century villages, lovingly maintained by the National Trust for Scotland. Outlander fans will recognise it as the fictional village of Cranesmuir; everyone else will recognise it as the kind of place that makes time feel slightly suspended.

• Visit: Culross Palace for the fascinating restored interiors and herb garden.
• Walk: The Culross Heritage Walk (2.5 miles).
• Eat at: The Red Lion Inn or the Mercat.
• Get there: 50 minutes north of Edinburgh by car (over the Queensferry Crossing). By public transport, train to Dunfermline then Stagecoach bus 71, 74 or 78.
• Make it a circular trip: Combine with Blackness Castle (also Outlander) on the way back via the Forth Road and Kincardine Bridges.
• Make it a weekend: Stay at The Dundonald

Read more: how to visit Culross.

4. St Andrews: golf, university and the East Neuk

St Andrews is the home of golf, Scotland’s oldest university, and the gateway to one of Britain’s prettiest stretches of coast. Spend the morning in the town (the cathedral ruins, the harbour, the West Sands beach where they filmed the Chariots of Fire opening), then drive east into the East Neuk for fishing villages, lobster rolls and harbour walks.

• Visit: St Andrews Cathedral and Castle, both ruined and atmospheric. Walk the West Sands beach. Pop into the British Golf Museum for golfers, or the new V&A Dundee for design lovers (15 minutes north over the Tay Bridge).
• Eat at: The Seafood Ristorante on the seafront (book ahead). The Tailend on Market Street for the best fish and chips in town.
• Get there: 90 minutes by car. By train, Edinburgh Waverley to Leuchars (1 hour), then a 5-minute taxi or 10-minute bus into St Andrews.
• Make it a weekend: Stay at Seaton House or extend down the coast to one of the East Neuk fishing villages.

Read more: my things to do in St Andrews.

5. Anstruther: the East Neuk’s fish-and-chip capital

If you want a coastal day trip with the country’s best fish and chips at the end of it, Anstruther is your spot. The Anstruther Fish Bar is a reigning UK Fish & Chip Shop of the Year winner with a queue most days that’s well worth joining. Walk it off along the seafront afterwards, watch the boats in the harbour, and visit the brilliant Scottish Fisheries Museum.

• Visit: Scottish Fisheries Museum, then walk along the harbour and out to the cliffs of Caiplie Caves.
• Walk: A coastal stretch of the Fife Coastal Path. Anstruther to Crail (4.5 miles) is the prettiest section.
• Eat at: The Anstruther Fish Bar (queue, sit on the harbour, eat from the paper).
• Get there: 1 hour 45 minutes by car. By bus from Edinburgh, the X60 service runs direct (around 2 hours).

Read more: things to do in the East Neuk of Fife.

West and central Scotland

6. Linlithgow: Royal palaces and canal boat trips

The royal burgh of Linlithgow lies 20 miles west of Edinburgh and is a bustling little town with its own ruined palace and a loch to walk around. The palace was the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots in 1542 and remains one of the most atmospheric ruins in Scotland.

• Visit: Linlithgow Palace (Historic Environment Scotland) and the pretty Linlithgow Canal Centre for boat trips along the Union Canal or over the Avon Aqueduct.
• Walk: Around Linlithgow Loch (2.25 miles).
• Eat at: Plenty of cafés and pubs along the High Street; the Star and Garter does solid lunches.
• Get there: 45 minutes west by car. Direct train from Edinburgh Waverley, just 15 minutes.
• Make it a weekend: Stay at The West Port Hotel.

7. Stirling: castle, battles, and a knockout view

Stirling is one of the most historically dense day trips you can do from Edinburgh. The castle dominates the town from a volcanic crag (rivalling Edinburgh’s), the Wallace Monument stands over the site of the Battle of Stirling Bridge, and the Bannockburn battlefield (where Robert the Bruce defeated the English in 1314) is a 10-minute drive away.

• Visit: Stirling Castle, the National Wallace Monument, and the Bannockburn visitor centre.
• Walk: Up to the Wallace Monument (steep but rewarding) for one of Scotland’s best views.
• Eat at: Hermann’s Brasserie on the Broad Street for traditional Scottish-Austrian dining, or Brea on Causewayhead for relaxed lunches.
• Get there: 50 minutes by car via the M9. Direct train from Edinburgh Waverley, around 50 minutes.
• Make it a weekend: Stay at The Meadowpark Bar, Kitchen & Rooms.

