One of the best things about Edinburgh is how much lies within easy reach of it. Coast, castles, fishing villages, rolling hills and the edge of the Highlands are all a comfortable drive away, which makes the city a brilliant base for exploring this part of Scotland. If you have a car, a few day trips turn a city break into something richer. Here are the best day trips from Edinburgh by car, roughly in order of how far you will drive.
East Lothian coast
Head east and within around 40 minutes you reach the East Lothian coast, one of the loveliest and most underrated stretches near the city. North Berwick is a cheerful seaside town with sandy beaches, a harbour and the Scottish Seabird Centre, with the dramatic clifftop ruin of Tantallon Castle just along the coast. Further on, Dunbar has its own harbour and coastal walks. It is an easy, rewarding day out, and perfect with children.
The Forth bridges and South Queensferry
Just west of the city, around 30 minutes away, South Queensferry sits beneath the three great Forth bridges, three centuries of engineering side by side. The old high street is pretty, there are boat trips out onto the Forth in season, and the view of the bridges is genuinely special. It is a short trip that packs a lot in, and easy to combine with somewhere else.
Fife and the East Neuk
Cross the Forth and the Kingdom of Fife opens up. The East Neuk, around an hour and a quarter away, is a string of postcard fishing villages, Anstruther, Crail and Pittenweem among them, with harbours, seafood and coastal paths. A little further, St Andrews is worth the drive for its ruined cathedral and castle, its university town atmosphere and, of course, the home of golf. It makes a full but memorable day.
Stirling
Around an hour to the west, Stirling is steeped in Scottish history. Stirling Castle rivals Edinburgh’s for drama, perched on its own crag, and the Wallace Monument nearby tells the story of Scotland’s fight for independence. It is an easy drive and a great day for anyone who enjoyed Edinburgh Castle and wants more.
Rosslyn Chapel
Just south of the city, around 30 minutes away, Rosslyn Chapel is a small but extraordinary medieval chapel, famous for its intricate carvings and the mysteries that surround them. It is a short trip that feels a world away from the city, and easy to pair with a drive into the countryside of Midlothian.
Falkirk: the Kelpies and the Wheel
Around 45 minutes west, Falkirk is home to two modern marvels. The Kelpies are vast, beautiful horse-head sculptures beside the canal, and the Falkirk Wheel is a rotating boat lift unlike anything else. Both are great with children and make for an easy, different sort of day out.
The Borders
Head south into the Scottish Borders and you find rolling hills, historic abbeys and grand houses. Melrose, around an hour away, has its ruined abbey and the house Sir Walter Scott built at nearby Abbotsford. The scenery is at its best in autumn, and the roads are a pleasure to drive.
Towards the Highlands
If you fancy a bigger day, the edge of the Highlands is within reach. Loch Lomond and the Trossachs sit around an hour and a half away, with lochs, mountains and pretty villages. Go further and places like Glencoe are a long day trip at roughly two and a half hours each way, so they suit an early start or, better, an overnight. For routes and ideas to string several of these together, our 3 to 5 day Scotland itinerary from Edinburgh is a good planner.
Drive times are approximate and depend on traffic and the route, so check before you set off, especially for the longer trips.
Linlithgow and the heart of history
Around 30 minutes west, Linlithgow is an easy and rewarding half-day. Linlithgow Palace, the birthplace of Mary, Queen of Scots, is a magnificent ruin set beside its own loch, with plenty of room for children to explore and a lovely walk around the water. It pairs well with Falkirk or the Forth bridges for a fuller day out.
A little further: Dunfermline and west Fife
Cross the Forth and, around 45 minutes away, Dunfermline is one of Scotland’s ancient capitals, with a grand abbey, the ruins of a royal palace and a beautiful park. Nearby Culross is a remarkably preserved historic village that has featured on screen more than once, and feels like stepping back several centuries. It is a quieter, less obvious day out that rewards the drive.
Planning your drives
A few things make day trips run more smoothly. Set off reasonably early for the longer destinations to make the most of the day and beat the traffic out of the city. Check the route and parking at your destination before you go, as popular spots can be busy in summer. Pack layers and waterproofs whatever the forecast, especially for the coast and the hills. And build in time simply to stop and enjoy the view, which is often the best part of a Scottish drive. With the car parked free and ready at the apartment, you can be flexible and go where the weather is best on the day.
Why a base with free parking makes it easy
All of this is far easier when the car is parked free and ready to go. Parking in Edinburgh is one of the city’s genuine headaches, and paying by the night to store a car eats into a trip. Staying somewhere with complimentary on-site parking removes that entirely, and means you can head out on a whim and come back to a guaranteed space.
That is exactly what we offer at Ocean Serviced Apartments in Western Harbour. Our apartments with free parking include a space in our secure underground car park, and our blog on serviced apartments with parking explains how much that can save. The waterfront location also gets you onto the main routes out of the city quickly, east along the coast or west towards the bridges. Our location page and transport page show how it all connects.
The best of both worlds is to keep the car for the days out and use the tram and bus for the city itself, which is quicker and cheaper than driving into the centre. Autumn is an especially good season for driving out of the city, as our guide to visiting Edinburgh after the festival describes.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best day trips from Edinburgh by car? The East Lothian coast, the Forth bridges at South Queensferry, Fife and the East Neuk, Stirling, Rosslyn Chapel, Falkirk’s Kelpies and the Borders are all within easy reach, with the edge of the Highlands a longer drive.
How far is the Highlands from Edinburgh by car? Loch Lomond and the Trossachs are around an hour and a half away, while places like Glencoe are roughly two and a half hours each way, better suited to an early start or an overnight.
Do I need a car for day trips from Edinburgh? A car gives you the most freedom and reaches places public transport does not, though some trips like South Queensferry, Stirling and North Berwick are also reachable by train. Having a car parked and ready makes spontaneous trips much easier.
Where can I stay in Edinburgh with free parking? Ocean Serviced Apartments in Western Harbour includes complimentary underground parking with every stay, so the car is always ready for a day out.
When is the best time of year for day trips from Edinburgh? Spring and summer give the longest days and the best chance of good weather, while autumn brings spectacular colour to the Borders, Fife and the hills. Many attractions are open year round, so check seasonal opening times before you travel, especially in winter.
Which day trips are best with children? North Berwick and the East Lothian coast, the Kelpies and Falkirk Wheel, and Stirling Castle are all firm family favourites, with plenty of space to run around and lots to see.
Make Edinburgh your base for exploring Scotland
With a comfortable apartment and free parking on the waterfront, Edinburgh is the perfect base for exploring this corner of Scotland. Take a look at our two-bedroom apartments, then request a quote with your dates, or call the team on 0131 553 7394.