10 Day Trips From Edinburgh For An Incredible UK Trip in 2024
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Edinburgh Day Trips

1. Rosslyn Chapel
2. Glasgow
3. Loch Lomond
4. Stirling
5. St. Andrews
6. St. Abbs
7. Windermere
8. Elie
9. Wemyss Bay
10. Dean Village

The day trips from Edinburgh are a perfect way to escape the boundaries of the city and explore the surrounding areas. From rocky beaches and places of ancient conspiracies to castle ruins and wooded gorges, there are innumerable places to witness tranquil views around Edinburgh. The different places on the outskirts of Edinburgh will definitely make you feel out of the world with its all kinds of highland dreamscapes.

The best day trip from Edinburgh is towards the Rosslyn Chapel, which is a beautiful church that rose to popularity due to its intricate exteriors and other architectural features. Glasgow and Loch Lomond are some of the other places to go for a day trip from the city of Edinburgh that offer the ultimate escapade to tranquility and adventure. Windermere is another place worth considering when thinking of a day trip from Edinburgh. It is a beautiful town in the Lake District that lets you capture the green and blue dreamscapes.

Here are some of the best day trips from Edinburgh:

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01

Rosslyn Chapel

  • Popularly known as the Collegiate Chapel of St. Matthew, Rosslyn Chapel is a beautiful church to visit on day trips from Edinburgh.
  • It is an architectural masterpiece of Scotland that attracts visitors with its intricate carving on the exteriors and pillars, and arches made of stone. 
  • People admire this architectural beauty for its postulating connection to freemasonry and the Holy Grail that rose to popularity from Dan Brown’s best-selling novel, The Da Vinci Code.

Location: Chapel Loan, Roslin EH25 9PU, United Kingdom.

Getting There:
By Bus- To reach Rosslyn Chapel, you are required to catch a bus from Edinburgh and travel for about 50 minutes to Rosslyn Inn. From there, you can take a walk to the Rosslyn Chapel.
02

Glasgow

  • Visitors can plan a day trip from Edinburgh to Glasgow, which is the largest city in Scotland renowned for its friendly residents and plenty of museums and attractions.
  • This city is a perfect weekend getaway for art lovers as they will find some amazing street art here.
  • You can also pay a visit to the different distilleries and breweries in the city.

Location:
Scotland

Getting There:
By Train- ScotRail and Trainline have some of the best rail connectivity between Edinburgh and Glasgow.
03

Loch Lomond

  • Loch Lomond is considered to be the largest inland water body in terms of surface area in the United Kingdom, thereby offering a perfect place for day trips from Edinburgh.
  • It is an iconic place to explore historic villages, adventure parks, boat cruises, and scenic viewpoints.
  • The visitors can even go biking, camping, hiking, and indulging in numerous water sports activities in Loch Lomond. 

Location: West Dunbartonshire, Central Scotland, United Kingdom.

Getting There:
By Train- Balloch and Tarbet are some of the best train lines to travel to Loch Lomond from Edinburgh.
04

Stirling

  • Stirling is a miniature version of Edinburgh that is renowned for its historic architecture, cobbled streets, and an ancient castle on the rugged hill.
  • Also known as the Gateway to the Highlands, it is a beautiful place for Edinburgh day trips that consists of the famous Stirling Castle Bordered by the forest and the panoramic views of the hill.
  • If you are a nature lover or a history buff, this place will keep you entertained all the time.

Location:
Scotland, United Kingdom.

Getting There:
By Public Transportation- To reach Stirling from Edinburgh, you are required to catch a train to Falkirk, whose travel time is 30 minutes. From there, you can take a local bus to travel to the different tourist attractions of Stirling.
05

St. Andrews

  • Among the other day trips from Edinburgh, St. Andrews is an ancient town that is renowned for its red-brick university, which is also the birthplace of modern golf.
  • You will also discover innumerable museums, shops, and well-rated restaurants to keep yourself entertained all day in St. Andrews.
  • St. Andrews is home to the North Point Cafe, the place where Prince William first met Kate Middleton.

Location:
Scotland, United Kingdom.

Getting There:
By Bus- Bus services are very well connected to St. Andrews from different parts of Scotland, including Edinburgh. To reach St. Andrews from Edinburgh will take you around two hours. 
06

St. Abbs

  • St. Abbs is a tiny fishing village that offers an ultimate serene getaway from Edinburgh.
  • It provides some of the gorgeous coastal views of Scotland with headlands and heathered covered cliffs for remarkable photography opportunities.
  • In this village, you can either indulge in surfing on the world-class waves or simply soak in the captivating views of the seabirds and sea air.

Location:
Scotland, United Kingdom.

Getting There:
By Public Transportation- The nearest railway station to St. Abbs is Berwick-Upon-Tweed. After traveling to this station from Edinburgh, you can take a taxi or bus number 235 to St Abbs.
07

Windermere

  • If you wish to go on some of the best day trips from Edinburgh, Windermere is a favorable option to travel to a popular tourist destination.
  • Windermere is a town in the pretty Lake District that allows you to soak in the beautiful views of the largest lake in England, Lake Windermere.
  • Strolling around the blue and green dreamscape of Windermere is the best activity to relax and connect with nature.

