Weekend & Day Trips from Edinburgh, Scotland

1. Burntisland

Burntisland is a Fife coastal parish found in the Firth of Fife on the northern shore. The earliest known records of Burntisland as a town were from the 12th century when the Dunfermline Abbey monks controlled the harbor and surrounding area. The parish later developed as a fishing village that provided fish to Rossend castle. Burntisland is less than one hour from Edinburgh.

The annual Highland Games takes place in Burntisland every July and the town is also home to one of the oldest golf clubs on earth. These two attractions have made Burntisland famous and attract visitors from around the world; however, there are several other attractions and activities to enjoy.

Burntisland provides access to the Fife Coastal Path and beach where there are a leisure center and a carnival in the summer. Guided walking tours of the town are also available in the summertime, and the Burntisland Library & Museum offer regular free events for kids and exhibits on Scottish and Burntisland history. Visitors can also go boating in the Burntisland Harbour.

2. Crail

Crail is found in East Neuk of Fife and began as a settlement with origins dating back to the 800s. Robert the Bruce deemed Crail a royal burgh in 1310, and the town has thrived since, despite a population of fewer than 2,000 people. Visitors to the beach can also find fossilized trees that date back to the Carboniferous period.

People who love fresh seafood and world-renowned food should visit Crail during the annual Food Festival that happens in the charming seaside harbor town. The Lobster Hut is a top-rated restaurant attraction that serves cooked-to-order crab and lobster, and Nosebag offers traditional Scottish cuisine that is sourced from local farmers. There are also many historical attractions to explore and see, including a 17th-century tollbooth tower, the Isle of May, which is a natural reserve, and the Crail Museum.

3. Elie

Elie is a charming seaside resort town in East Neuk of Fife that sits on golden sand beaches and has a rich history dating back to the 17th century. Yachts, large boats, and sailboats are often seen in the harbor, and windsurfing, swimming, and sunbathing are popular in the surrounding bay. The population of Elie is only around 1,000, but during the summer when the wealthy residents of Glasglow and Edinburgh retreat to their summer homes in Elie, the population can triple. Visitors can get to Elie by car, bus, or ScotRail in 1 ½ -2 ½ hours depending on mode of travel.

Other popular attractions include the two golf courses and many historic buildings and homes in the area, including a summer house constructed for Lady Janet Anstruther, daughter of a wealthy Scottish merchant, and known for her incredible beauty and skills of flirtation, in 1760. Elie is also home to great restaurants, art galleries, and boutiques, some of which are shared with the Earlsferry.

4. Falkirk

Just 23 miles from Edinburgh in the Forth Valley is Falkirk, a medium-sized town with a populous surrounding area in the Falkirk Council Area. The city was once center of the iron and steel industries, but now relies more on retail and tourism, and was once voted as Scotland’s most beautiful town. Historically, Falkirk is known for being the town where William Wallace was defeated by Kind Edward I of England.

Falkirk is home to the largest equine statues in the world, The Kelpies, as well as the only rotating boat lift anywhere on earth. Blackness Castle is one of the most popular attractions in Falkirk. The 15th-century castle was constructed to resemble a ship and sits on the promontory, jutting out into the Firth of Forth. Visitors to Falkirk often spend the day boating on the canals where they can use the boat lift or cycling on the National Cycle Network Routes and hiking the woodland trails. You can also take private tours of the Outlander television show filming locations, castles, and Highlands with professional guides.

5. Fife Coastal Path

The Fife Coastal Path is made of several paths along the coast of Fife that connect towns from Kincardine to Newburgh, divided into eight distinct sections. Kincardine to Limekilns is an eleven-mile section that includes a nature preserve and iconic bridges. The next section continues seventeen miles to Burntisland and features HM Naval Base, Rosyth Castle and Church, a railway bridge, 14th-century castles and gardens in Aberdour, and Port Laing Beach. Continue the path onward fourteen miles to Buckhaven and see monument to Alexander III, Lava flows along the coastline, Seafield Tower, Dysart Harbour, Wemyss Castle, and what remains of Macduff Castle—said to once have been the home of the Thane of Fife who murders Macbeth.

