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Telegraph
19-05-2025
- Telegraph
The 15 best day trips in and near Edinburgh
Why would you come to Edinburgh to get out of Edinburgh, you may ask? The city is endlessly fascinating with more than you could explore in a month of Sundays. But perhaps you are tired of pounding pavements, busy crowds or ticking off 'must-see' sights? Or has curiosity about other parts of Scotland crept in, leaving you wondering what you're missing outside Auld Reekie? Happily it's easy to reset, recharge and refresh by heading out of town for a day. You'll find historic houses and pretty villages; woodland walks, surfing and mountain-biking; beaches, gardens – even two city alternatives. After all, variety is the spice of life. All our recommendations below have been hand selected and tested by our resident destination expert to help you discover the best day trips in Edinburgh. Find out more below, and see our guides to the city's best hotels, restaurants and cafes, nightlife, pubs and bars, shopping, things to do and things to do for free. Find a day trip by type: Best for history Abbotsford The first romance novel superstar, Sir Walter Scott more or less invented tourism in Scotland. A hopeless romantic and obsessive collector, he built his fantasy of Scottish Baronial architecture on the banks of the Tweed, furnishing it accordingly extravagantly and nearly bankrupting himself in the process. Planning a family or group visit to Abbotsford, his extraordinary country house and estate? Consider booking the private Scott-Hope wing: after-hours you'll have the glorious walled garden to yourselves. And do arrive by Borders Railway – Scott would approve. Contact: Area: Tweedbank How to get there: take the train from Waverley Station to Tweedbank Station (59 minutes), walk (20 minutes) to the house. Note: Abbotsford minibus operates in the summer. Dunkeld For a small place, Dunkeld delivers a lot: from a cathedral dating from 1318 (you can still attend services and bells are still rung) to a Great British Bake Off contestant's bakery. National Trust cottages and tempting shops are a draw, as is the Taybank Hotel's riverside pub. It's surely the prettiest town in the Highlands, but don't miss a walk in the nearby Hermitage, the Duke of Atholl's pleasure ground – all dramatic waterfalls and fabulous follies. Contact: Area: Perthshire How to get there: by car, driving time is around one hour and 15 minutes; by rail from Waverley Station to Dunkeld Station (1 hour and 40 minutes). Culross You won't have pretty Culross (pronounced 'Coo-rus') to yourself, thanks to Outlander fans. But come early or stay late to enjoy the well-preserved 16th-century village, all steep cobbled streets of white-harled houses and red pan-tile roofs. Don't miss the painted wooden ceilings in the Palace (and the hidden garden) or the Red Lion Inn with its equally colourful painted ceiling. And do consider taking in Dunfermline Abbey and Palace on your way. Contact: Area: Dunfermline, Fife How to get there: driving time is around 50 minutes. Or, take the train from Waverley Station to Dunfermline Station, then take bus 8A from Dunfermline Bus Station (a total journey of 1 hour and 45 minutes). Newhailes This Palladian gem is uniquely interesting – and controversial. Rather than restored or recreated, it has been kept exactly as it was when given to the National Trust in 1997, right down to the candlewick bedspreads and cowboy lampshade. You'll get a good lunch or tea in the Stables café before perusing the second-hand bookshop or rewarding children with an adventure playground visit and ice cream in The Dairy. Contact: Area: Musselburgh How to get there: by car, driving time is around 30 minutes; by rail from Waverley Station to Newcraighall Station the journey is around 12 minutes, followed by a 20-minute walk. Rosslyn Chapel After years of painstaking restoration work this remarkable chapel – made famous by The Da Vinci Code novel and film – is now open to visitors in its full, fascinating glory. Do take advantage of the knowledgeable, engaging guides who make it come alive, before seeing the romantic ruins of Rosslyn Castle (part of which is now a Landmark Trust holiday let). Continue your walk along the wooded banks of the River Esk, gloriously carpeted with bluebells in the spring. Contact: Area: Midlothian How to get there: driving time is around 30 minutes. Best for nature Glentress Forest Enjoying your holiday but need a break from clamour and crowds? If you need to get clean air into your lungs consider this Scottish Borders Forestry Commission network of award-winning biking trails, from beginner to expert. There's a zip wire for thrill-seekers, walking trails and a café, plus a shop for bike hire. With luck you might even spot a resident osprey. Contact: Area: Peebles How to get there: driving time is approximately 1 hour. Dawyck Botanic Gardens This more intimate relation of Edinburgh's Royal Botanic Garden, hidden in the Borders, makes a lovely day trip from the city. The amazing collection of trees – some dating to 1680 – is awe-inspiring. The colourful rhododendrons and azaleas in spring followed by sky-blue Himalayan poppies at Dawyck Botanic Gardens in the summer are a joyful sight, while