What To Expect
Glasgow is considered to be a great base to explore the Scottish Highlands. Just a few decades earlier it was considered to be an industrial town with little to offer in the name of tourism. But now, many prefer it to Edinburgh on account of Glasgow being more relaxed and its better access to the famous Scottish Highlands.
The major attractions of Scotland i.e. some of its best Loches (Loch Ness, Loch Lomond etc.) are easily visited from Glasgow and the rugged Scottish mountain passes are also at an achievable distance. Add to the list quaint Scottish towns like Oban, Kilmarnock and historical sites like the Inveraray Castle and you have a tempting selection of day tours.
The wild beauty of the Ayrshire coast and the rugged Trossachs terrain provide yet more choices… there is simply too much to be seen around Glasgow and one day-trip probably won’t be enough. You will basically have two choices when planning a day trip; going for a self-guided tour or a guided tour with a well-known operator.
For a comprehensive list of day tours from Glasgow, prices and online booking, visit this Glasgow day trip section in Viator.
Self-Guided Day Tours
You will find our exhaustively researched pages ‘How to get around Glasgow’ and ‘Travel and Transport Passes’ of immense help while planning a self-guided day tour. The historic Scotland Pass and a discounted train journey package may be especially helpful in saving costs. There are lots and lots of attractions around Glasgow that you can target as a day trip destination and the following are some of the best.
Going on a self-guided day tour gives you a lot of liberty of time management as you can get down wherever you want and engage in any activity of your wish. You can also spend a lot of time in photography and engaging with the locals as well as explore out of the way attractions.
Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park
Visiting major attractions like Loch Lomond (biggest inland water body in Great Britain by surface area) and its parent the Trossachs National Park is easily a good day trip option. There are 21 munros/mountains, 2 parks, 22 lakes and 50 special conservation sites inside the Trossachs. This is a hiker’s paradise with famous routes like West Highland Way and three Lochs Way running inside.
Around Loch Lomond, there is the opportunity of engaging in multiple activities like climbing, camping, hiking, boating, kayaking, fishing and cycling. Incidentally, Trossachs National Park is fondly referred to as Miniature Highlands… this is where the lowlands merge with the highlands and create the terrain of unusual beauty. Lunch at the epicentre of the national park at the Aberfoyle village is said to be a great experience and is most recommended. However, exploring the Trossachs National Park is likely to take an extra day if you plan on hiking.
Loch Lomond is flanked by beautiful villages like Luss (an 18th-century conservation village with ancient workers cottages) and there are other Lochs like Loch Katrine nearby. In fact, you can visit Luss before reaching Loch Lomond… from Balloch, you can take a detour to Luss, a quaint conservation village (dates back to the 18th century) having small houses and cafes besides fantastic views.
Visiting Luss in spring/ summer would be a great experience as there are elaborate floral displays all around and the Luss Hills (popular hiking spot) is at its greenest. Cruising on Loch Lomond is also a great activity.
You can check rates and book Loch Lomond cruise online through Viator.
The best part about these destinations is that they have no entry fee except rental fees for water sports equipment/ hiking gear that you may wish to hire.
How to reach
Only visiting Loch Lomond is also something many tourists opt for though combining a visit to the Trossachs National Park in a day trip is also doable if you aren’t planning on hiking.
Taking public transport to Loch Lomond is a bit difficult as you need to catch a train to Balloch from Glasgow Central (about 50 minutes) from where it’s possible to take a cruise on the Loch. Cruises (operated by Sweeney’s Cruise Company) will depart from Leven River (across the Balloch Railway station) or the pontoon at the shore of Loch Lomond. Or if Trossachs National Park is your primary destination then take the ScotRail’s West Highland line as it will stop near the National Park… you can take a waterbus later to the eastern shore of Loch Lomond. You can also take a Citylink bus… there are two routes (one going to Fort William and the other going to Oban).
Stirling Castle
Only 34 miles away from Glasgow, Stirling town with its grand castle and monuments is an easy day trip option. The magnificent Stirling Castle has held its own against many invaders (including Edward I) and for hundreds of years, this was recognised as the most important castle of Scotland. North of the Stirling Castle, you will find the glorious 220 feet tower (National Wallace monument) that pays tribute to William Wallace (shown in the movie Braveheart).
