Best Day Trips From Glasgow
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Best Day Trips From Glasgow
Whether you live in Glasgow or are simply visiting for a few days, there is plenty inside the city to keep you busy. But there are times when a change of scenery is needed, even in the most populated city in Scotland. And you are in luck – there are several places nearby for the best day trips from Glasgow. Get ready to explore!
From exploring an ancient castle to learning more about the mystery surrounding Loch Ness, spend the day away from Glasgow on a trip of self-discovery, learning, or just fun sightseeing. Take the bus, train, or drive and plan your itinerary ahead of time so you can see everything you want.
When heading out on your day trip, Glasgow luggage storage has you covered. Drop your bags on the way out of the city so your things are kept safe and sound while you are away. Check out the terrific choices below for the best day trip from Glasgow and start planning today.
Stirling Castle
Head to Queen Street Station and hop on the train. This intriguing site is only about a 30-minute ride. If you plan to drive, it will take you about 40 minutes from the Glasgow city center. The castle overlooks the Stirling Bridge and the battlegrounds of Bannockburn.
Historical figures, including Mary Queen of Scots, William Wallace, Robert the Bruce, and Bonnie Prince Charlie all played a part in making this castle one of Scotland’s most important and interesting castles. Book your tickets early to ensure you can see the inside of the castle.
Make a day of visiting Stirling Castle by also planning on checking out Stirling’s Old Town. The Old Bridge and Doune Castle are other popular attractions and there are several shops, boutiques, and cafes. Must-see special events are held throughout the year.
Oban
A day trip to the Hebridean Islands sounds perfectly lovely especially when you can explore the harbor town of Oban. While you are strolling through the settlement you can look out across the bay to see the beautiful old towns of Mull and Kerrera. Head up McCaig’s Tower for better views of the bay.
Sit down to a fresh seafood meal when you visit Oban. From mussels and scallops to fresh, juicy lobster, your mouth will be watering as soon as you enter one of the restaurants or cafes. You can take the train from Glasgow to Oban, but driving would be faster.
It will take about two-and-a-half hours to drive to Oban, but there are fascinating stops along the way making the trip very interesting. Stop by Castle Stalker which was featured in Monty Python and the Holy Grail and then visit the Kilchurn Castle on Loch Awe before getting to Oban.
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Loch Ness
Let’s face it, no trip to Scotland is complete until you have walked along the banks of Loch Ness and listened to locals’ accounts of seeing the mysterious Loch Ness Monster. Who knows, you might even catch a glimpse of Nessie while here. It is breathtakingly beautiful here and you’ll find lots of things to do.
There are several terrific towns along the loch for you to experience and the Loch Ness Centre & Exhibition is definitely a must-see. Other great places to check out include the Clansman Centre to learn about traditional Scottish culture and the ruins of Urquhart Castle.
This is a very long day trip and you might want to plan an overnight stay. Driving to northern Scotland and Loch Ness from Glasgow can take about four hours. There are a few travel companies that offer day tours from Glasgow to Loch Ness and the Highlands if you do not want to do all that driving.
Perthshire Highlands
Plan a day trip to Pitlochry right in the heart of the Perthshire Highlands. Visiting the highlands of Scotland should definitely be on your bucket list when you are planning a trip to Glasgow. The absolute beauty will take your breath away and the vastness of the region is almost mindboggling.
While here, visit the Queen’s View which is the best place in the Perthshire Highlands to view the untouched beauty of the area. The Schiehallion Mountain makes a lovely backdrop against the Loch Tummel, Faskally Wood also makes for a stunning backdrop.
You have to stop by the Edradour distillery and sample the national drink of Scotland, it is one of the trip’s highlights. Pitlochry is just over an hour and a half by car from Glasgow, but the scenery along the way is too good to miss if you travel by train.
Island of Great Cumbrae
Home of the smallest cathedral in Britain, Great Cumbrae is a terrific place to plan an interesting day trip from Glasgow. This adorable little town is only a ten-minute ferry ride from the town of Largs. If you visit during the summer months, expect to see lots of tourists enjoying this pretty island.
Rent a bicycle and take a long, leisurely ride around Great Cumbrae which is often referred to as the island of 1000 bicycles. If you are making the circuit around the island, you should plan on biking the full ten miles but never fear, there are plenty of places to rest along the way.
Take the train from Glasgow Central Station to Largs which will take about an hour. You will want to check out Largs a bit before you hop on the ferry to head to Great Cumbrae. Ferries depart every half hour so you have more than enough time to explore a bit before boarding the ferry.
Largs
This seaside town is located on the Firth of Clyde and is home to a lovely Victorian promenade. Home to the Largs Viking Festival, this annual event draws tourists from around the globe. Largs is also where you will catch the ferry to visit Great Cumbrae.
Since Largs is only about an hour from Glasgow by train, you can meander through this resort town in the morning, dine on fresh seafood in the afternoon and then jump on the ferry to the island of Great Cumbrae for more exploring.
Cafes, restaurants, shops, and even interesting street performances will grab your attention as you stroll through the streets of Largs. There is so much to see and do but you will want to plan your time wisely to ensure you have to visit both Largs and Great Cumbrae before catching the train back to Glasgow.
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Grab your friends and plan a fun, exciting day trip to a town or area near Glasgow so you can experience even more of the beautiful Scottish landscape. There are several excellent options for a day trip from Glasgow and there are also tour companies that offer inclusive day trips for your pleasure.
Resources
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g186534-Activities-c63-Glasgow_Scotland.html
https://www.visitscotland.com/destinations-maps/glasgow/see-do/day-trips-from-glasgow/
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/glasgows-best-day-trips
https://www.tripsavvy.com/day-trips-from-glasgow-4847094