Glasgow is a busy, cosmopolitan city, with all the advantages a busy cosmopolitan city has to offer. From art to music, to food and shopping, Scotland’s most populous metropolis has it all. Glasgow sightseeing is great, but what if you want to go at a different pace? See a little more of the country of Burns and Sir Walter Scott? Well, Glasgow can provide that too! Or at least it’s so accessibly located that getting out of the city is almost unbelievably easy. To get you started on your Scottish adventures, here are three of our very favourite day trips from Glasgow.
Loch Lomond Day Trip From Glasgow
Have you even visited Scotland if you haven’t made it to a loch or two? And if you’ve been North of the border for more than a hot second you will have heard of Loch Lomond, eponymous star of the folk song, the chorus of which can be heard in half the pubs in Glasgow:
O ye’ll tak’ the high road, and I’ll tak’ the low road,
And I’ll be in Scotland a’fore ye,
But me and my true love will never meet again,
On the bonnie, bonnie banks o’ Loch Lomond.
And Glasgow to Loch Lomond couldn’t be easier. The loch is just a 50-minute drive, 1.5 hours by public transport, or, if you’re feeling fit, a 20-mile bike ride, from the city (the public transport option being Queen Street — Baloch, then a bus to the visitor’s centre) and it certainly is bonnie! Though best in sunny weather, Loch Lomond is in Scotland, so perfect conditions can never be guaranteed. Besides, the Scots tend to get on with things rain or shine, and visiting at times other than summers and school holidays means beating the crowds.
Loch Lomond’s most modern visitors’ centre is at Balloch. Loch Lomond Shores is the flagship tourist information centre for the Loch and Ben Lomond. In and around the centre there are also shops and restaurants, as well as a Sea Life Centre, a Bird of Prey Centre and even Treezone Aerial Adventure Course! All of these activities would be great for families, with plenty to do for all ages.
If you looking for something more, well, loch focused, Loch Lomond tours are available from the Balloch centre. Tours come in a few of varieties, from canoes for the outdoorsy types to the more relaxed Sweeney’s Cruise Company. There is also an opportunity to visit the old Glasgow-built paddle steamer, Maid of the Loch, which is open weekends and holidays. The steamer offers local and shipping history displays, as well as a tea room.
Once you’ve got everything you can from the visitor’s centre, there are plenty of walks around the water. There’s the obvious option, the ascent of Ben Lomond, the most southerly of Scotland’s 50 Munros, or mountains (though in Scots they’re ‘hills’) over 3,000 feet. If this sounds like a bit much, not to worry. There are more sedate walks! One of the best is the 1.25 mile, or 45-minute, Millennium Forest Trail, which begins at Balmaha. The trail is mostly through forest and cuts through the carpet of rhododendron bushes which grows in the shade of the trees. Eventually, walkers emerge atop Craigie Fort, which affords a fantastic view of Loch Lomond and its islands, one of which is inhabited by wallabies, due to a long-abandoned experiment by a zoologist!
The Trossachs National Park
The Trossachs is Scotland’s first national park, and the closest end of Loch Lomond to Glasgow marks one edge of it. The park extends out from the loch on both sides, encompassing several more Munros and lochs, as well as glens and areas of ancient forest.
Despite its name, The Trossachs National Park is made up of four areas. There’s The Trossachs, Cowal, Breadalbane, and Loch Lomond. All four are accessible via both road and public transport, with Balloch and Callander the easiest places to reach from Glasgow.
The Trossachs National Park is beautiful at all times of the year, though high elevations should be avoided during periods of particularly adverse weather. The forests are beautiful in the autumn as the colours of the leaves change, and the summer holiday crowds abate by September.
The National Park contains several towns and villages, where travelers can find accommodation as well as shops, pubs, and restaurants. There are also plenty of opportunities for historic exploration, including Inchmahome Priory, a well-preserved 13th-century priory located on an island in Scotland’s only Lake, The Lake of Menteith. The lake is easily reached from both Callander and Glasgow. From Glasgow, head to Aberfoyle, and continue on the A81 until you see the priory signposted.
For nature lovers, the Trossachs National Park contains The Great Trossachs Forest National Nature Reserve. The Nature Reserve is one of the UK’s largest and marks the heart of the park. It is part of a 200-year project which aims to restore portions of Scotland’s countryside to their naturally forested state, and over the fort 10 years of the project, more than 2 million native trees have been planted. The Great Trossachs Path runs through the forest reserve east to west, from Callander to Loch Lomond. In its 30-mile span, the path runs along loch shores, up hills, and of course through the stunning Great Forest. There are also many options for gentle walks, many of which are detailed in a leaflet on the Great Trossachs Forest’s Website, where family adventures are also flagged up, to be sure everyone can enjoy The Trossachs National Park.
Stirling Castle
Stirling Castle dates from the 1200s, with most of the currently standing structure built between the 15th and 17th centuries. It’s one of the largest castles in Scotland and is located just 30 miles from Glasgow, along the M80. There are also public transport links to Stirling from Queen Street Station.
Summer hours at Stirling Castle run from 26th March to 30th September, and winter from 1st October to 25th March. Always opening at 9:30am, closing times are 5pm. The castle’s website suggests at least 2 hours to see all the exhibits and reminds visitors that the various museums, which are housed in wings of the castle and outbuildings, may have their own opening times. Tickets are £15 for adults, £9 for children aged 5-15 and £12 for over 60s and the unemployed. Children under 5 enter free, so the castle can be a cheap day out for families with young kids! There is a family oriented tour on weekend afternoons, and the castle’s website also provides family-friendly itineraries, as some areas of the castle are better suited to older history buffs. Guided tours are included in the ticket price at Stirling Castle.
As most exhibits are indoors, Stirling Castle is a great option for Scotland’s many rainy or snowy days. There are also special events around the holidays, making it a great destination for winter break trips.
One of the castle’s most iconic features is its great hall. The castle was added to during the Northern Renaissance, which is why some of its later parts are Italianate or French inspired. It was during this period that the Royal Palace. The palace is a must-see, with its unusual mix of gothic and renaissance architecture and outer stonework that has been described by one 19th century historian as, “the fruits of an imagination luxuriant but revolting”. Inside the building is the King’s Presence Chamber, home of the Stirling Heads, carved from Polish wood these unique decorations stud the ceiling. They’re brightly painted, having been recently restored, and depict kings, queens, emperors and gods from throughout history. The heads are a unique part of Scottish history, and not to be missed!
Outside the castle itself, Stirling’s old town has a lot to offer visitors. There’s the Church of the Holy Rude (rude here meaning cross, before you get any ideas!), Mar’s Walk, and even the Old Town Jail! The jail is only open in the summer months, so could be included in a wander around the town when the weather is nice. After all that, it’s probably time to relax, so why not relax at a pub or cafe? Portcullis is a traditional pub right by the castle and in a building almost as old! Or head into town for a plethora of dining and drinking options.
Plenty More To See
Hopefully, you can enjoy all three of these great day trips on your next visit to Glasgow, but remember, that’s just the start! Western Scotland is chock full of history, nature and culture so there’s no doubt you’ll find something for all the family to enjoy. And with fantastic transport links from the city, the west of Scotland proves itself to be extremely accessible, whether you’re driving, taking the train or even cycling. The only limit to where you might end up is your imagination!