8. The Kelpies and Falkirk Wheel: a brilliant family day out

Halfway between Edinburgh and Stirling, the 30-metre tall steel horse heads of The Kelpies are one of Scotland’s most photographed modern landmarks. Combine with the engineering marvel of the Falkirk Wheel, the world’s only rotating boat lift, just down the road.

• Visit: Both Kelpies and Falkirk Wheel are free to visit (you pay only for guided tours and boat trips). The Kelpies are illuminated dramatically after dark in winter.
• Eat at: Café at the Kelpies visitor centre for casual lunches; Plough Inn at Stenhousemuir for a proper sit-down.
• Get there: 45 minutes west of Edinburgh by car, both stops are within 10 minutes of each other. By train, Edinburgh to Falkirk High (35 minutes), then a 15-minute taxi.
• Make it a weekend: Stay at the The courtyard bar, kitchen, rooms.

9. Glasgow: Scotland’s other great city

It’s only 50 minutes by train. Edinburgh and Glasgow are completely different cities, and a day in Glasgow is one of the most rewarding contrasts you can experience. Architecture by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, world-class museums (the Kelvingrove, the Burrell Collection, the new Riverside Museum), and arguably Scotland’s best food scene.

• Visit: Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum (free), The Burrell Collection in Pollok Park (free), The Mackintosh House at the Hunterian, and the architecture of the Glasgow School of Art (under restoration after the fire, but still significant).
• Eat at: Ox and Finch in Finnieston for sharing plates, Café Gandolfi in the Merchant City for unfussy Scottish dining, or any of the curry houses on the Cathcart Road.
• Get there: 50 minutes by direct train from Edinburgh Waverley (every 15 minutes). 1 hour 15 minutes by car via the M8.
• Make it a weekend: Stay at The Address Glasgow.

North into Perthshire and the Highlands

10. Loch Lomond and the Trossachs

Scotland’s first national park is just over an hour from Edinburgh by car. Walk up Conic Hill for one of the country’s best view-to-effort ratios. Take a boat trip from Balloch or Tarbet. Drive the lochside road to Inveruglas and Ardlui. Or walk a section of the West Highland Way.

• Visit: Conic Hill from Balmaha (2.5 miles, 1.5 hours, extraordinary views). Loch Katrine for a proper Trossachs day. Inchcailloch Island via the foot ferry from Balmaha.
• Eat at: The Oak Tree Inn at Balmaha (book ahead in summer).
• Get there: 1 hour 15 minutes from Edinburgh by car. Train via Glasgow to Balloch (2 hours total) or via Crianlarich for the upper loch.
• Make it a weekend: Stay at Loch Lomond Waterfront.

Read more: things to do at Loch Lomond.

11. Pitlochry: Highlands gateway, distilleries, and the Salmon Ladder

Pitlochry is the gateway to Highland Perthshire and one of the most charming small towns in Scotland. Two distilleries within walking distance of the high street (Edradour and Blair Athol), the famous Pitlochry Salmon Ladder where you can watch fish leap upstream in autumn, and Loch Faskally for a gentle walk.

• Visit: Edradour Distillery (Scotland’s smallest), Blair Athol Distillery, the Salmon Ladder and Hydro Dam, and Pitlochry Festival Theatre.
• Walk: The loop around Loch Faskally (4 miles), or up to the iconic viewpoint at Queen’s View on Loch Tummel.
• Eat at: Hettie’s Tearoom on the high street for traditional baking, or Fern Cottage for proper dinner.
• Get there: 1 hour 30 minutes by car via the A9. Direct train from Edinburgh Waverley, around 1 hour 50 minutes.
• Make it a weekend: Stay at the Fonab Castle (boutique luxury)

12. Dunkeld: Highland Perthshire’s prettiest town

Dunkeld sits on the River Tay in Highland Perthshire and is one of Scotland’s most beautiful small towns. The medieval cathedral, the Hermitage woodland walk to Black Linn Falls, the colourful waterfront cottages, and the brilliant Taybank pub all combine to make it a memorable day trip.

• Visit: Dunkeld Cathedral (free), the Beatrix Potter Garden in Birnam, the Hermitage at Birnam (a 20-minute walk to the Black Linn Falls).
• Eat at: The Taybank right on the river for live folk music and proper Scottish food.
• Get there: 1 hour 30 minutes by car. Train from Edinburgh Waverley to Dunkeld & Birnam (1 hour 35 minutes), then a 5-minute walk.
• Make it a weekend: Stay at The Taybank

Read more: how to visit Dunkeld.