Stirling Bridge and its view of ancient battlegrounds is another attraction of this area. Go a little down south and there is Bannockburn where Robert the Bruce defeated Edward I… an iconic moment in Scotland’s independence.
You can check rates and buy Stirling Castle entry ticket online through Viator.
The Stirling town has a grand history… after all Scottish monarchy had made it their seat for more than 3 centuries.
How to reach
If you are just visiting the Stirling Castle from Glasgow then hop on a train from Queen Street station and reach in about half an hour. You can walk (a little steep but achievable walk) or take a taxi from the station. Or you can catch a bus from Buchanan bus station and reach Stirling town in about 50 minutes.
Inverary
Most tourists prefer driving from Glasgow through the rugged Arrochar Alps to Inveraray (pretty harbour town) on the banks of Loch Fyne… the scenery is just too tempting. Loch Fyne is the longest sea loch in Scotland and is known for being flanked by numerous excellent seafood and oyster serving restaurants. Here you will find an 18th-century castle… the erstwhile home of the head of Campbell clan Duke Argyll. The current descendant of the Duke’s family still resides here and they can trace their family history to centuries back.
The Inveraray Castle is a beautiful amalgamation of Baroque, Palladian, Gothic styles and most visitors aren’t able to put their cameras away. There are elaborate ceilings, a beautiful armoury room and lovely gardens… there is an entry fee of 10 pounds per adult (and 7 pounds per child). If you are in Inveraray for a self-guided trip then there will be time for an hour-long hike via the Dun na Cuaiche trail which culminates in a view of a tower dating back to 1758.
You can also check rates and book Inveraray Castle and other combined tours online through Viator.
Apart from the castle, the town itself is full of attractions…. the Inveraray Jail, Inn etc. Inverary can be used as a base for exploring destinations like Argyll, Trossachs, and Loch Lomond. This is a magnificent town with its 18th-century Georgian houses (mostly designed by famous architect Robert Adams).
You can check rates and purchase Inveraray Jail entry ticket or book tours online through Viator.
From here you can drive to Loch Awe too (Scotland’s longest Loch) and its adjacent Kilchurn Castle (about 25 km away) … home of the glorious Campbells of Breadalbane and the garrison for about 200 men. This is one of Scotland’s most photographed castles though it’s now partly in ruins. Don’t miss a view from the top as you stand on the tower house’s battlements as you can gaze over Loch Awe.
You can also check rates and book Kilchurn Castle and other combined tours online through Viator.
How to reach
The best way to get to Inveraray from Glasgow is to take the Glasgow town bus with Scottish CityLink (journey time 1 hour 45 minutes). You can alternatively opt to drive from Glasgow and you will mostly travel northwest along the shores of Loch Lomond and then cross the Highland boundary fault line where the lowlands surrender to the highlands.
Your car will cross over at the Rest and be Thankful mountain pass (beautifully named and built in 1753 by soldiers) and the Glen Croe road. Don’t miss the viewing area between Ardgartan and Cairndow along the A 83… the entire drive will take around 3 hours if you stop at the important points along the way like Loch Lomond, view of the Ben Arthur etc.
Glen Coe Valley and Fort William
Glencoe Valley is one of Scotland’s most visually striking highland locations and its home to the Glencoe Mountain (Scotland’s first commercially operating ski resort). There is onsite accommodation in micro lodges at Glencoe in case you want to stay overnight. Apart from this Glencoe valley has been widely used as a Harry Potter filming location.
Glencoe valley occupies the whole area between Bridge of Orchy and Glencoe village. There are numerous attractions along this protected natural area and much of what you will see has been shaped by glaciers and natural forces eons ago. You will probably want to stop at Loch Tulla, peaks of Buachaille Etive Mor, Buachaille Etive Beag, Loch Ba, 3 sisters, 3 waterfalls meet etc.
Glencoe offers everything; valleys, waterfalls, loch and mountain peaks. Glencoe has a tragic history and the infamous Glencoe massacre where 30 odd members of the Mac Donald clan were killed by government forces aided by the Campbells… this is well documented in Scottish history.
