Edinburgh Day Trips

Heyo! Just wondering if anyone has any suggestions for day trips out of Edinburgh? I've been to Stirling, and currently thinking I can probably do Fife and/or St. Andrews. Aberdeen is an option, but might be a bit of a stretch. I can't be gone more than a full day, and won't have access to a car, so please keep this in mind when suggesting things! Also note that I'm not really big into museums, castles, churches, etc. but love history and good hiking routes. I'm a NABC traveller - not another bloody church / castle / cathedral - take your pick. lol. It's winter though, which might limit things (although, being Canadian, I'm not too afraid of the cold.... what little bit you get over here!). Would be open to ski / snowshoe options as well.

Glasgow - you can do many of the Charles Rennie Mackintosh buildings on public transport.

New Lanark may be interesting history wise but may fall foul of your nabc rule?

Plenty of walking available in the hills both south of Edinburgh and the Falklands or Ochils near Stirling but I'm afraid I don't know anything about the public transport options.

Some years ago I was on a West Highland Line train and loads of day trippers were aboard - the Daily Record had a voucher offer on for any day trip in Scotland for £10 so this lot were all doing Edinburgh/Glasgow to Fort William then Mallaig, paying for the ferry to Skye and a short bus ride, then by train again from Kyle of Lochalsh to Inverness and back down to the central belt. Hell of a day out. Possibly a bit much for you to take on but if you head over to Glasgow and up the west highland line there is good walking from most stations. From crianlarich, tyndrum, bridge of orchy you can do stages of the west highland way and get the train from the next station. From corrour you can walk round loch Ossian. Or take the line to the end at Mallaig and the small Isles ferry to one of the islands though that is a lengthy day trip from Edinburgh.

I should clarify that I've done Glasgow, Skye, Inverness, Fort William, Loch Ness, Glen Coe, etc. before. I haven't done much in the east or the lowlands yet. First time I was in the highlands I hiked most of the Great Glen Way - Fort William to Inverness & caught fringe, brief stop in Glasgow. This last time I did Glasgow to Edinburgh, then a highland tour which went up by some of the castles, out to Skye, Glen Coe, Oban, and others. I haven't really spent any time in Inverness, but it looks a bit much for a day out. Would love to get to the outer hebrides and orkney at some point but with the ferries it doesn't really seem feasible - too unpredictable. Might check out some of those hikes though - I'm a sucker for a good hike... lol.

If you can figure out the public transport there are more hiking options:

  • north from dundee around Glen Doll
  • west from Callender eg go up Ben Ledi
  • along the southern upland way running through the galashiels / Melrose area within reach of you.

Is Arran a bit far? Scotland in miniature.
Or you can do Great Cumbrae island in Ayrshire on foot.

Andy - really appreciate the suggestions. I'd love to do the islands, but by public transport it's 3 hours minimum each way... seems a bit of a trek. But, the others you've pointed out look pretty good, will try to hit at least a couple of them.


Edinburgh Day Trips

Edinburgh Day Trips

Edinburgh Day Trips

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