The great thing about Scotland (other than beautiful castles, lochs, cities, and scenery of course) is that, since it’s a small country, you can pretty much do a weekend trip to almost anywhere in the country. However, if you have to pick, here are the best weekend trips from Glasgow that you can easily get to via train or car.
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A weekend in Edinburgh
To no surprise, a great weekend trip from Glasgow is a visit to Edinburgh, Scotland’s mystifying capital. Here you can expect to wander the picturesque cobbled streets of the Old Town, visit incredible museums like the National Museum of Scotland, and indulge in its rich culture and scenery along the way.
For a complete weekend guide to Edinburgh, check out this awesome article from Watch Me See.
Weekend Hiking in the Cairngorms
Hop on a 2 and a half hour train from Glasgow to Aviemore and venture up north to the Cairngorms National Park. This is the perfect weekend away from Glasgow for those looking for natural scenery, a breath of fresh air, and some outdoor activities.
There’s a lot of hiking routes, kayaking and canoeing, and plenty of chances to see some of Scotland’s wildlife as well as castles and the famous Macallan Distillery.
Experience Isle of Arran
Head to the coast for an extraordinary weekend of “Scotland in miniature” on Isle of Arran. You’ll catch a train towards Ardrossan Harbour where you’ll be able to catch the ferry to Arran. There’s also a car ferry for those driving.
What to do on Isle of Arran? Soak up the beauty of life on a Scottish isle for one. Hike to the top of Arran’s highest mountain Goatfell, cycle around the island, and visit the beautiful 19th century Brodick Castle or 16th century Lochranza Castle.
You can also take a morning or afternoon to sail over to the Holy Isle, which was once the home of 6th century monk named St. Molaise and is now owned by the Samyé Ling Buddhist Community.
READ MORE: Summer in Scotland Packing List
Explore Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park
A great driving route that is also accessible by train or bus, a trip to Loch Lomond is a great weekend getaway from the hustle and bustle of Glasgow. This beautifully scenic area is full of massive lochs, picturesque towns like Luss, and cascading green hills dotted with sheep.
There are many traditional songs written about this area and it’s clear why it’s so special in Scottish history.
You can visit the Balloch Castle and Country Park and explore its unique gardens, wander along loch paths, and for some added adventure try a zipline and ropes course at TreeZone.
A Weekend away in Inverness
Another gone of the best weekend trips from Glasgow is Inverness. Famous for many reasons from Loch Ness and the Loch Ness monster to its importance in Scottish history and its place as the capital of the Highlands.
Taking the train from the Glasgow Queen Street Station will take a little over 3 hours but you’ll pass a lot of scenery and Scotrail provides free Wi-Fi on trains. Once you make it to Inverness, explore around the city centre, visit the castle, walk along the river, and soak up the beauty of this small city.
Then, you can hop over to Loch Ness and visit the fascinating and historical Culloden Battlefield, where Jacobites had their last battle in rebellion against Britain’s Hanoverian Government and resulted in a change in highland life forever.
Map ’em out!
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