Thistle Do Nicely: 11 Of The Best Day Trips From Edinburgh, Scotland

With its historic closes, whisky tastings and iconic Castle Rock silhouette, Edinburgh is a Scottish love affair waiting to happen. But just as there's more to England than London, there's so much more to Scotland than visiting Edinburgh. So, after you've walked the Royal Mile, conquered Arthur's Seat, said "hi" to Greyfriars Bobby and escaped from Edinburgh Dungeon, it's time to get out of the city and acquainted with the rest of Scotland.

From rugged glens and tranquil lochs to historic sites and famous filming locations, the treasures of Scotland extend far beyond its capital. Here are 11 of our favourite day trips from Edinburgh for those wanting to experience more of this rich, wild and beautiful country.

• Glencoe, Loch Ness and the Scottish Highlands

• Stirling Castle and Loch Lomond

• Glenfinnan Viaduct and Fort William

• Rosslyn Chapel

• St Andrews

• Alnwick Castle

• Linlithgow Palace

• Hadrian's Wall and Roman Britain

• Cairngorms National Park

• North Berwick

• Glasgow

If you only have time for one day trip while in Edinburgh, the imposing landscapes of Glencoe and the mysterious shores of Loch Ness are hard to beat.

Trade the Lowlands of Edinburgh for the Scottish Highlands as you make your way north to Glencoe. Home to the filming location of Skyfall Lodge in the 2012 James Bond film, as well as a number of scenes from Harry Potter, Glencoe is an area steeped in history and cinema-grade grandeur.

From Glencoe, you'll continue further north to Fort Augustus and the southern bank of Loch Ness. The loch is about 36km long, stretching all the way up to Inverness, and holds more water (and monsters!) than all the lakes in England and Wales put together. From Fort Augustus, you can also take a cruise out on Loch Ness - the best way to see the loch and search for the mythical Loch Ness Monster. There have been more than 1,000 sightings of Nessie over the years... so you never know.

It's worth mentioning that this is a full day trip, involving around eight hours of driving, and the most stress-free way to tackle it is definitely by booking an organised tour. That way you can sit back and enjoy the ever-changing, but always beautiful scenery while your tour guide takes care of the driving and navigating.

Once you've explored Stirling Castle and visited the impressive National Wallace Monument, continue further west to Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. Established as Scotland's first national park in 2002, this is an area bursting with serenity and natural beauty that you won't want to skip.

If you spent your adolescence lamenting the fact that your Hogwarts letter never arrived, this day tour will transport you straight into the wizarding world where, let's face it, you belong!

That's right Harry Potter fans, it's time to board the real-life Hogwarts Express - also known by its Muggle name, the Jacobite Steam Train. Some day tours from Edinburgh will include a ticket to ride the train (so no need to bring your Flying Ford Anglia) and some will instead take you to the perfect viewpoint in time to watch as the iconic steam train chugs over the instantly recognisable Glenfinnan Viaduct. Either way, you're in for a magical day.

Near Glenfinnan is the historic town of Fort William, where you can stop to admire Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the British Isles, or enjoy a wee dram at the Ben Nevis Distillery.

If you continue past Fort William, you'll find yourself heading towards the Isle of Skye, one of the most magical destinations in the Scottish Highlands. The Isle's location off the country's northwest coast excludes it from our list of Edinburgh day trips, but if you have some extra time up your sleeve there are plenty of multi-day guided tour options available which include visits to the charming town of Portree, the Old Man of Storr and the Quiraing.

Located just over 10km south of Scotland's capital, Rosslyn Chapel is easily accessible by car or public transport, with regular buses leaving from Princes Street in central Edinburgh. Founded in 1446, the Chapel is an example of a Scottish Episcopal Church and gives modern travellers an exciting glimpse into historic Scotland. Visitors can admire the Chapel's intricate stone carvings, join an information talk and take a peek at the Sacristy or Crypt underneath.

Wondering where you've seen Rosslyn Chapel before? The historical site is most famous these days for its role in Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code, featuring as a setting both in the novel and the 2006 film adaptation.

Golf lovers rejoice because it's time to tee off on a par-fect day trip to St Andrews - the most famous golf location in the world! The historic town is located in Fife, about 1.5 hours north of Edinburgh, on the country's east coast. While you're there, take a swing at the oldest golf course in the world, aptly named the Old Course, and snap a picture on the iconic Swilcan Bridge. An amazing experience that's sure to earn you some major cool points back on the home green.