Location:
Lake District National Park, United Kingdom.

Getting There:
By Train- When you are traveling from Edinburgh to Windermere by train, you should take the Northern Services to Windermere station.
08

Elie

  • Elie is another beautiful coastal town near St Andrews that serves as one of the remarkable day trips from Edinburgh.
  • This place remains crowded by tourists throughout the year to admire the aesthetic charms of the golden sand beaches and the 16th-century harbor.
  • The Elie Lighthouse is the fundamental attraction of this place, which offers some of the most captivating views in the entire country.
  • You can take a scenic tour of the harbor on yachts in Elie or partake in golf at the reputable golf courses of the town.

Location:
Scotland

Getting There:
By Bus- To reach Elie, you can take a direct X60 bus from Princess Street in Edinburgh and drop off at High Street, Elie stop
09

Wemyss Bay

  • Wemyss Bay is a beautiful traditional village dating back to Victorian times that is worth considering while planning your Edinburgh day trips.
  • It is renowned for its architecturally pleasing railway station, which was constructed in the 19th century and has been well-preserved until now.
  • Offering intriguing views of the countryside, this place is a perfect escapade to explore the beauty of the Isle of Bute and Rothesay port.

Location:
Scotland

Getting There:
By Bus- You can take a bus from Princess Street in Edinburgh to Wemyss Bay through Buchanan Bus Station, which will take you around three hours to reach your final destination.
10

Dean Village

  • Dean Village is a perfect quaint village on the outskirts of the city that serves as a wonderful day trip from Edinburgh.
  • It is a fairytale place with long and heavy hanging branches that provides you a chance to see herons, kingfishers, and otters near the rivers.
  • You can also stand a chance to see Victorian cottages on the twisting alleys lining the waters of the Dean Village.

Location:
United Kingdom

Getting There:
By Train- You can take Scotrail train lines and drop off at Belford Bridge to reach Dean Village.

People Also Ask About Edinburgh

  1. What are the best day trips from Edinburgh?

    1. Rosslyn Chapel: Rosslyn Chapel is one of the best places for day trips from Edinburgh if you want to explore the stunning decorative artworks and the mystery that has surrounded it for decades.

    2. Glasgow: Glasgow is another beautiful city for a day trip from Edinburgh. You can visit some remarkable attractions in Glasgow, like George Square, Glasgow Cathedral, and the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. 

    3. St Abbs: St Abbs is a tiny fishing village in Scotland and a wonderful place to explore the spectacular St. Abbs Head National Nature Reserve. You can spot more than 50000 seabirds flying over the sky and also do some seal spotting.  Try your hands on scuba diving, and walk along the Berwickshire Coastal Path in St Abbs.

    4. Windermere: Situated in Lake District National Park in Cumbria, Windermere is the largest lake in England. It has fantastic scenery that encourages nature lovers and photographers to go on a day trip to this place from Edinburgh on weekends.
  2. Can I do a day trip to Stirling From Edinburgh?

    Yes, you can indulge in day trips from Edinburgh to Stirling, where you can explore the magnificent history of this wonderful city of Scotland. Take a walking tour of the Stirling city center, which is the epitome of rugged beauty. Some of the best places to visit on your trip to Stirling are the Castle of the Holy Rood, Stirling Castle, Argyll’s Lodging, and The Portcullis.
  3. What is the best day trip from Edinburgh with family?

    The best day trip from Edinburgh with family is to Stirling Castle, which is a grand medieval castle that overlooks the town of Stirling and the surrounding countryside. This place is famous for the mystery and grandeur that attracts tourists to its beautiful interiors drawn from the original experience. The cannons, dungeons, paintings, armor suits, and tapestries are some of the other fundamental attractions of the castle.
  4. What is special about Edinburgh?

    Edinburgh is special for a variety of reasons, including the comforting atmosphere, diverse cultures, historical sites, and beautiful evenings. It is one of the best festival cities in the world that attracts a myriad of tourists. This place is also well-known for its beautiful tourist destinations, like Edinburgh Castle, Royal Mile, Arthur’s Seat, and much more, that can be easily explored through Edinburgh day trips.
  5. How to reach Edinburgh?

    By Air: Edinburgh is accessible from different parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, Australia, Europe, and Britain, through Edinburgh Airport. This airport operates flights from airlines like Delta Airlines, Air Canada, Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, Virgin Australia, and a lot more.

    By Rail: Train is one of the most favorable options if you are traveling to Edinburgh from Glasgow, Liverpool, Manchester, or Newcastle. 

    By Road: Buses also offer great connectivity between Edinburgh and the different neighboring areas. Megabus, Citylink, and National Express are some of the bus services that operate on this route.
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