Day Trips from Glasgow: 8 Must-See Locations

Welcome to Glasgow; one of Britain’s most captivating metropolises. From its age-old Victorian and art-nouveau architecture, top-notch art galleries and archaeological treasures, to its buzzing nightlife and earthly spirit. When it comes to day trips from Glasgow, whether in and around the city or its surrounds, we’ve got you covered.

It’s a national cultural hub, home to institutions such as the Scottish Opera, Scottish Ballet and National Theatre of Scotland. Even Laboratorio Espresso on West Nile Street was recently named in the world’s top 50 coffee shop list.

As glorious as this place is, and it is truly glorious; when staying here for a few days, you’d be missing out if you don’t take one of the many day trips from Glasgow.

This way, you can explore the outer regions. Our gorgeous city is so centrally located in Scotland, that there is a multitude of historical attractions, fascinating castles, deep-blue lochs, outdoor activities and breathtaking landscapes either right on Glasgow’s doorstep or a just a few hours away.

At Apps Go, we offer day trips to 8 of Scotland’s most famed and beloved locations, with many stops in between. These day trips from Glasgow only cover a couple of destinations per day, so be sure to pick wisely, or even better, stay a week and visit them all!

Let’s take a dive and explore 8 of our epic locations:

1.      Stirling Castle

Stirling Castle is one of the biggest and most significant castles in Scotland, from a historical perspective as well as architecturally.

Sitting atop Castle Hill, it forms part of the Stirling Sill geological formation making it Incredibly atmospheric because of the location. Expect awe-inspiring views.

Stirling Castle dates from the late 14th to the 16th century, initially home to the Stuart monarchs. Here, you’ll get to the gorgeous Royal Palace, Queen Anne Gardens and the magnificent Chapel Royal.

Spend some time walking through the tranquil gardens on the sunny side of the castle or learn about the castle’s secrets and earliest times at the exhibition.

It’s peaceful and pretty, so stopping here as part of our day trips from Glasgow is a must.

2.      Callendar

As part of our day trips from Glasgow, another place we’ll visit on the same day as Stirling Castle is Callander.

It is a quaint little town in the council area of Stirling, and to enhance its character; it is also situated on the beautiful River Teith.

The town is located in the old county of Perthshire making it a popular tourist stop to and from the Scottish Highlands.

Surround by the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, Callendar is lies within the heart of geographical beauty.

One this stop, we also visit Kilmahog – a hamlet situated half a mile west of the town. It used to be the site of St. Chug’s chapel but is a very historical place dating back to the 12th century. Well worth a visit.

3.      Loch Lomond

Now, when it comes to spectacular landscapes, Loch Lomond has got to be up there with some of the world’s most stunning.

It is mainland Britain’s largest lake and is just behind Loch Ness in terms of legendary status. It is only 20 miles outside of Glasgow, so it does get quite busy, but on the eastern side of the lake, it is a little quieter. We will stop there for a while so you will be able to take in its views truly.

Flanked by 900-meter-high mountains and dotted with islands, this view will live long in your memory.

It forms part of the loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, the first of the two national parks that were established by the Scottish Parliament in 2002. The lake itself is massive, stretching 22.6 miles long and up to 5 miles wide to be exact.

Loch Lomond holds many islands, including Inchmurrin, which is the biggest fresh-water island in the British Isles.

Full of wildlife, it is not a stretch to say that spending time here will leave you feeling inspired and revitalised — the Scottish countryside at its finest.

4.      Edinburgh

Situated amongst hills, shadowy cliffs and overlooking the North Sea, Edinburgh is one of Europe’s most beautiful cities and Scotland’s capital.

It is known for its medieval Old Town and elegant Georgian New Town, home to gorgeous gardens and neoclassical architecture.

It’s a sight for sore eyes, with Edinburgh Castle hanging over the city, giving it its mystical aesthetic.

