Scotland Days Out

Famous for its culture, food, drink, sights and friendly nature, Scotland is one of the best places in the world for an epic day out. With the mystical tales, delights and sights of Scotland waiting for you to explore them, it is time to get planning your Scottish day trip! In this post, we’ll list some of the best days out in Scotland.

Scotland Days Out

• Edinburgh

• Stirling

• Inverness

• Dunblane

• Fairy Glens, Isle of Skye

Edinburgh

Edinburgh; Scotland’s capital and arguably its most famous destination. This city may be compact but it packs a punch! You could almost say it’s a city of two halves, with its medieval old town and its Georgian New Town, brimming with blooming gardens and neoclassical architecture. But there is also a hidden part of this city that you have to go underground to find! Thats right, the ‘city of the dead’ is underneath Edinburgh’s streets and you can take a tour.

Of course there is plenty to see above ground too, such as The National Museum of Scotland, Camera Obscura and World of Illusions and of course the Iconic Edinburgh Castle that sits atop castle rock, overlooking the city below. To really take in the views, take a stroll up to Arthur’s Seat in Holyrood Park. It’s an ancient volcano that is 251m above sea level and once you get to the top, you can enjoy 360-degree views of Edinburgh. Pack a picnic and make an afternoon of it!

Finish off your day out in Edinburgh with a visit to Johnnie Walker Princes Street and relax with a wee dram.

Stirling

Known as ‘a small city with a big history’, Stirling will capture your imagination as you immerse yourself in 900 years of history. Of course one of the most famous, and important, landmarks in Stirling is its castle. This 12th Century stone marvel sits high upon a craggy peak, overlooking the city and beautiful surrounding landscape. Due to its location and elevated position, it has been a key stronghold over many years, often passing between Scottish and English power throughout the ages. It was most famously the childhood home of Mary Queen of Scots and today, you can see how the royal apartments would have looked thanks to a huge restoration project. It’s a great way to kick off your day out, taking in the views over the city before later heading down to explore its cobbled, winding streets.

Stirling is also home to many other attractions including the Old Town Jail, Blair Drummond Safari Park, Dunblane Cathedral plus the William Wallace Monument, a key highlight in the Stirling Skyline.

If shopping is more your thing, you can soak up the character of Stirling while browsing the shops in the city’s shopping centre, Thistles. Or for more boutique shopping, head to the Victorian shopping centre, the Stirling Arcade. Then, make your way to Stirling’s high street, Murray Place and Port Street, for a refreshment stop in the sunshine.

Inverness

Inverness is the capital of the Scottish Highlands, that is well known for its location nearby Loch Ness, and makes for a fantastic day out in Scotland. There are many great things to do in Inverness such as wandering around the city, where you will see Ness Castle proudly overlooking the small city and Ness River. To really make the most of your day trip to Inverness, why not hop on a city bus tour. With 3 different ticket options giving you the choice to see the red route, the blue route or both routes. By taking the bus, it allows you to create your own city itinerary around Inverness.

The red route (iconic route) takes you out as far as Loch Ness and the blue route (essential route) takes you to more of the historical sights including Culloden Battlefield.

After a stroll, or a bus ride, around the city, head to Ness Islands. They are a collection of islands that sit in the centre of the River Ness and are a 25 minute walk from the city centre. There are beautiful nature walks around the island, all connected by old Victorian style bridges.

Finish off your day with some food at MacGregors. Its a great bar and restaurant to enjoy some live, traditional Scottish music. On a Sunday MacGregors is particularly busy as many enjoy the Sunday roast alongside the open music sessions. There are vegetarian and vegan options on the menu as well. If the weather is nice, they have a large open beer garden area plus they are dog friendly inside and out.

Dunblane

This peaceful, serene and pretty village was once the central point of trading and markets between the north of Scotland and the south of the country. Due to the mountainous landscape in the surrounding lands of Perthshire, the route through Dunblane acted as a linking route for traders venturing north or south in the country.

With evidence of settlements in Dunblane dating back as far as the 7th century, when Roman soldiers established a camp here, there is a fascinating amount of history here to behold. Spend your morning strolling through the town, taking in the quaint charm and spotting remnants of buildings and bridges dating back to the 15th century.

After lunch, visit one of the oldest buildings in Scotland; the beautiful Dunblane Cathedral. It was built on the site of a building dated as early as the 9th century. The main tower of the church is the oldest section of the current building, dating back to around 1070 AD.

The cathedral itself was erected in the 13th century and is currently one of 6 medieval cathedrals spread out across Scotland. In the 16th century, the roof of the cathedral collapsed, leaving it abandoned until a successful restoration project saw it restored in 1870.

Dunblane is also the home town of Scottish Olympic tennis Andy Murray and his brother Jamie who is also a champion in the sport. Make sure to look out for the commemorative post box and telephone box, which were painted gold after the two brothers won in the 2012 Olympic Games.

Fairy Glen, Isle of Skye

Situated just outside of the port town of Uig are the mystical, rolling hills of the Fairy Glen. This unusual and breathtaking section of Skye’s landscape is rich with ancient stories, tales, and mythology regarding how it was made and what creatures reside within its lush, green scenery.

The actual landscape of the Glen is believed to have been formed by another landslip, similar to that which formed the stunning Quiraing and the Storr. Over the coming centuries, this was then shaped and smoothed by the glacial movement that happened during the previous ice-age.

You can either reach the Fairy Glen by driving and parking close to the attraction or by parking in Uig and walking or catching a lift in the local shuttle bus. The latter is recommended as there is not a lot of parking available at the location itself. Either way involves walking but how long that is will depend on how you get there.

The walk from the pond up to the Fairy Glen is a steep incline that gets very muddy and slippery during busy periods and wet seasons. We highly recommend that you wear waterproof, sturdy shoes with good grip and a waterproof coat. Remember, the weather in Scotland can be changeable so wear appropriate clothing, think easy layers, and take essentials in your backpack such as water, snacks, a headtorch, a camera and an extra layer.

This walk will be so rewarding once you reach the mystical Fairy Glen, its definitely a memorable day out in Scotland.

Have you visited any of these places in Scotland? or have any other great suggestions for Scotland days out? Leave your thoughts and suggestions in the comments below.

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