South into the Borders and Midlothian

13. Rosslyn Chapel: the Da Vinci Code chapel

Just 7 miles south of Edinburgh, Rosslyn Chapel is one of the most extraordinary religious buildings in Britain. Built in the mid-15th century by Sir William St Clair, the chapel is densely carved with biblical scenes, pagan symbols, Templar imagery, and the famous “Apprentice Pillar.” Made internationally famous by The Da Vinci Code, it’s much smaller than visitors expect, but no less mesmerising for it.

• Visit: Rosslyn Chapel (allow 90 minutes minimum). Combine with a walk through Roslin Glen Country Park.
• Eat at: The Original Rosslyn Hotel just down the road, or pack a picnic.
• Get there: 30 minutes by car. Lothian Bus 37 from Edinburgh runs direct (45 minutes).
• Make it a weekend: Honestly, this is a half-day rather than a full one. Pair with Pentland Hills walking or with a short stop in Penicuik.

14. Melrose: abbeys, Abbotsford, and Sir Walter Scott

The opening of the Borders Railway has made the Scottish Borders towns wonderfully accessible. Melrose has small-town charm, a beautiful setting on the River Tweed, and more history than you can handle. It’s home to one of the four great Border abbeys, and Abbotsford (Sir Walter Scott’s home) is just down the road.

• Visit: Melrose Abbey and Abbotsford at Tweedbank.
• Walk: Around Melrose and the River Tweed (3.5 miles).
• Eat at: Burts Hotel for traditional pub food, or the cafe behind the Abbey Wine Shop.
• Get there: 1 hour by car south on the A68. Borders Railway from Edinburgh Waverley to Tweedbank (1 hour), then a 40-minute walk into Melrose or the X62 bus.
• Make it a weekend: Stay at Aikwood Tower, Dryburgh Abbey Hotel, or Burt’s Hotel.

Read more: my guides to Midlothian and the Scottish Borders and the Scottish Borders Itineraries.

15. Glenkinchie Distillery: the Edinburgh Malt

Just 30 minutes from Edinburgh in rolling East Lothian farmland, Glenkinchie is one of just three remaining Lowland whisky distilleries and known as “the Edinburgh malt.” Recently refurbished as part of Diageo’s Four Corners experience, it’s a brilliant introduction to whisky for first-timers and a thoroughly indulgent experience for enthusiasts.

• Visit: Standard tour and tasting from around £20. The Whisky and Chocolate experience is brilliantly fun.
• Combine with: A drive on through East Lothian to Haddington for lunch, or to North Berwick for the afternoon.
• Get there: 30 minutes by car. No direct public transport, so taxi or rideshare from Edinburgh is the simplest option for groups.
• Make it a weekend: Combine with East Lothian. Stay at The Leddie in Aberlady or Whitekirk Hill.

Day trips from Edinburgh without a car

Several of the day trips above are easy without a car. The best by direct train are:

• North Berwick (30 min direct)
• Linlithgow (15 min direct)
• Stirling (50 min direct)
• Glasgow (50 min direct)
• Falkirk for the Kelpies and Falkirk Wheel (35 min direct, then taxi)
• Dunkeld (1 hour 35 min direct)
• Pitlochry (1 hour 50 min direct)
• Melrose via the Borders Railway to Tweedbank (1 hour, then bus or walk)

For trips that require a car or are easier with a guided tour (Loch Lomond, the Highlands, Glencoe, Loch Ness), GetYourGuide and Viator both offer well-priced day tours from Edinburgh, typically £40-£70 per person.

When to visit

• Spring (April–May): lambs, wildflowers, daffodils, fewer crowds. Some attractions don’t fully open until Easter.
• Summer (June–August): longest days, warmest weather, busiest. Book the popular tours and railway journeys ahead.
• Autumn (September–October): my favourite season for day trips. Cooler air, autumn colour through Perthshire, fewer visitors.
• Winter (November–March): dramatic skies, atmospheric castle visits, and Edinburgh’s Christmas markets making the city itself a destination.

Day trips from Edinburgh: frequently asked questions

Love from Scotland x

Read more

• Things to do in East Lothian
• How to visit Dunkeld, Perthshire
• Things to do in St Andrews
• Things to do at Loch Lomond
• The East Neuk of Fife
• Scottish Borders and Midlothian guide
• Scotland on a budget