autumn brings a valedictory blaze of autumn leaves. Have lunch or tea and embrace the calm. Contact: Area: Scottish Borders How to get there: D riving time is around one hour and 10 minutes. Best for culture Glasgow Street Art Tours Worried about getting Stendhal syndrome after completing a full circuit of the museums and galleries in Edinburgh? There's nothing like the reviving effect of contrast, so head to Glasgow for a walking tour of the city's street art scene. It's a great way to get to grips with the city's creative energy. And if you're left needing some formal yin with your yang, visit the magnificent Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. Contact: Area: Glasgow How to get there: T ake the train from Waverley Station to Glasgow Queen Street Station (around 60 minutes). Marchmont House Tours of this under-the-radar, privately owned and exquisitely restored Palladian mansion in the Borders countryside are available on selected dates throughout the year (and you can also book a private tour). With architecture by William Adam and Sir Robert Lorimer it's a stunning setting for the mind-blowing collection of art and furniture, from classical to contemporary. And if you like the estate's rush-seated chairs, call into nearby Marchmont Workshop for a bespoke one of your own. Falkland As close to a storybook town as they come, Falkland Palace and the village around are part of a longstanding conservation area. Dominated by the fine Renaissance building (fans of real tennis will be thrilled), with a physic garden and orchard, the palace was a favourite retreat for Mary, Queen of Scots. The village is also popular with visitors, not just for its unspoilt architecture, but also for tempting shops, tearooms and old-school pubs. Contact: Area: Falkland, Fife How to get there: driving time is approximately one hour. Traquair House If a stately home can be described as cosy, this fairytale house in the Borders is it. Since 1491 royalty has often been found here – like Mary Queen of Scots with baby King James VI, his cradle still at the foot of the bed. Children will love the guidebook, playground and the maze, and you can even stay overnight – the Lower Drawing Room becomes your sitting room and bar, with breakfast served in the Still Room. Contact: Area: Innerleithen, Peebleshire How to get there: driving time is around one hour. Dundee UNESCO City of Design and home to the Eden Project, present and past literally sit comfortably side by side here, from the ultra-contemporary V&A Dundee to the 20th-century Antarctic exploration ship 'Discovery'. The Verdant Works museum in Dundee recreates jute factory workers' lives while new distilleries and breweries are popping up all over the city. And what's more, eight minutes on the train will take you to Broughty Ferry's sandy beach and a 15th-century castle. Contact: Area: Dundee How to get there: Take the train from Waverley Station to Dundee Station or drive – both journeys take around 90 minutes. Best for beaches Seacliff Beach This secluded beach on a private estate has more to offer than tide pools, paddling and building sand castles. With photogenic views of the Bass Rock and Tantallon Castle and a miniature Victorian harbour carved from layers of red limestone, Seacliff Beach is worth a visit even on the dreariest day. Tired of beach-combing? Pack some sandwiches and explore the woods where you'll find the hidden, haunting remains of Seacliff House and 16th-century Auldhame Castle. Contact: Area: East Lothian How to get there: Driving time is around 50 minutes (note: there is a £5 charge for parking). The East Neuk The characterful harbour villages of the East Neuk of Fife are well known for their considerable charm; built around handsome stone harbours they still have a strong community feel. Consider walking the coastal path from Elie where you can play cricket on the beach or use the public sauna after a cold water swim, then continue to Crail for fish, chips and ice cream. With luck you'll find an art, music or food festival in Fife, too. St Abb's Head Popular North Berwick tends to steal attention but for coastal drama you can't beat this hidden village further along the coast. Surrounded by cliffs and astonishing rock formations watched over by Stevenson's nine-metre tall lighthouse, it's also home to nesting seabird colonies and in autumn, grey seals. Scoff a crab sandwich whilst admiring views from the harbour, or take a dolphin-spotting boat tour. Carry on to Coldingham beach – surfers, paddle boarders and children love it. Contact: Area: Berwickshire How to get there: Driving time is around 90 minutes. How we choose Every attraction and activity in this curated list has been tried and tested by our destination expert, to provide you with their insider perspective. We cover a range of budgets and styles, from world-class museums to family-friendly theme parks – to best suit every type of traveller. We update this list regularly to keep up with the latest openings and provide up to date recommendations. About our expert Somewhere between New Town ladette and Old Town doyenne, Linda has a passion for tunnock's teacakes and a Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde personality, making Edinburgh her perfect city.
