Day trips · By train, bus or car · Checked against official sources
Day Trips from Edinburgh: Stirling Castle, Coast, St Andrews and Glencoe, from £18.50
Find your Edinburgh experience
How to choose
Four trips, from a quick coast to a Highland glen. Travel time and how much of the day you want to spend decide which one fits.
Good to know
- Stirling Castle has no car parking except accessible and coaches, so the train or bus is the cleanest approach.
- No direct Edinburgh to Glencoe public transport appears in these facts; plan via Glasgow.
| Option | Our verdict |
|---|---|
| Stirling Castle · 0.5 mile uphill walk from the station | An easy castle day by train or bus, with online entry saving money. |
| North Berwick and East Lothian · 30 minutes by car or train from Edinburgh Waverley | The quickest seaside day from Edinburgh. |
| St Andrews · under two hours by train and bus | A compact town with golf, cathedral ruins and a medieval centre. |
| Glencoe · over two hours from Glasgow by bus | A Highland glen for a long day, or an overnight. |
| East Neuk · connect from St Andrews by bus | Fishing villages and part of the 117-mile Fife Coastal Path. |
Stirling Castle: a crown of Scottish history, online entry from £18.50
The castle sits above the town, reached by a 0.5 mile uphill walk from Stirling train and bus station. It is open daily, with last entry one hour before closing.
Book online in advance for the best price; Historic Scotland members enter free.
- Take the train or bus to Stirling station, then walk 0.5 mile uphill to the castle.
- Book online in advance to pay the lower entry price.
- The castle is open daily from 9.30am; from April to September it closes at 6pm, and from October to March at 5pm.
- Last entry is one hour before closing; the castle is closed on 25 and 26 December.
Good to know
- The car park is closed to cars except coaches and accessible parking; use Castleview Park and Ride.
- Suitcases and large rucksacks over 30 litres are not allowed inside, and there is no luggage storage.
| Item | £ per adult | US$ |
|---|---|---|
| Stirling Castle, online adult entry | £18.50 | ≈ US$24 |
| Stirling Castle, in-person adult entry | £20.50 | ≈ US$27 |
| Stirling Castle, online child entry | £11 | ≈ US$14 |
| Stirling Castle, online concession entry | £15 | ≈ US$19 |
Edinburgh tours and activities
Online entry is £18.50; book ahead and walk 0.5 mile uphill from the station.
Prices checked 23 Sep 2026 · per person, tickets and transport, excluding accommodation
St Andrews: golf, ruins and a medieval town
St Andrews is under two hours from Edinburgh by train and bus, or about 1 hour 30 minutes by car. The town is compact enough to explore on foot.
Its sights include the ruined cathedral, the World Golf Museum and the medieval university streets.
- Take the train from Edinburgh to Leuchars, then a short bus ride into St Andrews.
- Walk the town centre to see the university, the cathedral ruins and the golf museum.
- Use the local bus if you plan to visit the fishing villages of the East Neuk.
Good to know
- From Edinburgh, the journey by car takes about 1 hour 30 minutes.
By train and bus
Under two hours from Edinburgh, with a short bus connection at Leuchars.
By car
Roughly 1 hour 30 minutes from Edinburgh; parking is your responsibility.
St Andrews is under two hours away; the town is compact and best explored on foot.
Prices checked 23 Sep 2026 · per person, tickets and transport, excluding accommodation
North Berwick and East Lothian: the quick coast
East Lothian is 30 minutes by car from Edinburgh. Trains from Edinburgh Waverley serve Musselburgh, Prestonpans, Longniddry, Drem, North Berwick and Dunbar.
- Take a train from Edinburgh Waverley to North Berwick or any East Lothian station.
- Drive east on the A1, about 30 minutes from Edinburgh.
- Explore the coast by bus if you want to hop between towns; East Coast Buses and Lothian Buses serve the area.
Good to know
- Trains stop at several towns, so you can tailor the day to one place.
By train
Trains from Edinburgh Waverley serve North Berwick and other East Lothian towns.