Stand out landmarks consist of Arthur’s Seat in Holyrood Park accompanied by sweeping views, and Calton Hill with its memorials and monuments.

But what makes this city so appealing is its everchanging perspective and culture. Edinburgh has everything – a bustling nightlife, quaint café’s and eateries, legendary bars and views for days.

You’ll never want to leave, nor will you ever see and experience enough of it. Our only concern is getting you back on the bus to continue the tour. When it comes to our day trips from Glasgow, this is by far our most popular.

5.      Oban

Oban is a waterfront town on a lovely little bay; a seaside resort that is the primary gateway to most of the Hebridean islands.

This place is a real gem. Seafood lover? Oban is home to some of the finest you’ll eat in Scotland. Love boating? It is a passageway to the archipelago, so boat trips are aplenty.

Oban has breath-taking views, and on a clear day, you can see Kerrera and Mull. A magical place to spend the day, from visiting Dunollie Castle and McCaig’s Tower, and the Oban Distillery where you can taste this famed single malt straight from the cask.

The local culture in Oban is Gaelic, so the town is full of places to eat, to view art and to listen to live music.

Our stop here is quite brief, but you will get a feel for the town and will most likely want to revisit as soon as you can. After all, who doesn’t enjoy eating delicious seafood as the sun sets over a seaside town?

6.      Fort William

Another jewel of the Scottish Highlands; Fort William – a small town nestled in western Scottish Highlands, on the beautiful shores of Loch Linnhe.

Known for its whiskey production and as the gateway to Ben Nevis, the U.K.’s highest peak, and Glen Nevis valley, home to Steall Falls, Fort William is a must-visit location on one of our day trips from Glasgow.

Surround by magnificent mountains; it’s idyllic.

Known as the outdoor capital of the U.K., its nearby Nevis Range Mountain Resort has ski runs and forest trails.

There is also much to do in the heart of this town, from exploring the West Highland Museum focused on local life and history, to dining at the Crannog Seafood Restaurant.

Again, we won’t be spending the whole day here, but a brief visit to Fort William is enough to make you want to come back at the very least to spend the night.

7.      Glencoe

Glencoe is all about its surrounding nature. Deep within western Scotland, it lies in steep-sided Glencoe valley, in the wonderful Scottish Highlands.

It’s the most famous glen in all of Scotland because of its deep gorges. It truly is a mountaineer’s dream. So, if you are a hiking enthusiast, then skipping this destination on one of our day trips from Glasgow would be regretful.

When we say, nature, we mean waterfalls and trails that climb peaks such as Buachaille Etive Mor and Bidean nam Bian.

Expect to see red deer, lochs, streams and golden eagles. An other-worldly Scottish gem that has even featured in James Bond’s Skyfall and multiple Harry Potter movies because of its dramatic scenery.

8.      Falkirk

Last but not least, Falkirk.

It’s a big town and was voted as Scotland’s most beautiful in 2011. The architecture and setting are quite breath-taking, but what makes Falkirk so unique is the Falkirk Wheel, the only rotary canal connector on earth.

The famed attraction was completed in 2002, and it connects the Forth and Clyde Canal to the Union Canal. This is why we included it in our day tours from Glasgow. The wheel truly is a marvel.

It is also home to the most significant and largest equine art in the world known as the Kelpies – 30 metre-high sculptures of the Clydesdale horses that worked on the canals of Scotland in the 19th century.

Our day trips from Glasgow can either be customised, or you can opt for one of our six planned tours that include some of the locations mentioned above. It’s up to you.

Scotland is a place of unparalleled natural beauty and unique culture, so spending some time here is a must for globetrotters or even those of you live in the U.K. but have never wondered this far north.

Scotland’s true beauty lies in its intense landscapes and striking scenery. Its wild cliffs, dark blue lochs, serrated-edge mountains and deep green glens provide a kind of beauty that can be found nowhere else on earth — a heavenly place made for the explorer.

Get in touch with us to book a tour today.