If you are someone looking for a vacation outside the hustles of the city life then Edinburgh must be the place to visit in Scotland. Everything from stunning beaches, majestic mountains and countless amazing historic landmarks are located just a few minutes drive away. The majority of the tourist hotspots in the region include castles, big houses and abbeys. Without any further due, let’s take a look at the best day trips from Edinburgh.

Day trips from Edinburgh

Stirling
St Andrews
Loch Ness and the Highlands
National Mining Museum
Crichton Castle
Glasgow
Falkirk Wheel
Dundee

1. Stirling

Sterling is one of the best day trips to do from Edinburgh. The castle built on a high place is the major attraction in this place for the tourists. The castle is covered in trees and a spectacular view from Stirling ‘s range, and you will also spend your time discovering the vast areas in this region. It is worth a visit. This castle was a Medieval king’s palace from the 12th Century and for decades an emblem of Scottish rebellion. You can find here national and regimental museums, as well as the Great Kitchens. Apart from this the Great hall is one of the highlights of the place.

Also read: THINGS TO DO IN STOCKBRIDGE, EDINBURGH: YOUR GUIDE

2. St Andrews

The small university town to the north of Edinburgh is visited by travellers all over the world not only for its golf courses. But also for the remains of the 12-century cathedral. This is located at a distance of 80kms from Edinburgh. Overall, the link courses occupy more than 700 hectares and the Castle Course occupy another 222 acres. You should even go on a guided tour of the city of the Old Course. This is where golf was first practised 600 years ago or follow a family walk-even if you don’t plan on playing.

3. Loch Ness and the Highlands

The word Loch means a waterbody, might be a lake or an inlet into the sea. The Loch Ness is by far the best Loch’s that you can find in Scotland. It is 35 km long and more than 200 metres deep. Also, the mountains protrude outwards and upwards on the banks of this beautiful place. In terms of activities, there is a boat trip where you can witness some of the stunning sceneries on the rocky mountains. Fun fact for people who believe in mythical creatures is that this is considered as the home of sea serpents.

4. National Mining Museum

Next up we have the National Mining Museum that is located towards the southern part of Edinburgh. It is located at a distance of about 15 km from Edinburgh. This is one of the oldest preserved coal mining sites in Europe. The museum now exhibits the whole story of improvement of coal production in. The structure was established in 1894 and lasted for about 87 years before it was discontinued.

In fact, the highlight of the attraction is obviously the Grant Richie Winding Engine. This is the famous engine back in the days which was used to lift coal from serious depths. If at all you want to include some bit of science to your vacation in Edinburgh, then visit this place. There are guided tours where people can understand the whole procedure of manufacturing coal.

Also read: The Best Cocktail Bars in Edinburgh

5. Crichton Castle

This is another castle on the list which is located at a distance of about 20 km towards the east of Edinburgh. The ancient structure dates back to almost 14th century. The beautiful views of the River Tyne from the castle is one of the things that people from around the world love to witness. And also inside the castle, you will find 3 different sections and most of the pillars or the arches that you see are derived from Italian architecture.

Also read: Edinburgh Castle – An escapade into history

6. Glasgow

Glasgow is located towards the west of Edinburgh and is almost an hour’s drive from Edinburgh via road. This place has so many attractions for all types of travellers. The marque ones are the new science centre, Kelvingrove museum and many other small art galleries. Don’t forget to visit the exciting Sharmanka Kinetic Theatre if you are interested in robotics and mechanics. This is one of the best day trips from Edinburgh as this has pretty much everything to keep you engaged for the whole day.

7. Falkirk Wheel

The Falkirk Wheel is a giant rotating wheel that lifts boats. Yes, you heard it right. This is one of its own kind of attraction. Generally, when people hear the word Wheel and that too on a vacation, they would obviously relate it to the Ferris wheel which can be seen on pretty much all the famous destinations around the world. But this is a similar kind of wheel which is used to overcome the broken link between two canals.

Also read: Top-notch places to visit while visiting Edinburgh, Scotland

This involves some serious physics and this surely would be a different experience. This is a very unique attraction not just on this place but also anywhere on earth.

8. Dundee

The City of Dundee is located towards the northeast of Edinburgh at a distance of around 100kms. The city is famously known for its Whaling and textile manufacturing. This is also the fourth largest city in the whole of Scotland. This place is also considered as the birthplace of Jute mills. You can take a tour around the mill while having a friendly chat with the workers to understand how the whole thing works. Apart from this, there are few other Galleries around the place like the McManus Gallery which are worth visiting.

By now you would have gotten a fair idea on what to expect while planning a vacation to Edinburgh. These are the famous and most frequently chosen day trips from Edinburgh.

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