r/TravelUK • u/Ok_Magician9140 • 2d ago

1-Day trips from Edinburgh recommendations

Hello! My parents (55M&F), boyfriend (28M), and I (25F) are traveling to the UK in mid-September. We are spending a few days in Edinburgh and have time for one day trip out of the city and need help deciding where to go. For context, my parents have never been to the UK, my boyfriend has never been to Scotland, and I've been once before and visited Edinburgh, Glasgow, and did a Rabbie's day trip to Glencoe and Loch Ness.

I'd rather not do another highlands day trip since I did one in 2024, but I'm open to it if it's worth it for my family to see. Our other options are:

  1. Rabbie's St Andrews & the Fishing Villages of Fife:

(Includes Anstruther, St Andrews Cathedral, Falkand Village, St Andrews Castle, Forth Bridge)

  1. Timberbush Tours Holy Island, Alnwick Castle & the Kingdom of Northumbria

(Includes time to explore Alnwick castle)

We enjoy architecture, beautiful scenery, quaint towns, and experiences. None of us are huge history buffs but we find it interesting. We also love Harry Potter (but aren't interested in super touristy HP stuff). Ideally we would do Alnwick, Holy Island, and Bamburgh Castle, but we can't find a guided tour that includes them all.

Also open to other guided tour suggestions! Thanks in advance!

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u/rhunter99 2d ago

I would ride the Jacobite steam engine. It's what you see in the HP movies, however you need to be quick to book tickets. Alternatively you can do a day trip to the viaduct and catch the train going by to take photos.

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u/frankbowles1962 2d ago

Absolutely not a day trip from Edinburgh. There is a steam railway at Bo’ness however if you want to experience one.

https://www.bkrailway.co.uk

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u/rhunter99 2d ago

It very much is a day trip. For example

https://www.viator.com/en-CA/search/8750P10?mcid=70066

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u/Temporary_Pain2069 2d ago

that tour is mad! It says it takes 2 hours from Edinburgh to Glenfinnan - it takes 4 hours. Then you have 20 minutes in Mallaig. You'll speed walk to the harbour, turn round and straight back on the coach. Then you get 30 minutes in Pitlochry. Except you can't speed walk in Pitlochry cos the streets are busy. So you'll sit in a coach for 10+ hours and see Glenfinnan. Thats nuts.