The Skinny's favourite Scottish daytrips

We love a little trip – seeing the sights, catching some new smells, enjoying the fun of public transport. Here we've combined our favourite road trip itineraries from our annual Guides to Glasgow and Edinburgh: for more summer travel inspiration, pick up free copies of this year's Guides at venues across the country from 3 July.

Daytrips from Glasgow

Get in (over, or next to) the sea
Cumbrae (aka Millport, for the island’s sole town), is the ultimate Glasgow daytrip destination. Get the train to Largs, and board a ferry. Riding around the island on hired bikes (for one, two, or seven passengers) is a Millport rite of passage, but watch out for cars as you’re passing the ferry terminal! You might have brought a picnic, but Fintry Bay Patio & Restaurant is well worth resting at for the ice cream alone. Once you’re back on dry land you can get the bus up to Gourock, for a swim in the Gourock Outdoor Pool, a heated saltwater lido which just happens to be the cover star of Blur’s new album The Ballad of Darren. The views across the Firth of Clyde are so captivating you’ll have no choice but to stick around afterwards for dinner at Cafe Continental – maybe even followed by a show at Greenock’s Beacon Arts Centre.

Run for the Hills
There shouldn’t be too much explaining required for this one: make for the hills just north of Glasgow to visit Loch Lomond (of song fame) and the Trossachs National Park. Get the bus or the train straight to Tarbet, which sits about halfway up the loch on the western banks. From here there are a number of breathtaking hillwalking routes accessible, although most require a bit of experience to complete them comfortably. If you want to relax, you can instead jump on a Loch Lomond cruise – the Inversnaid Explorer is a longer option but more immersive. Photo by Gary Ellis via Unsplash

Auld Reekie
Central Edinburgh is a compressed patchwork of hills, mounds and staircases, so you’ll want comfy shoes for this one. Fruitmarket sits right next to the train station, so head there immediately for a glimpse into one of the capital’s foremost contemporary art spaces. From there, hit Piemaker for some emergency pies – ascend to its heavenly heights via the shops on Cockburn St (yes, we know how it looks – no, it’s not pronounced like that). Come back to the Royal Mile, and walk down the road to the Scottish Parliament building. Next, climb the winding road through Holyrood Park up Arthur’s Seat (we weren’t joking about those shoes) for a stunning 360° view. Descend into Newington for a drink in the Summerhall courtyard, and then make your way back to Rose Street in time for dinner at Hakataya. Who knows, maybe you stop at some pubs along the way – we won’t tell. As August approaches, the city plays host to the famed Edinburgh festivals: for an itinerary that’s tailored to your seasonal cultural needs, pick up a copy of our sister publication Fest. Photo by Adam Wilson via Unsplash

Daytrips from Edinburgh

The greater Edinburgh metropolitan area
Rise bright early and also very literally by starting your day with a Pentlands walk. Harlaw Reservoir (plus Black Hill if you’re up for a climb) is a relatively easy route and also handy for getting to your next stop: South Queensferry. Those travelling by car or bike can go via Jupiter Artland, Edinburgh’s contemporary sculpture garden-cum-Instagram trap, while those taking public transport can ride the 63 bus all the way from its first to last stop (ooh!). Book yourself onto a Forth Boat Tours cruise, leaving South Queensferry four times a day, for views of Cramond Island, the underside of those bridges, and a whole lotta seals (alternatively, if your legs haven't had enough, you can ascend to bridge level yourself and have a stroll over the Forth Road Bridge). Finally, grab a bite to eat at Down The Hatch, followed by a pint in The Hawes Inn (Robert Louis Stevenson is said to have stayed here whilst writing Kidnapped). Keep on your lookout for the Burryman, a local gent covered entirely in burrs who will be celebrated on 11 Aug – but if you'll be gone by then you can always add him on Facebook.

The beaches of East Lothian
Though the west coast of Scotland is generally considered more picturesque than the east (more hills, more angles etc), there’s plenty of craggy beauty nearby. Start the day with a train to Dunbar, where you can walk along the clifftop trail or take a paddleboarding tour to get to know the coastline better. Then get the bus back to North Berwick for an afternoon of shop-browsing and cafe-hopping: Orange Moon Records, upstairs from Steampunk Coffee, and Lockett Bros are just a few of the gems on offer. If your legs can handle it, top it all off with a walk up the conical Berwick Law.

The Bright Lights (fka Glasgow)
The bright lights of Glasgow are within easy striking distance of the capital – the journey is only 50 minutes by train, but be careful if you’re in a rush, there are two possible routes to Glasgow, and one takes twice as long. These slower trains are usually headed for Glasgow Central – if speed is what you’re after, look for Queen Street. Either way, always check the arrival time of your train and compare with the two coming after it – you might find that a later train will get you in sooner.

Hop off the train and up to Garnethill for brunch in Singl-end. From there you can take a stroll to Kelvingrove Park, and enjoy the museum’s selection of art and natural history exhibits – it’s also one of the best locations in the city for a game of hide and seek. Spend your afternoon working through the cafes and boutiques of Byres Road – De Courcy’s Arcade is an intriguing treasure trove hidden just behind the West End’s busiest street. Stop for a pizza dinner at Paesano and continue the day with a pub crawl – Inn Deep, Bananamoon and the Hug & Pint are all conveniently located along your route down Great Western Road. Finally, sample some of Glasgow’s famed nightlife on Sauchiehall Street before catching a bus back home at any half-hour mark throughout the night. 

Sunny Dundee (or Sundee for short)
If you like Scotland but are wondering where all the sun is, make for Dundee. The most striking feature of the city’s waterfront is undoubtedly the V&A – Scotland’s first design museum – which is conveniently located just across the road from the train station. Start your day there for a peek into their permanent collection and the Charles Rennie Mackintosh Oak Room, which has been reconstructed in the middle of the museum. Fans of Succession might recognise this building as the site of Kendall’s Rap – Dundee in the motherfuckin’ house. Once you’re done, head up to the West Port for lunch at the Parlour Cafe (or just grab an ice cream from Jannettas Gelateria if you’re after a wafer-light sweet treat) and then loop along to Sinderins to begin an afternoon of shopping. Follow the Perth Road back into town all the way from Le Freak to Thirteen Records: for an all-rounded journey, see if you can hit indie store Kist, EH9 Espresso, an exhibition at Generator Projects and the Art Bar on your way. Round things off with dinner at the DCA’s Jute Bar, via their summer exhibitions from Zineb Sedira and Saoirse Amira Anis. Alternatively, grab a fish and chips or a Luigi’s pizza, and make for the top of the Law to watch the sunset. Photo by Thomas Mills via Unsplash