5 of the very best day journeys from Edinburgh

July 19, 2022

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Lucy Dodsworth is sharing 5 of the very best day journeys from Edinburgh for these seeking to get extra out of their Scottish metropolis break!

There’s a lot to do in Edinburgh you can simply spend your complete journey inside town however if you happen to’ve obtained a bit extra time or wish to discover a bit additional, you possibly can see much more with a day journey Edinburgh. Inside a day journey’s distance you may get a style of what else Scotland has to supply, from wildlife-spotting to seaside escapes, historic castles to road artwork excursions – and also you don’t want a automobile with one in every of these nice day journeys. Listed below are 5 nice day journey concepts from Edinburgh to get you began, all accessible by public transport.

1. Glasgow

Subsequent-door neighbours and longtime rivals, Glasgow and Edinburgh couldn’t be extra totally different. The place Edinburgh is the traditional magnificence, Glasgow is the youthful, hipper, extra artistic little sister.

Glasgow’s solely 50 minutes by prepare so it’s simple to do a day journey from Edinburgh. There’s a lot to do in Glasgow although that you would fill an entire journey, so select a number of of the highlights to get you began.

Museum lovers head to Kelvingrove for artwork and historical past displays in a lovely crimson stone constructing, or the strikingly trendy Riverside Museum for all the things transport associated. Artwork lovers observe the Mural Path for town’s greatest road artwork, or go to Charles Rennie Waterproof coat’s previous haunts with a tour of the Glasgow Faculty of Artwork and tea and cake on the Willow Tea Rooms. Photographers shouldn’t miss the atmospheric hilltop Necropolis and the view of the Clyde bridges at sundown. And foods and drinks lovers are spoilt for alternative in Finnieston and Service provider Metropolis.

Learn extra: Take a look at Monica’s 48 hour information to Glasgow for extra concepts and ideas.

2. Inchcolm Island

Edinburgh’s in all probability not someplace you’d consider for wildlife-spotting, however you could be out with the seals and porpoises in lower than an hour from town centre with this simple day journey from Edinburhg. Inchcolm Island is one in every of Edinburgh’s hidden gems – a tiny island in the midst of the Firth of Forth. To get there you are taking a three-hour boat journey from South Queensferry, crusing beneath the enduring Forth Bridges alongside the way in which.

The island’s full of fascinating tales – it was a quarantine island throughout the plague and a First World Struggle garrison. Now it’s a peaceable place to discover, with hoards of seabirds, an historic abbey and nice views again to Edinburgh on a sunny day. When you’re in South Queensferry, go to the grand Hopetoun nation home and check out some tasty Scottish mussels on the Boat Home restaurant too.

Journey Hack tip: Boat journeys depart from Hawes Pier in South Queensferry – take the prepare from Edinburgh to Dalmeny Station in about 15 minutes or it’s 35 minutes on the no 43 bus from St Andrew Sq..

3. Roslin

Should you love myths and legends – or Hollywood movie areas – then don’t miss Roslin, a bit village eight miles south of Edinburgh (a 50-minute journey on the no 37 bus). Roslin is house to the 15^th century Rosslyn Chapel, a stone church stuffed with intricate carvings. However is it the key house of the Holy Grail? Dan Brown thought so when he was writing The Da Vinci Code. The chapel seems within the ebook, and Tom Hanks and Audrey Tatou got here to Rosslyn to movie within the chapel crypt or the movie model.

Hold a watch out for William, the chapel’s resident cat, who’s often discovered snoozing on a sunny bench. Then head out into Roslin Glen, a inexperienced oasis just some minutes stroll from the chapel. It’s an historic woodland in a gorge alongside the North Esk river with a ruined fortress tucked among the many timber. Pack a picnic on a sunny day or head to the cosy Unique Rosslyn Inn for lunch.

4. St Andrews

St Andrews is a small metropolis on the coast of Fife that’s stuffed with historical past. It’s obtained medieval church buildings, a ruined fortress and the oldest college in Scotland (aka the place the place Prince William met Kate). You may climb up the previous fortress tower to look out over town, wander across the college buildings or take a stroll alongside one of many three seashores. The large pupil inhabitants means there are many cafés and pubs to hang around in too, and St Andrews can also be the house of the fab Eden Mill gin distillery the place you are able to do a tour and tasting.

St Andrews is known as the house of golf, and if you happen to’ve obtained a good-enough handicap you possibly can tee off on the Previous Course within the footsteps of Open winners. However even if you happen to don’t know your 9 iron out of your putter, you possibly can nonetheless have your photograph taken on the well-known Swilcan Bridge and name in for a drink within the Jigger Inn – the course’s unofficial 19^th gap.

Journey Hack tip: There’s no prepare station in St Andrews, however you possibly can catch the prepare to close by Leuchars (simply over an hour from Edinburgh), then it’s 10 minutes by bus or taxi into St Andrews.

5. North Berwick

Fancy a day on the seaside? North Berwick is simply half an hour by prepare exterior Edinburgh, and when the solar’s shining onto its golden sand and blue sea it’s simple to neglect you’re in Scotland. This gorgeous seaside city is stuffed with cafés (the hipster Steampunk Espresso is a favorite), artwork galleries and quirky reward outlets to discover. Go to the harbour for a freshly caught lunch from the Lobster Shack, the place their speciality is a half-lobster and chips.

North Berwick can also be one other seabird hotspot. You may watch them on cameras on the Sea Chicken Centre or stand up shut on a ship journey out to Bass Rock. The Rock is an extinct volcano that’s now a haven for gannets, razorbills and guillemots (there are such a lot of that their droppings have turned the rock from gray to white, so that you won’t wish to breathe in too deeply!). And on your personal chicken’s eye view, climb as much as the highest of North Berwick Legislation for a surprising view alongside the coast.

The place’s your favorite place for a day journey from Edinburgh? Tell us within the feedback beneath!

Lucy is a journey blogger On the Luce, exploring the UK, Europe and past from her house base within the Cotswolds. Her weblog combines inspirational tales and exquisite images with all of the helpful particulars it’s good to make the journey a actuality – from weekend break concepts to rail adventures, evaluations of quirky lodging to uncommon angles in your favorite locations. Lucy’s by no means removed from her digital camera, loves a very good glass of Prosecco, devours a ebook per week and is at all times on the hunt for luxurious on funds.