Continue driving for half an hour from Glencoe Valley and you will reach Fort William… popularly known as UK’s outdoor sports capital. Here you will find UK’s highest mountain Ben Nevis (1345 meters) and there is a pony track to conquer it too. There is the famous Ben Nevis Distillery north of Fort William and there is the West Highland Museum right at the centre of the town. Another major attraction here is the Neptune’s Staircase that’s an engineering achievement… 8 gates/staircase locks on Caledonian Canal that let boats float in from the Atlantic to the North Sea. Note that Fort William is the commencement point of the Great Glen Way that runs from Fort William in the southwest to Inverness in the Northeast… a 125 km stretch.
You can also check rates and book Glencoe and associated tours online through Viator.
How to reach
If you are coming from Loch Lomond you can take the A82 (it will roughly take you an hour) and if you are coming from Glasgow it’s a 2.5-hour drive. The car journey is recommended… it provides maximum exposure to en route attractions.
You can also catch the CityLink bus from many points in Glasgow city (frequency not great) and you will reach Glencoe in a little over 2 hours. Arriving by train will also expose you to the beautiful scenery as the track weaves around mountains and goes across Rannoch Moor… it’s close to a 3-hour journey… however you will need to disembark at Fort William (half an hour away from Glencoe). You can also take a bus from the Buchanan Bus station to Fort William bus station… it’s roughly a 3-hour 15-minute journey.
Loch Ness and Fort Augustus
Fort Augustus lies on the 60 mile Caledonian Canal midway between Fort William and Inverness and is rather an ambitious plan for a day trip from Glasgow. The highlights at Fort Augustus are the boats manoeuvring the locks and exploring the Clansmen centre and a tryst to the Clansmen centre where 17th-century weapons are on display.
Cruises depart from the Fort Augustus Pier at the south end of Loch Ness and on the cruise guests with a pass in Cherry Island, and the Fort Augustus Abbey. The 37 km long and exceedingly deep Loch Ness (biggest lake by volume) is another beautiful attraction here… it joins a portion of the Caledonian Canal to Loch Oich. Loch Ness monster/ Nessie is an important part of Scottish folklore…it speaks about a mysterious creature lurking under the deep waters.
The 5 star Loch Ness package by Jacobite cruise also includes exploring the ruins of Urquhart Castle and a trip to the Visitor centre. The ruins of the Urquhart castle (west shore of Loch Ness) contain more than 1000 years of history and troops were garrisoned here during the Jacobite rising. Visiting the Grant Tower, great Hall, prison cell and the trebuchet are must-see attractions. To visit the Urquhart castle on your own you need to pay an entry fee of 12 pounds.
You can check rates and book Loch Ness along with combined Glencoe and Highlands tours online through Viator or alternatively the Jacobites & Highlands Tour.
How to reach
Fort Augustus is about 192 miles away from Glasgow and it will make for a rather long day trip. If you are coming by car then it will take you 3 hours but by bus, it will take 5 hours. Buses depart from Buchanan station and cross Fort William before reaching Tourist Information Centre, Fort Augustus.
Oban
Oban with its great coastal beauty is one of the top day trip destinations from Glasgow… the bay here is termed the most beautiful bay in Scotland. Oban is also great for a couple of days stay… it gives easy access to all the islands of Inner and Outer Hebrides. Once in Oban, you can take an Oban distillery tour/ Oban Chocolate Company or stroll through the Arduaine Garden or visit the Dunollie Museum that contains the Hope Mac Dougall collection. Oban is known as the gateway to Isles and many tourists prefer to use it as a base for exploring major attractions like the Isle of Skye.
How to reach
Drive from Glasgow to Oban in 2 hours and 30 minutes or take the train from Glasgow Queen Street station that will take a little above 3 hours. It’s possible to get to Oban by train from Glasgow but it’s again a 3-hour ride (will pass through the Trossachs National Park) but it will be difficult getting to Glencoe.
It’s much better to travel with a well know day tour operator when you are going to destinations this far.
You can check rates and book such tours online through Viator.
