10+ Best Attractions Around Edinburgh

Edinburgh is a city like no other: cosmopolitan, yet with a distinctly Scottish atmosphere. The capital of Scotland is brimming with culture, history, and grandeur: medieval palaces, churches, and other buildings stand side by side with fascinating modern architecture. Edinburgh has both a trendy and a classic foodie scene, and you can go on an extensive shopping spree or let loose at one of the nightclubs. Especially in the summer, there are many events and arts festivals: from jazz and blues to avant-garde (the world-famous Fringe Festival), film, and children’s theater, to name just a few.

It’s undoubtedly a wonderful city to spend a few days in. It’s also the perfect base for day trips by rental car to attractions in the Edinburgh area. This way, you can combine a lovely city break with road trips to idyllic spots in the Scottish Borders or the Scottish Highlands. Whatever your interests may be, you’ll find it in Scotland: ancient cities, countless castles, traditional fishing villages, sleepy hamlets, outdoor sports, golf courses, cultural festivals, wild landscapes, rugged coastlines, towering mountains, and mysterious lakes.

Below, we’ve put together some tips for day trips from Edinburgh in a rental car. You can also use (some of) our suggestions to plan a longer road trip. What are you waiting for? Rent a car in Edinburgh and hit the road!

Loch Lomond and Loch Katrine

Loch Lomond, located in the Trossachs National Park, is Scotland’s largest lake and one of its most beautiful. Picturesque villages like Balmaha and Luss line its shores. Park your rental car in one of these villages and admire the charming cottages and traditional cafés. To really get a feel for the loch, take a one-hour boat tour and visit the various islands in the loch. Other water activities are also available: swimming, of course, but also kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding, water skiing, sailing, and even windsurfing.

The surrounding national park offers a stunning landscape of mountains, lakes, forests, and valleys where you can go on long hikes or bike rides. There are also beautiful routes marked out for you to explore in your rental car, including Duke’s Pass, the most famous stretch through the heart of the Trossachs. A historic route runs through the Arrochar Alps that’s aptly named “Rest and Be Thankful.”

Less touristy is the road from Aberfoyle to Stronachlachar through the northern part of the Trossachs and the Queen Elizabeth Forest Park, where you’ll drive past the picturesque Loch Katrine. You can take a ride on a historic steamboat on that lake. There are several picnic spots along the shores.

Glencoe

In Scottish, a valley is called a “glen,” and the town of Glencoe is named after the valley carved out by the small Coe River. If you’re driving here from Loch Lomond, be sure to make a quick detour to Loch Awe along the way. From a lookout point along the A819, you can take beautiful photos of Kilchurn Castle reflected in the lake. You can enjoy the scenery from your rental car, but it’s even better if you put on your hiking boots and follow one of the trails through this valley. There are more than thirty official hiking and biking trails. The area around Glencoe Lochan might remind you of Canada. That might be true, because a certain Lord Strathcona planted trees from North America there in the late nineteenth century so that his Canadian wife would feel at home.

We recommend taking smaller roads as much as possible in Scotland, but if you’re driving from Edinburgh to Glencoe, take your rental car a short stretch on the M9. Just outside Falkirk, right alongside the highway, stand two enormous steel horse heads, thirty meters high: The Kelpies. On the other side of town lies the Falkirk Wheel, a unique boat lift that connects two canals and bridges a 24-meter difference in elevation!

Fort William and Glenfinnan Viaduct

From Glencoe, it’s just a short drive to Fort William, on the shores of Loch Linnhe. It’s the gateway to the highest mountain peak in Great Britain, Ben Nevis (1,345 m). In the winter, you can ski at the Nevis Range Mountain Resort; in the summer, you can enjoy beautiful forest hikes here. In the Glen Nevis valley, waterfalls cascade down the rocks, including the Steall Falls. The water flowing down from the mountain is used to make whiskey at the Ben Nevis Distillery.

Whether you’re a fan of the Harry Potter movies, old locomotives, or impressive viaducts, a visit to the Glenfinnan Viaduct is a must in all three cases. Kids love taking a train ride, but then you’ll miss the view of the viaduct’s high arches. If you park your rental car along the A380, it’s about a 15-minute walk along the Glenfinnan Trail to the best view of the Hogwarts Express steam locomotive.

