The 11 Best Day Trips from Edinburgh

1.From Edinburgh: Glenfinnan, Glencoe, and Highlands Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 7,067 reviews · 12 hours · from $66Our pick

Travel from Edinburgh to Glencoe, Fort William, and Glenfinnan Viaduct with a live English-speaking guide such as Adam, Morag, or Mark. Expect long scenic drives, Harry Potter film sites, Scottish history, photo stops, and a 75-minute Glenfinnan visit. The Jacobite train is not included.

“Brilliant!! From beginning to end, Lee is the best guide. Friendly, funny and a wealth of information. Emma is the best driver. Safe, smooth and pleasant. Highly recommend”

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2.Edinburgh: Glenfinnan Viaduct, Glencoe & Fort William

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4,337 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $62Top rated

Set out from Edinburgh at 8:00 am for a 12-hour Highlands tour with an English-speaking driver-guide. Stop in Callander, Glencoe, Fort William, Glenfinnan, and Pitlochry. You may see the seasonal Jacobite Steam Train cross the viaduct, but the train ride itself is not included.

“Be prepared to see beautiful, unspoiled Scotland. Lots of history interspersed with music. Very caring and knowledgable drivers. A long day but totally worth it. Outlander and Potter fans will see where some scenes were filmed.”

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3.Edinburgh: Loch Ness, Glencoe & The Highlands

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3,771 reviews · 12 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $62

Spend a full day touring Scotland’s Highlands from Edinburgh with Stewart Tours. Visit Callander, Glencoe, Fort William, Fort Augustus, Loch Ness, and Pitlochry, with an optional boat cruise, regular photo stops, and lively English commentary from guides such as Keith, Anthony, Brian, and Ross.

“We were quite intimidated by the length of the tour however it honestly flew by. The commentary along the drive was nice and wide spread facts and jokes. The breaks to stretch always came at a nice time and broke up the long journey nicely. All of the stops were delightful and Anthony constantly was looking to give more than just the minimum, he was constantly going out of his way to make the experience special. We didn’t have any admission fees to pay - everywhere we went we were just able to walk around easily. In Loch Ness we didn’t take the optional £21 (each) boat tour but we…”

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4.Edinburgh: Glenfinnan Viaduct, Glencoe & Fort William

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 3,366 reviews · 12 hours · from $60Best value

Join an English-speaking driver-guide from Edinburgh for a 12-hour Highlands tour through Callander, Glencoe, Fort William, Glenfinnan, and Pitlochry. Expect scenic drives, Scottish stories, short walks, photo stops, and a chance to see the Jacobite Steam Train, though train times and service are not guaranteed.

“This tour was absolutely brilliant, and a huge part of that was thanks to our guide and driver, Brian! Brian is the perfect mix of skilled driver, storyteller, and entertainer. He kept us engaged the entire day with interesting Scottish facts, funny jokes, and great stories! The Highlands are breathtaking, and the Glenfinnan Viaduct was a highlight, but Brian’s energy and personality really elevated the whole experience. He genuinely loves Scotland, and that passion shines through in everything he does. Sadly not a single hairy coo spotted, but the trip was still so worth it. A long day that never felt long! We would 100% recommend this tour — and…”

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5.Scottish Highlands, Loch Ness and Glencoe Day Trip from Edinburgh

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,793 reviews · 13 hours (approx.) · from $74

Leave Edinburgh at 8am for a full day through Perthshire, the Cairngorms, Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle, and Glencoe. A live English-speaking driver-guide such as Alan, Terry, Ben, or Jamie shares Scottish stories from a comfortable coach. The optional cruise and castle visit cost extra and require cash.

“Unfortunately it poured the day of our tour so it was modified a bit, not that it was the tour guide’s fault but would have been more enjoyable if we got to see everything as scheduled.”

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6.Loch Ness, Glencoe & the Highlands Guided Day Tour from Edinburgh

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,233 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $85

Travel from Edinburgh through Callander, Glencoe, Fort William and the Great Glen to Loch Ness, with optional cruises and Urquhart Castle. Guides such as Mark, Holly, Sam and Nick add stories and humor, while the long coach ride covers a remarkable amount of Scotland in one day.

“The Scottish Highlands are majestic, Loch Ness spectacular and shown through the eyes of a true Scot with passion and pride. Mark was the perfect host who shared historical facts and anecdotes of this beautiful country. The tour was exceptional value and would highly recommend.”

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7.Outlander Film Locations Day Trip from Edinburgh

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,776 reviews · 9 hours 30 minutes (approx.)

Travel from Edinburgh in a small group to Midhope Castle, Doune Castle, Culross, Falkland, and Blackness Castle. Your English-speaking guide links Outlander scenes with Scottish history, while castle entry can be added to your booking or paid at check-in.

“We had a great day with Cara!! She knew sooo much history about Scotland as well as Outlander facts. All of her Scotland history ties in with Outlander! It was great!!”

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8.From Edinburgh: Loch Ness, Glencoe & The Highlands Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 990 reviews · from $61

This 12.5-hour Stewart.Tours outing takes you from Edinburgh through Callander, Glencoe, Fort William, Loch Ness, and Pitlochry. Your English-speaking driver-guide, such as Brian, Keith, Anthony, or Neil, provides history, music, humor, and practical tips. A Loch Ness cruise is optional.

“Great experience! Bryan our guide and driver is brilliant.”

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9.From Edinburgh: Outlander, Palaces, and Jacobites Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 937 reviews · 9 hours · from $83

Spend nine hours tracing Outlander filming sites from Edinburgh in a comfortable coach. Visit Culross, Doune Castle, Linlithgow Palace, Blackness Castle, and seasonal Midhope Castle, with guides such as Jamie, Linda, Adam, or Paul Santa bringing Scottish history and Jacobite stories to life. Entry fees and lunch are extra.

“Very enjoyable! The transportation was very comfortable, and the fact that it was a small group was very appreciated. The guide was pleasant and knowledgeable, and flexible with what we wanted to do. The castles were interesting. A pity that Midhope Castle is gutted on the inside, and so we could only see the outside. Still interesting to see it though.”

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10.From Edinburgh: Day Trip to Bamburgh and Alnwick Castle

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 212 reviews · 8.5 hours · from $68

Travel from Edinburgh into Northumberland with a live English-speaking guide, visiting Bamburgh and Alnwick Castle in one long day. Guides such as Cliff, Tim, Dave, and Emily are praised for lively stories. Castle admission costs extra, and Bamburgh gets less time than Alnwick.

“The trip was great, the only disadvantage was that we didn't get much time to spend in Bamburgh (45min) or at Alnwick Castle (2.5h).”

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11.From London: Day Trip to Edinburgh by Rail with Castle Entry

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 73 reviews · 15 hours · from $322

Travel independently from King’s Cross to Edinburgh on reserved trains, use an open-top bus to see the Royal Mile and Holyroodhouse, then enter Edinburgh Castle. A station representative helps at departure, but there is no guide with you in Edinburgh. First class is optional.

“Glad that I read the previous reviews and was prepared before hand for no tour guide. You are basically paying for all the tickets to and from Edinburgh, the bus tour and the castle that fits into one day. I personally found it worth it as I just wanted to fit my day into the city and head back to London. Although I agree that the city is too beautiful to witness it only for half a day, this ticket is definitely worth it if you’re in a time crunch and want to avoid the high last minute rail prices. The train and castle commute went pretty smoothly. The bus…”

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