Burns Country, Culzean Castle and Ayrshire
Southwest to Glasgow city there is the lovely Ayrshire coast and the Burns Country… the haunt of Scotland’s most loved poet Robert Burns. The Burns Birthplace museum and the Brig O Doon (featured in Burn’s poem) is in Alloway besides a lovely beach. Alloway village is itself worth half a day of exploration… the Visitor Centre exploration (a 40 minute stop at the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum) and riverside walk are just two of the activities you could do here besides a visit to the Alloway Old Kirk Church with its multitude of haunted stories.
There are other locations in Ayrshire intimately connected to Robert Burns like the Bachelors Club museum in Tarbolton and Souter Johnnie’s cottage in Kirkoswald besides the Burns House in Mauchline. Some tourists prefer going forward to the port town Stranraer (especially if travelling by train) and then exploring far-flung corners like Galloway and Dumfries. En route, there is Girvan and the chance of visiting Ailsa Craig bird sanctuary.
The Culzean Castle (former home of Marquess of Alisa) stands on the Ayrshire coast atop a cliff and it overlooks Firth of Clyde. It’s a spectacular design feat executed by Robert Adams and there are beautifully preserved rooms, lavish gardens and an on-site café. The castle is in the Kirkoswald area and there is the turnery Golf course, lighthouse, Dunure castle etc. nearby. The castle has a 9-pound entry fee per adult.
You can also check rates and book this tour online through Viator.
How to reach
Taking public transport to some of these locations is possible but covering all of them in a self-guided day tour will be exhausting. You can take a train from Glasgow Central station to Ayr station (great frequency and a 1-hour journey) and then take a bus to Alloway after which it’s half an hour walk to Culzean castle. Otherwise, you can get down at Maybole and then get on a taxi (need to prearrange this as Maybole is an unmanned station).
If you are coming by train then it makes sense to travel further south to Stranraer passing 3 lochs… Castle Semple, Kilbirnie and Barr. This is one of Scotrail’s much-advertised scenic rail routes.
Know about other spectacular train journeys in Scotland.
If you hire a car, however, you can plan visits to most of Robert Burns sites and the Culzean Castle….the round trip distance is 100 miles. Drive straight to Culzean castle from Glasgow and it will take you a little more than an hour.
Guided Day Tours
If you have not hired a car then visiting more than 2 attractions by public transport (bus, train) can become exhausting. First-time visitors to Scotland prefer the convenience and accessibility of a guided tour… there is a guide to brief the group (though sometimes the Scottish accent can be hard to decipher) and it’s easier to spot attractions and sights (especially non-sign posted ones).
The terrain diversity of Scotland necessitates the use of small sturdy vehicles only so all-day trips are done in small groups. Before choosing a guided day-tour look at the offerings and inclusions carefully… mostly you will have to pay extra for food and drinks, entry to attractions, cruises etc. The long day tours are bound to be exhausting so wear comfortable shoes and bring your own water bottles.
Oban, Loch Lomond, Glencoe Small Group Day Tour
This tour takes in multiple castles and Loches apart from exploring Oban and Glencoe in a curated travel mix. The group travels by Mercedes minivan and a lunch break for traditional Scottish food is offered in Oban. Rabbie’s isn’t a very old company… it was established around 1993 by a guy called Robin Worsnop who wanted to provide ethical personalised travel experiences. They only do small group tours in Mercedes minivans (max 16 people) and have well-reviewed driver guides who provide interesting commentary. Rabbie’s does small group day tours in Ireland and England apart from Scotland.
Some of the scenic spots covered in this tour are the west coast of Appin, Castle Stalker, Glencoe Valley, the peak of Buachaille Etive Mor (great shepherd of Etive), the savagely beautiful Rannoch Moor (over 1000 ft. altitude), Glen Falloch, Loch Lomond (Scotland’s biggest lake), Luss (last stop)
The tour starts from Parish Hall, 266 George Street in Glasgow unless otherwise specified. The tour starts at 8.30 a.m. and finishes off at 7.00 p.m. which makes it a 10.5-hour tour.
You can check rates and book this tour online through Viator.
There are discounts for seniors and children (age 5 to 15). Kids below the age of 5 are not allowed on the tour.
Loch Ness, Glencoe and the Highlands Small Group day tours
If you have a limited number of days in Glasgow then your goal probably will be to fit some action-packed day tours in your schedule… trips that maximise your exposure to prominent attractions. And this is exactly what this tour by Rabbie’s promises to do. Remember that Loch Ness and Glencoe are both pretty far off… it’s quite difficult to fit them in a single day trip.