Isle of Skye

It’s too far for a day trip from Edinburgh, but if you’re already in Fort William, it’s only a two-hour drive to the Skye Bridge, the bridge leading to the island of the same name. The northern part of Skye, Quiraing, is particularly impressive. The steep cliffs of Leath Falls attract crowds of (mostly Asian) tourists who come just to take a photo and then leave. As a result, the trails aren’t nearly as crowded as you might initially think. However, some sections are very steep and can get slippery after a rain shower. Make sure to wear good hiking boots on this hike. You should also be prepared for Scotland’s unpredictable weather: one moment the sun is shining, the next it’s pouring rain. So be sure to bring clothing to protect yourself from the rain. Experience hiking on narrow and steep trails is also a plus. You’ll be rewarded with scenery you’ve never seen before in your life!

Queensferry & Fife Coastal Path

Queensferry is much easier to reach from Edinburgh than the previous destination. With a rental car, you can drive to this town—with its colorful, painted houses lining winding, cobblestone streets—in half an hour. Queensferry is best known for its spectacular views of the Firth of Forth and the historic railway bridge. If you take a boat ride, you’ll have a beautiful view of this bridge and two other, more modern suspension bridges, and you can also visit Inchcolm Abbey on a small island.

On the north bank lies the village of North Queensferry. This is where the Fife Coastal Path begins, one of Scotland’s Great Trails. It’s a trail stretching no less than 183 kilometers that winds along the idyllic Scottish east coast. To walk the entire route, you’ll need about ten days, and most people only walk part of it. The trail is incredibly varied and conveniently divided into sections. The website Fife Coastal Path lists the distance and estimated walking time for each section, plus information about what you can see along the way. Using an interactive map, you can easily choose a section that best suits your interests.

Galloway Forest Park

The southwest of Scotland is often an overlooked corner of the country, and that’s completely unfair. Take, for example, Galloway Forest Park is a hidden gem well worth discovering. Just take the road leading there, which winds through stunning natural beauty, revealing a new panoramic landscape around every bend. The park itself consists of rugged mountains, ancient forests, and serene lakes. Hiking trails range from very easy to quite challenging climbs. Mountain bikers can also enjoy the thrilling, winding routes through the varied terrain. Along the way, you’ll spot deer and various bird species.

The park has Dark Sky Park status, allowing you to gaze at an impressive starry sky at night amid the tranquility of nature. The Milky Way is easily visible, as is the next-largest galaxy, Andromeda. A magnificent sight!

Clyde Valley Woodlands Trails

The Clyde Valley Woodlands National Nature Reserve is one of Scotland’s most ecologically rich areas. It is not a single nature reserve, but consists of six separate forests along the deep gorges of various rivers: the Clyde, the Avon, the Mouse, and the Nethan. These are, as it were, ribbons of “wild land” cutting right through South Lanarkshire. These valleys are too steep for farming or housing, which has allowed the flora and fauna to remain undisturbed for centuries. Explore the many trails through these ancient forests, or sit quietly by the water for a while. With a little luck, you’ll spot badgers, roe deer, otters, spotted woodpeckers, kingfishers, peregrine falcons, and much more.

The Clyde Valley near Lanark is less than an hour’s drive from Edinburgh. There are two places where you can park your rental car. There’s a small parking lot at Cartland Bridge, about one and a half kilometers northwest of Lanark on the A73. The other parking spot is a bit harder to find; it’s unofficial and located at the end of Bellefield Road on the north side of Lanark. You can find hiking trails along other small rivers on the website of Clyde Valley Woodlands.

Hadrian’s Wall & The Borders

Hadrian’s Wall, the Roman wall, is located in England, but Emperor Hadrian had it built to keep out invading tribes from what is now Scotland. Although it was never an official border between England and Scotland, the wall is very much a part of Scottish history. From Edinburgh, you’ll drive there through a region aptly named The Borders. This area stretches from the hills and moors in the west, through rolling valleys and fertile farmlands in the center, to the rugged coastline of Berwickshire in the east, with secluded coves and traditional fishing villages. It is dotted with castles, abbeys, and stately manor houses. On the way to Hadrian’s Wall, Melrose, on the banks of the River Tweed, makes for a pleasant stop. Among other sights, this quaint little town features the ruins of a massive 12th-century abbey. From the walled Harmony Gardens, you can look out over this abbey and the Eildon Hills. Five kilometers outside the town, right on the river, lies the romantic and imposing Abbotsford House, where the writer Walter Scott once lived. He wrote historical novels there, including *Ivanhoe*.