The next route connects Buckhaven to Elie and is outlined by thirteen miles of scenic beaches, an abandoned railway, and the Dumbarnie Wildlife Preserve. The next sixteen miles take hikers to Cambo Sands and is a rougher path with geological interest that crosses several small fishing villages and the ruins of Ardross as well as Fife Ness. From Cambo Sands to Leuchars, travel fourteen miles of path that should be reserved for experienced or advanced hikers and passes through St. Andrew’s, Babbet Ness, and the Eden Estuary.

The next sixteen miles to Wormit Bay skirt the military base and offers sites such as the 12th-century Romanesque church and the Tentsmuir Forest Forestry Commission National Nature Reserve. The last section of the Fife Coastal Path connects to Newburgh and is another fifteen miles of challenging terrain that passes through fields, forest, and offers river views and a stop at Balmerino Abbey. Fife Coastal Path Map

6. Glasgow

Glasgow is a large city that grew from being a small agricultural settlement along River Clyde to the largest seaport in the country and a major center of the Scottish Enlightenment of the eighteenth century. Throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the population continued to grow; the city is now a trendy attraction for people all around the world.

Glasgow is the perfect city for a day trip or weekend away from Edinburgh. The largest city in Scotland offers plenty to do and many attractions to see, including world-renowned museums, art galleries, historic sites, parks, retailers, bars and pubs, and restaurants. There are also sightseeing walking or bus tours that will take visitors to all the best and most popular sites around Glasgow. The city is also a UNESCO City of Music with an average of 130 musical events each week, and it is also the home of the largest winter music festival in the world, Celtic Connections. Glasgow Map

7. Glencoe

Venture into the Wild Land of Glencoe to experience Scottish culture and history in a town where time has slowed down, and the natural world remains unspoiled. Myth and legend surround the Glencoe and Loch Leven region, where movies such as Braveheart, Highlander, and Harry Potter Prisoner of Azkaban were filmed. The village sits at the foot of the Glencoe Mountains along the River Coe and Loch Leven.

Visitors can spend time at the Glencoe and North Lorn Museum to learn about the infamous Glencoe Massacre, and many walks are available that take people past iconic sites. Glencoe is also popular for golf in the summer and snow sports in the winter.

8. Glentress Forest

Glentress Forest serves as Tweed Valley Forest Park gateway and is just an hour's drive from Edinburgh. Glentress has numerous hiking and mountain biking trails that span more than fifty miles. There are also trails designated for horseback riding. The park also has modern amenities, including the Glentress Peel Café, a bike rental station, toilet and changing facilities that are clean and well maintained, and a Wild Watch Center.

The Glenforest Peel Center is also where most of the trails start, and additional parking is also available. Trails sometimes close due to weather conditions, and visitors are encouraged to check the forestry and land website before hiking. Glentress Forest

9. House of Bruar

The House of Bruar is more than just a Scottish country clothing store. This retail shop in Perthshire is open seven days per week, excluding Christmas and New Year’s Day and is home to The House of Bruar Art Gallery, House of Bruar Restaurant, The Food Hall, and a retail shop with sporting equipment, clothing, country gifts and more are sold. The Food Hall is further broken down into The Butchery, ,p>The Delicatessen, The Drinks Cabinet, Confectionery, Hampers & Gift Boxes, Smoked Fish & Meat, Preserves & Condiments, The Bakers, and Tea & Coffee. All foods are traditional Scottish cuisine, and online delivery is also available. Visitors can easily spend an entire afternoon shopping and dining at the House of Bruar.

10. Inverness

Inverness is known around the world as the home of Loch Ness and is a beautiful gem in the heart of the Scottish Highlands. There are many more great attractions in the area like the Victorian Market, which has been a place to find dozens of local, independent retailers since 1890. There are also lots of outdoor activities to enjoy, including hiking the mini-isles of Ness Islands, and kayaking or boating on the Caledonian Canal. The most popular attraction of Inverness is the Inverness Castle overlooking River Ness and the Highland hills.

Visitors also get free entry into the Inverness Museum & Art Gallery at Castle Wynd. Guided tours of Inverness on foot or bus are available, and most tours include the locations that are linked to Outlander, which takes place in Inverness, though it was filmed in Falkland.