This day trip exposes visitors to the historic Breadalbane and the Rannoch Moor with its peat bogs and Loches and Glencoe besides the Great Glen (geographical fault line). There is the chance of exploring the Scottish town of Fort William and there are sightings of Britain’s tallest mountain Ben Nevis. Watching boats floating by the Caledonian Canal from Fort Augustus and a tour around the mysterious Loch Ness besides views of the Grampian Mountains and the derelict castles of Highland Perthshire are other trip highlights
The group takes a break at Fort Augustus and has lunch overlooking the Caledonian Canal there is the chance of a five-star boat cruise that lets visitors soak in the views of Urquhart castle. On the return journey, there are views of Cairngorms National Park and the Perthshire forests.
The tour is conducted in a comfortable 16 seater Mercedes mini-coach with air conditioning and there is an English speaking driver-guide whose services are included in the tour cost. You need to pay extra for entry to attractions and for a boat cruise (at Loch Ness) and for any food/ refreshments that you consume.
Tour usually departs from Parish Hall, 266 George Street in Glasgow. Sometimes it may also depart from Stance (23 to 32), Glasgow Buchanan Bus Station, Killermont Street, Glasgow. The departure time is 8.00 a.m. and the tour lasts till 7.45 p.m. which makes this almost a 12-hour tour.
You can check rates and book this tour online through Viator.
Loch Ness, Glencoe and the Highlands Trip by Timberbush Tours
This is a long tour (12 hours 15 minutes) and is even more comprehensive (and more expensive) than the similar version offered by Rabbie’s. Timberbush Tours team was created by husband and wife duo June and Gary Voy who wanted to showcase the best features of Scotland. They operate all across Scotland and from other selected parts of the UK.
Timberbush tours have been earning good reviews for 20 years and their day trips and Distillery tours are especially recommended. All tours are in English and there is an experienced fluent English speaking driver guide. However, on request, a written translation in French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Russian, Italian and Mandarin is provided to those who don’t understand English.
There are handpicked Scottish background music playing in the background that adds to the experience. Transport is by air-conditioned coaches… they have quite a few (can accommodate 53 people max).
From Glasgow, the group travels north and takes a refreshment stop on the banks of Loch Lomond. The coach explores Rannoch Moor, Black Mount and Glencoe. Lunch is at the Fort William area and then the coach continues travelling via Loch Linnhe to the Great Glen… passing under Ben Nevis. The group passes the Caledonian Canal and Fort Augustus and proceeds along the Loch Ness shoreline towards the Urquhart castle. There is the option of taking a cruise at this point.
The group travels to Inverness, stops and then comes back to cross the Grampian mountain range and the woods of Perthshire. There is also a short exploration of the Atholl forest and a refreshment stop at the resort town of Pitlochry en route to Glasgow. On this super long tour you can feel a little rushed as there are very short meal breaks… the idea is usually to maximise the sightseeing time. If seeing maximum sights in a single day is your goal then this is a good offering.
The Loch Ness, Glencoe and Highlands tour lasts for 12 hours 15 minutes and is conducted daily. The departure point is 266 George Street in Glasgow.
This tour can be booked online through Viator.
Stirling Castle, Loch Lomond and Whiskey Trail Day Tours
Another popular day trip option offered by Rabbies takes visitors to the Stirling Castle and the Loch Lomond beside a tour of the iconic Glengoyne distillery. Now the Glengoyne distillery tour can easily be done on your own but if you have less time on your hands then this Rabbie’s tour is a good option. The route here exposes visitors to the West Highland way while Glengoyne distillery guided tour that exposes visitors to the basics of making the famous Glengoyne single malts. Exploration of Stirling Castle and Loch Lomond are other highlights (entry fee of castle and cruise price not included in tour price).
The minivan picks up visitors from Parish Hall, 266 George Street in Glasgow. Sometimes the pick-up point may change to Glasgow Buchanan Bus Station, Killermont Street, Glasgow, G2 3NW
This tour starts from 9.00 a.m. and finishes off at 6.00 pm which makes it a 9-hour trip. Kids below the age of 5 aren’t allowed on this tour.