If golf isn't your thing there's still plenty to love about St Andrews. Spend the day wandering along West Sands beach or exploring Scotland's oldest university and meeting place of Prince William and Kate Middleton. If it's good enough for royalty, it's good enough for us!

If you can't get enough of Fife's charming fishing villages and historic market towns, why not extend your visit and spend a day or two exploring a section of the Fife Coastal Path? The almost 200km-long footpath spans from Kincardine to Newburgh and will treat you to incredible views out across the sea as you meander along the coastline.

The next of our day trips from Edinburgh will see you crossing the Scottish borders to spend a few hours down south in Northumberland, England.

Alnwick Castle is about two hours away from Edinburgh by car or public transport and is the second-largest inhabited castle in the UK. A popular film location, the castle and its grounds have been featured in Downton Abbey, Transformers: The Last Knight and the first two Harry Potter films - most famously in the scene where Harry first learns to ride a broomstick.

Harry Potter fans visiting the castle can even take part in Broomstick Training sessions, making this the perfect day trip for families. Just make sure to check opening times before you set off as Alnwick Castle closes for winter.

Halfway between Edinburgh Castle and Stirling you'll find, you guessed it - another castle... or should we say palace. Linlithgow Palace to be precise. Famously the birthplace of Mary, Queen of Scots in 1542, Linlithgow is one of the more important castles and historical sites in Scotland.

Take the train from Waverley Station in Edinburgh and 20 minutes later you'll be exploring the palace ruins, gazing out across Linlithgow Loch or perhaps, if you're visiting in the summer months, enjoying a boat trip over the Avon Aqueduct.

Next up on our list of Edinburgh day tours is another jaunt down south into England with a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hadrian's Wall.

If we learned anything from 2023, it's that the Roman Empire is something a lot of us are definitely still thinking about, so don't pass up the opportunity to visit the most significant and well-preserved Roman remains in the UK.

Hadrian's Wall stretches for almost 120km and some sections are more interesting than others, so you'll want to plan your trip before setting off. Some highlights include the Birdoswald Roman Fort, Walltown Crags and Housesteads Roman Fort. Prefer to leave the itinerary up to a local tour guide? There are plenty of organised full day tours available from Edinburgh that your Travel Expert can help you book.

For a day trip offering some of the best scenery in Scotland, you can't go past the Cairngorms National Park in the Highlands.

As you head towards the largest national park in the UK, you'll pass through the charming town of Pitlochry - a great place to stock up on supplies for the day. In the park, you might choose to spend your time exploring one of the many walking trails, sipping whisky at the picturesque Speyside Distillery or meeting the only free-ranging reindeer herd in Britain at the Cairngorm Reindeer Centre. For the thrill-seekers, there's also white water rafting, canyoning and mountaineering to keep you busy.

With so much to do, it's easy to spend the whole day exploring the Cairngorms, so we'd suggest visiting in summer to maximise the number of daylight hours at your disposal.

If The Crown is your favourite show and you're obsessed with all things royal you might like to visit Balmoral Castle within the Cairngorms National Park. The castle served as the late Queen's private residence and was a well-known sanctuary for Her Majesty.

Make sure you check the website before visiting as the Castle and its grounds are open to the public for limited periods throughout the year. We'd also recommend booking a private tour to get the most out of this royal day trip!

Less than an hour's drive from the capital, you'll find the beautiful coastal town of North Berwick. This laid-back day trip involves walks along the West Bay and the freshest seafood lunch around. Nature enthusiasts should also visit the Scottish Seabird Centre and take a wildlife boat trip around Bass Rock between March and October to see the world's largest colony of Northern gannets.

Lucky last on our list of Edinburgh day trips is the capital's biggest rival: Glasgow.

Scotland's largest city is a delightful blend of historic and modern. From impressive cultural institutions like the Riverside Museum and the Hunterian Art Gallery to vibrant street art and a thriving music scene (did you know Glasgow was the first UNESCO City of Music in the UK?), there's something for everyone in Glasgow.

Just 1.5 hours away from Edinburgh by train, Glasgow is the perfect day trip for those looking to keep the pace quick and the energy levels high.

Feeling a wee bit inspired to visit Scotland this year?