Times
13-05-2025
- Times
A Scottish architect's Italian Renaissance dream is on sale for £2.7m
The Scottish architect John Kinross (1855-1931) was renowned for his spectacular restorations of older properties, including most famously the Falkland Palace, once the favourite retreat of Mary, Queen of Scots. Having toured Italy extensively during his lifetime, an Italian influence was obvious in much of his best work. Not least in the design of his own home, the bellissima 33 Mortonhall Road in the Grange area of southern Edinburgh. The A listed six-bedroom villa, also known as Seven Gables, is the most prestigious of the so-called Mortonhall Road Quartet — four houses each designed by Kinross in 1898. Combining 17th-century Scottish baronial style features with a strong Italian Renaissance flourish, they were all broadly similar. But his was the pick of the bunch, with its
Daily Record
28-04-2025
- Daily Record
Michelin names four best Edinburgh hotels for 'unmistakably Scottish stay'
The top hotels in Edinburgh have been named by the Michelin Guide. The experts revealed the best accommodation in the city for an "unmistakably Scottish stay". The Michelin Guide is known around the world for its restaurant recommendations, awarding Michelin stars to food venues that serve the highest-quality food. Scotland is home to 13 restaurants that have received at least one Michelin star. In 2024, Michelin began awarding keys to hotels across the globe that offer the very best service and facilities. On Friday, the guide unveiled a list of four key-holding Edinburgh hotels that give guests an "unmistakably Scottish stay". Read on for four of the top hotels in Edinburgh.. More information can be found on the Michelin Guide website . READ MORE - Scotland's 'most dog friendly' holiday destinations named ahead of summer READ MORE - Scottish wildlife centre crowned 'most child friendly' campsite this summer The iconic Balmoral Hotel is the only Edinburgh hotel to have received two keys from the Michelin Guide. Situated in a central position on Princes Street, the 187-room hotel benefits from scenic views across the city. The rooms at the hotel include spacious marble bathrooms and an interactive TV . Meanwhile, among the facilities are a four-AA Rosette restaurant, a pool, and a gym. The Michelin Guide wrote: "Opulent to a tee, the 187-room hotel boasts a scenic view across the city from what feels much like a Gothic castle, but is more technically in the Scottish Baronial style. In any case, the carvings, turrets and ornate columns are what give the hotel its timeless grandeur, while multiple restaurants and bars make it a modern culinary hub for guests and locals alike." Previously a private members' club for Scots explorers, today 100 Princes Street is a hotel with a unique travel theme. Celebrating Scotland's culture and heritage, it blends historic touches with modern luxuries. The rooms at 100 Princes Street feature air-conditioning, private bathrooms, and amenities such as minibars and flat-screen televisions. Elsewhere, the hotel features a traditional restaurant that serves up British and Scottish cuisine all throughout the day. The Michelin Guide wrote: "A luxury hotel where you're treated like royalty, 100 Princes Street boasts two staff members for every guest, and each new arrival triggers a mini-celebration at the former headquarters of what was once a private members' club for Scottish explorers." The first luxury city hotel from the legendary Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire, the Gleneagles Townhouse is located on St Andrew Square. Decorated in a Victorian style, it features 33 guest rooms. Guests staying at the Gleneagles Townhouse can enjoy amenities such as a paid airport shuttle, a concierge, and electric vehicle charging stations. The hotel is also home to an all-day restaurant, a rooftop bar, members' club, and a fitness centre. The Michelin Guide wrote: "Gleneagles Townhouse is something of a Wes Anderson take on a quintessential Scottish vibe. This 200-year-old building was once the home of the company that became the Bank of Scotland." Located just outside of the centre of Edinburgh, Prestonfield has a history dating back hundreds of years. Once an estate home to medieval monks, it eventually came into the ownership of the Lord Provost of Edinburgh in 1677. Today, Prestonfield is a 23-bedroom country house hotel set within lush green grounds. Describing itself as "Edinburgh's most exclusive luxury hotel", the venue offers everything from opulent afternoon teas to à la carte dinners—and even benefits from private dining rooms. The Michelin Guide wrote: "Indulge in afternoon tea on the terrace or a wee dram in The Whisky Room, then explore the 20-acres of gardens and parkland with a walk around the grounds; you're working up an appetite for the in-house restaurant, with its seasonal Scottish offerings from small artisan suppliers."