You can check rates and book this tour online through Viator.
There are discounts for seniors and children (age 5 to 15). Kids below the age of 5 are not allowed on the tour.
Loch Lomond, Trossachs and Stirling Castle Tour
Geared at nature and history lovers, this is around 8-hour experience which is offered by both Rabbie’s and Timber Bush. The tour provides a look at the Trossachs National Park, cruise on Loch Lomond/visits to Luss conservation village and the Stirling Castle.
The tour travels via Campsie Fells and stops at Loch Lomond where there is the option of taking an hour-long cruise that takes in views of the islands of Loch Lomond or alternatively visitors are given the option of touring Luss. The next stop is Trossachs National Park and lunch is at a small Scottish village of Aberfoyle that’s at the centre of the National Park. The last stop on the tour is Stirling Castle.
All optional extras – attraction entrance fees, loch cruises, food and drinks, etc. are not included in the tour price.
The tour starts off at 9.30 a.m. from 266 George Street, Glasgow, G1 1QX. The tour ends at 6.00 p.m. at the same location.
The tour can be booked online through Viator.
Culzean Castle, Ayrshire Coast and Burns Country Day Tour
It’s difficult to explore Ayrshire coast and Culzean castle by public transport in one day if you are also planning on visiting the Robert Burns Museum. This Rabbie’s tour is a great introduction to southwest Scotland besides good exposure to Robert Burn’s haunts. The first stop on this trip is short… a 15 minute stop at the Whitelee Farm (Moor road) that’s the biggest European wind farm (supplies energy to more than 180,000 homes).
There are views of farmlands before the group moves to Ayrshire and stops at the Culzean Country Park. There is about 3 hours’ time to check out the garden, scenery, furnishings etc. of the country house/ castle. Lunch break is available at Culzean and then the coach will move towards Dunure and then Alloway village (The visitor centre exploration and a 40 minute stop at the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum). Going on a riverside walk and exploring Alloway Old Kirk Church and Brig O Doon Bridge are major attractions on this trip.
There is a separate entry fee for entering the Culzean Manor house….about 17 pounds per person. English National Trust cardholders can get in for free.
The tour starts from the standard departure point at Parish Hall, 266 George Street and finishes at the same point.
The tour starts at 9.30 a.m. and finishes off at 6.00 p.m. which makes it an 8.5-hour tour.
You can check rates and book this tour online through Viator.
There are discounts for seniors and children (age 5 to 15). Kids below the age of 5 are not allowed on the Culzean Castle, Ayrshire Coast and Burns Country tour.
The Outlander, Palaces and Village Day Tour
The Outlander Experience Tour by Timberbush takes fans and visitors on a full-day tour across the sets of the wildly popular Outlander TV series and is meant exclusively for Outlander fans. There are stops at the Linlithgow Palace, Blackness Castle, Outlanders Wentworth Prison, Black Jack Headquarters, Doune Castle and Clan Mac Kenzie home… all of which feature in the series. There is an optional audio tour at Doune Castle (Outlanders home of Mackenzie Clan)… narration is by Sam Heughan.
There is a refreshment break at Deanston Distillery and then the group journeys on taking a short break at Stirling and taking photo stops at Wallace Monument and Cambuskenneth Abbey. The group travels to the Royal Burgh of Culross… the best example of a 17th-century Scottish village. The gardens and the Mercat Cross and the Biscuit Café are some of the popular stops. A tour of the Callendar House (now a museum) that’s a 14th-century structure is next. The famous kitchen of this house was the Duke of Sandringham kitchen set in the Outlander series.
The Royal Burgh of Linlithgow and the Linlithgow Palace is the next stop. The graceful palace was used as a journey stop by the royal family when they travelled between Stirling Castle and Edinburgh. The next and last stop is Blackness castle (headquarter of Outlanders Black Jack Randall)….this is a 15th-century castle that’s home to the Crichton family.
The 9 hours 30-minute tour departs from Glasgow on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The tour starts at 8.30 a.m. and ends at 6 p.m. The departure point is 266 George Street, Glasgow, G1 1QX.
You can check rates and book this tour online through Viator.
A travel addict. Still celebrating the day when he quit his high-profile corporate job to pursue his passion for travel writing.