By car
A 30-minute drive, with the A1 giving easy access.
The East Lothian coast is the quickest day trip from Edinburgh.
Prices checked 23 Sep 2026 · per person, tickets and transport, excluding accommodation
Glencoe: a Highland glen, a long day from Edinburgh
Glencoe sits in Lochaber Geopark, between Loch Leven and the mouth of the glen. Reaching it from Edinburgh goes via Glasgow, where a bus takes a little over two hours to the Pass of Glencoe.
The West Highland Way passes over Rannoch Moor and down into Kinlochleven, and Glencoe Mountain Resort lies on Rannoch Moor.
- Get to Glasgow, then take a CityLink bus to the Pass of Glencoe, a little over two hours.
- Alternatively, take a train from Glasgow Queen Street to Crianlarich or Bridge of Orchy, then continue by car.
- If driving, the route from Glasgow to Glencoe takes just over two hours.
Good to know
- Parking is widely available, and there are filling stations in North Ballachulish and Glencoe village.
By bus via Glasgow
A CityLink bus from Glasgow reaches the Pass of Glencoe in a little over two hours.
By car
From Glasgow, the drive takes just over two hours; Fort William is half an hour beyond.
East Neuk: fishing villages and the Fife Coastal Path
After St Andrews, a local bus runs to the fishing villages of the East Neuk and on to Dundee. The Fife Coastal Path runs 117 miles from Kincardine to Newburgh, so you can walk a short stretch.
- Reach St Andrews first by train to Leuchars and bus, then take the local bus along the East Neuk.
- Walk part of the Fife Coastal Path from one fishing village to the next.
Good to know
- The path is long; pick a short section for a day trip.
If you only do one
Stirling Castle is the easiest full day by train: it is a 0.5 mile uphill walk from the station, and the castle is open daily. Choose North Berwick for a quick coast, St Andrews for a compact town, or Glencoe if you want a Highland glen and can start early.
Good to know
- North Berwick is 30 minutes by car; St Andrews is under two hours; Glencoe is over two hours from Glasgow.
What it costs, and where to book
| Plan | Tickets and transport | Book |
|---|---|---|
| Stirling Castle online adult entry | £18.50 | – |
Prices checked 23 Sep 2026 · per person, tickets and transport, excluding accommodation. Amounts over 20 are rounded up. Ticket prices are per person for the first reviewed ticket and change by date.
Where a train or bus does the work
Stirling, North Berwick and St Andrews are straightforward by public transport. Glencoe is a longer day and works best with a car or an early start from Glasgow.
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Questions people ask
How do I get to Stirling Castle without a car?
Take the train or bus to Stirling station and walk 0.5 mile uphill. The castle car park is closed to cars except coaches and accessible parking.
Is St Andrews a realistic day trip from Edinburgh?
Yes, under two hours by train to Leuchars and a short bus ride; by car it is about 1 hour 30 minutes.
Which East Lothian towns does the train from Edinburgh serve?
The line from Edinburgh Waverley serves Musselburgh, Wallyford, Prestonpans, Longniddry, Drem, North Berwick and Dunbar.
Can I reach Glencoe from Edinburgh by public transport in one day?
No direct service appears in these facts. Travel to Glasgow and take a CityLink bus to the Pass of Glencoe, a little over two hours.
What is the Fife Coastal Path?
It runs 117 miles from Kincardine to Newburgh, including the East Neuk coast.
Plan deeper in Edinburgh
Sources (4)
Every figure above was checked on the dates shown.
- Historic Environment Scotland, Stirling Castle: Plan your visit — www.historicenvironment.scot/visit/all/stirling-castle/plan-your-visit/ (checked 2026-09-23)
- VisitScotland, North Berwick Visitor Guide — www.visitscotland.com/info/towns-villages/north-berwick-p240511 (checked 2026-09-23)
- VisitScotland, St Andrews — www.visitscotland.com/destinations-maps/st-andrews/ (checked 2026-09-23)
- VisitScotland, Glencoe — www.visitscotland.com/places-to-go/glencoe (checked 2026-09-23)