Glasgow is one of the best bases in Britain for day trips. The city sits at the edge of the Highlands, within easy reach of two of Scotland's great castles, and within a long but rewarding coach day of the most famous scenery in the country. The key choice is between going independently by train and joining a guided coach tour, and the answer usually depends on how far you want to go.
Easy trips by train
The simplest day trips need no booking at all. Edinburgh is under an hour from Queen Street, with trains running frequently through the day, and makes a full day of castle, Royal Mile and old town. Stirling is roughly half an hour to forty minutes from Queen Street, and its castle and hilltop old town are among the best in Scotland. Balloch, on the southern tip of Loch Lomond, is a short train ride from Glasgow and gives a first taste of lochs and hills with a lakeside walk and boat trips. St Andrews and Fife take longer and are better with a guide.
Stirling and the lochs
If you can only choose one trip, pick Stirling. The castle was a favourite home of the Stewart kings and queens, and Mary, Queen of Scots spent part of her childhood here. The Stirling Castle and Old Town Guided Tour covers the castle and the stepped streets below it, while the Loch Lomond, the Trossachs and Stirling Castle Day Tour adds the lake and the Trossachs hills for those who want both castle and scenery in a single day by coach.
The Highlands in a day
The long coach days are the big draw. The Loch Ness, Glencoe and Highlands tour from Glasgow runs along Loch Lomond, across Rannoch Moor and through the glen of Glencoe to Fort William and the Great Glen, before heading back from Loch Ness. It is a very long day, with many hours on the road, so go with small-group operators that stop often and travel at a pace you can enjoy. The Glencoe, Oban and West Highland Lochs day tour is a good alternative for those who prefer a coastal town and sea views to the Great Glen. The Glenfinnan Viaduct and Highlands tour takes you to the curved viaduct famous from the Harry Potter films, and it is the best of the three for photographers and film fans.
Longer and themed trips
If you have more time, the Isle of Skye, the Highlands and Loch Ness three-day tour is a proper introduction to the north, with overnight stays rather than a rushed coach day. Fans of the television series Outlander can take the Outlander filming locations day tour from Glasgow, which visits villages and castles used in the series. Golf and history fans will want St Andrews and the Kingdom of Fife, a day tour that combines the home of golf with fishing villages along the Fife coast.
Choosing between rail and coach
Go by train if you like to set your own pace and are happy to see one place in depth: Edinburgh, Stirling and Balloch all work well. Choose a coach tour if you want the Highlands, where public transport is slow and infrequent and a full day of driving would otherwise be yours to manage. On a long tour, bring a waterproof, snacks and a camera battery, and sit on the side with the best views as advised by the driver.
When to go
Summer has the longest days and the best chance of clear views, though midsummer coach trips are the busiest and midges bother walkers in the Highlands from late spring to early autumn. Winter days are short, and some mountain views are lost to cloud, but snow on the hills can be spectacular. Spring and autumn often give the best light and fewer crowds. Check the weather before you commit, and ask whether your tour has a reschedule policy, since some small-group departures cannot be refunded.
Practical notes
Most day tours leave from the city centre in the morning, often from Buchanan Bus Station, and return in the evening, so allow for a late dinner and book accommodation near the departure point. Train tickets can be bought on the day, but cheaper advance fares exist for Edinburgh. Prices are in pounds sterling. For any day that includes mountains or lochs, dress in layers and expect rain.
