4 Best Edinburgh Day Trips by Local: Stirling 2026

Key Points

• Local resident Lorna Wallace, who has lived in central Scotland her entire life, shares her four favourite affordable day trips from Edinburgh: Stirling, Glasgow, Dundee, and St Andrews.​
• These destinations are easily accessible by Scotland’s well-connected train and bus network, with round-trip train fares ranging from £12 to £16.80, and bus options for St Andrews.​
• Stirling offers Stirling Castle, Old Town Jail with performance tours, Settle Inn pub, and the Wallace Monument.
• Glasgow highlights include a vibrant art scene with the mural trail, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Tenement House, Sharmanka Kinetic Theatre, and the Duke of Wellington statue with its traffic cone tradition.
• Dundee features the V&A Dundee museum with Scottish design exhibits, RRS Discovery ship, McManus Art Gallery & Museum, and Verdant Works for jute history.
• St Andrews provides coastal walks on West Sands beach, ruins of St Andrews Castle and Cathedral, and the historic Old Course golf course.​
• Edinburgh serves as an ideal base for tourists due to its historic sites, museums, and vistas, but locals encourage exploring beyond the capital.​
• Travel times: Stirling (1 hour by train), Glasgow (1 hour), Dundee (under 1.5 hours), St Andrews (up to 2 hours by bus or train+bus).
• Additional sources confirm popularity of these trips, with tours combining Stirling with Loch Lomond and Kelpies, and Glasgow with Loch Lomond.

Edinburgh (Edinburgh Daily News) February 27, 2026 – A lifelong central Scotland resident has revealed her top four day trips from Edinburgh, highlighting affordable and accessible escapes to Stirling, Glasgow, Dundee, and St Andrews amid the capital’s popularity as a tourist hub.​

As reported by Lorna Wallace in Business Insider, “I’ve lived in the area my whole life, and I love taking affordable day trips to other places. Cities like Stirling, Dundee, and Glasgow are easy to get to from Edinburgh.” She notes that while Edinburgh offers a “brilliant slice of Scotland, with plenty of historic sites, interesting museums, and scenic vistas,” venturing further reveals the country’s diversity.​

Wallace, who has fully utilised Scotland’s integrated rail system for spontaneous outings, emphasises that “no country is just its capital, and there’s plenty to explore beyond Edinburgh itself.” Her recommendations, all reachable by public transport, cater to history buffs, art lovers, and coastal seekers alike.​

Why Are Day Trips from Edinburgh So Popular?

Tourists flock to Edinburgh for its charm, but locals like Wallace urge day explorations to grasp Scotland’s breadth. According to UK Travel Planning, 21 top day trips exist, including these four, thanks to efficient trains and buses.

As detailed by Little Lost Travel, destinations like North Berwick complement Wallace’s picks, but her selections stand out for centrality and variety. Viator tours bundle Stirling with Kelpies and Loch Lomond, affirming accessibility.

Rick Steves forum users echo this, naming Glasgow, Dundee, and Stirling as direct-train favourites from Edinburgh.​

How Do You Reach Stirling from Edinburgh?

Stirling lies about an hour’s train from Edinburgh, with round-trip fares at £12. Scotrail offers direct services, as noted by UK Travel Planning for quick access to Doune Castle en route.

Pints, Pounds & Pâté describes the train ride as straightforward, emerging near the hilly town centre.​

Why Visit Stirling Castle?

Wallace praises Stirling Castle as “superior” to Edinburgh’s, less crowded with guided tours included, and more intriguing interiors atop volcanic rock. Scottish Guided Tours highlights its imposing views to the Wallace Monument and Highlands.​

As per Pints, Pounds & Pâté, it’s the site of William Wallace’s 1297 victory and Mary Queen of Scots’ coronation. Tours pass it en route to Glencoe, per Viator.

What Else to See in Stirling?

The Old Town Jail, a 10-minute walk from the castle, features actor-led “performance tours” on Victorian prison life, Wallace shares.

Settle Inn, Stirling’s oldest pub from the 1730s, offers authentic whisky experiences. The Wallace Monument, a short ride away, demands 246 spiral steps for panoramic views, she adds.​

What’s the Journey to Glasgow Like?

A one-hour train costs £16.80 round-trip, positioning Glasgow as Edinburgh’s “friendly competitor.” VisitScotland tours start with panoramic drives past River Clyde bridges.

Viator combines it with Loch Lomond for urban-nature blends.​

What Art Awaits in Glasgow?

Wallace recommends the mural trail for diverse street art spotted city-wide. Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Tenement House (early 20th-century time capsule), and Sharmanka Kinetic Theatre with mechanical shows follow.

The Duke of Wellington statue outside Gallery of Modern Art famously sports a traffic cone, a local jest. Viator notes George Square, Cathedral, and Necropolis too.​

How Accessible Is Dundee?

Under 1.5 hours by train from Edinburgh, Dundee has transformed with new attractions, per Wallace. Edinburgh Expert calls it the “City of Discovery,” walkable from the station.

Viator tours pair it with St Andrews and Dunfermline.​

What Are Dundee’s Must-See Museums?

V&A Dundee, opened 2018 near the station, boasts a Scottish design gallery and tartan history exhibits, Wallace favourites. RRS Discovery, built in Dundee for Scott’s 1901 Antarctica voyage, allows onboard exploration.

McManus Art Gallery & Museum covers city history; Verdant Works details jute industry.​

Travelling to St Andrews?

No direct train; opt for a £10 bus or train to Leuchars plus bus, totalling two hours. Little Lost Travel notes similar coastal ease.

What Draws Visitors to St Andrews?

West Sands beach suits winter walks; ruins of St Andrews Castle and Cathedral fascinate, Wallace says. The Old Course, world’s oldest golf site hosting The Open, offers strolls with medieval bridge and fudge from Fisher & Donaldson.

Viator includes it in Fife fishing village tours.​

What Practical Tips Apply to These Trips?

Scotland’s trains enable last-minute plans, Wallace stresses, with affordable fares suiting budgets. Sources like RTWin30Days suggest small-group tours for Loch Lomond combos.​

Rick Steves recommends advance booking; Reddit users affirm car-free feasibility via trains to these spots.

Weather varies, so layers are key; pubs like Settle Inn provide cosy respite.​

How Do These Trips Enhance a Scottish Visit?

Wallace’s insights prove Edinburgh’s vicinity unlocks history, art, and nature without overnights. As Pints, Pounds & Pâté puts it, Stirling alone tastes “rugged beauty”; scaled up, her quartet paints fuller Scotland.

Tourism data from VisitScotland and Viator shows rising interest, blending urban vibrancy with serene escapes. Locals and guides agree: these day trips reveal why Scotland captivates lifelong residents and newcomers alike.