The forts and watchtowers along the thick walls bring the Roman era to life. Highlights include the forts at Wallsend in the west, and Birdoswald and Housesteads in the center. The latter is the best-preserved fort. A walking trail runs along the entire length of the wall, ending at the Solway Salt Marshes in the east. You can’t drive your rental car right up to Hadrian’s Wall, but there are plenty of places to park nearby.

Perthshire

Perthshire is located north of Edinburgh and promotes itself as “The Big Tree Country.” Its vast, lush forests, interspersed with lakes, streams, and waterfalls, make it the perfect destination for a day trip with the whole family. There’s plenty to see and do in this county. The historic market towns of Dunkeld, Comrie, Pitlochry, Killin, Kenmore, and Aberfeldy are all ideal for a day trip from Edinburgh. Your rental car will come in handy, as having your own transportation makes it easy to combine visits to several of them.

Near the county seat of Perth lies the grand Scone Palace, across the River Tay. It’s an impressive castle with beautiful gardens and a whimsical star-shaped maze. The Tay flows right through Perthshire, and the river—which can be fast-moving at times—is perfect for rafting. The streams near Blairgowrie are calmer, and you can spot beavers there. The northern part of the county is more mountainous, and there you can go canyoning: walking, swimming, scrambling, and rappelling through a river gorge. If you enjoy hiking through the woods, you really shouldn’t miss Tay Forest Park and Hermitage Bridge (near Dunkeld).

Stirling Castle & Doune Castle

If you've rented a car in Edinburgh, it's just an hour's drive to historic Stirling. Close to the old town center, the medieval Stirling Castle sits atop a jagged, volcanic rock. It is one of the largest and most important castles in Scotland. This fortress guarded the farthest downstream crossing point of the River Forth and is surrounded on three sides by steep cliffs. Battles have often been fought around this castle, and several Scottish kings and queens have been crowned there, including Mary, Queen of Scots. The current castle buildings date primarily from the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.

A little further to the northwest lies 14th-century Doune Castle, which, incidentally, was never fully completed. The striking gatehouse houses, among other things, the magnificent Lord’s Hall. It might look familiar to you, as the castle served as a filming location for *Monty Python and the Holy Grail*. It was also featured in the series *Outlander*, where it was called Castle Leoch.

Scotland is home to hundreds of castles and ruins of fortified strongholds. If you’re interested in them, Historic UK has a list of the best-preserved castles. This makes it easy to plan your own route to drive past Scottish castles in a rental car.

Rent a car and visit the best golf courses

St. Andrews is a seaside resort northeast of Edinburgh, often referred to as “The Home of Golf.” Even before you’ve hit a single ball, you’ll enjoy the drive along the east coast. You’ll pass through charming fishing villages like Elie, with its long sandy beach, and Anstruther, where you can park your rental car to take a boat trip to the Isle of May. This stretch of Scotland’s east coast is the birthplace of golf, and around St. Andrews you’ll find a wide selection of golf courses, including the oldest in the world. It’s aptly named the Old Course, featuring the famous Swilcan Bridge on the 18th hole. In the town itself, you can learn a lot about the history of golf at the British Golf Museum.

Scotland is a beloved destination for golfers. Not only because you can hit a ball on historic grounds, but also because the countless golf courses are surrounded by the stunning Scottish landscape. It would be impossible to list all the golf courses, but in addition to the aforementioned Old Course, there’s Carnoustie Golf Links, east of Dundee, and The Kings Course in Gleneagles are also popular. Whichever golf courses you want to visit, renting a car in Scotland is essential for getting there.

What about Loch Ness?

You can drive from Edinburgh to Loch Ness in your rental car, but the trip there alone can easily take four hours or more, as there’s plenty to see along the way. It’s best to set out very early or include Scotland’s deepest lake in a multi-day road trip. For a day trip, Inverness (the name says it all) is a much better starting point. Or rent a car in Aberdeen , which is about a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Loch Ness.

Why rent a car in Edinburgh?

Since there’s no direct public transportation to Scotland’s most beautiful spots, it’s best to rent a car. Of course, there are various organized tours, but then you’re dependent on set times and, above all, set routes. Nothing offers as much freedom as traveling in your own vehicle. Stop wherever you want, see what interests you, enjoy the route, and feel free to veer off course if the mood strikes. And all at your own pace—the perfect vacation!

Looking for more inspiration for your road trip through Scotland in a rental car? Visit Scotland has a list of no fewer than 22 spectacular driving routes off the main roads, featuring a range of amazing sights along the way.