Hey y’all!!
Want to take a wee break from BIG city life?? Here are 10 easy day trips from Glasgow! A few are well known destinations (with a few insider twists!), while others are off the beaten path!
- Stirling, Scotland
It has been said that if you hold Stirling, you hold Scotland. This city is chock-full of history and is a must see. However, with Glasgow so close there is no need to spend the night!
🚝 Travel: Multiple daily train lines from Glasgow Queen Street Station OR go by bus!
✅ To-Do:
🏰 Stirling Castle: currently limiting capacity—make sure to book tickets ahead! It is personally my favorite castle and is very well done in its presentation of information! I spent 6 hours soaking it all in!
🏰 William Wallace Monument: take bus 52 from Stirling Station (9 stops) or walk 40 minutes.
🌟 Walking takes you through the quaint historic village of Cambuskenneth, home to Cambuskenneth Abbey, where King James III and Queen Margaret are buried.
🥾 Old Kirkyard Stroll: lovely wee stroll through the cemetery.
🏰 Battle of Bannock Burn Monument: take bus 51 from William Wallace Monument.
🏰 Beheading Stone: 16-minute walk from the station, but just below the castle.
🍽 Eat: Darnley Coffee House. This place is a MUST if you are in Stirling. Literally the best homecooked, local food. The staff is super sweet and attentive. Excellent Cordials, soup, and cake!
2. Ayr
Lovely coastal town only a 45-minute train ride from Glasgow! Visit the city center and stroll along the beach!
🚝 Travel: Multiple daily train lines from Glasgow Central Station OR go by bus!
✅ To-Do:
🏖 Ayr Beach
🏰 Greenan Castle ruins
🥾 Fancy a wee walk? Walk to Alloway, birthplace of the beloved writer Robbie Burns
🌟 Robert Burns Birthplace and Museum
3. Falkirk
An unconventional, but necessary stop. Because who doesn’t like Large, abstract horse sculptures or spinning around on a lock wheel!
🚝 Travel: Multiple daily train lines from Glasgow Queen Street Station OR go by bus!
✅ To-Do:
⚓️ Falkirk Wheel: You can take a ride on the world’s only rotating boatlift!
🌟 The Kelpies: free to view! But you can go inside for £5!
🥾 Walk around the Helix
4. Tinto Hill
Tinto Hill is a steep and rocky climb, but the views are amazing! But beware—there are NO bathrooms at the base, and the terrain is very flat.
🚝 Travel: Take the train from Glasgow Central to Lanark Station. Then take the bus from Lanark Interchange to Thankerton (get off on the stop before Station Road, across the street from Tinto Hill’s carpark). There are multiple busses. I took the Stuart’s Coaches No. 91.
🥾 Time to Climb: ~2-3 hours round-trip without a prolonged stop at the top. 4.5-mile (7.2km) hike upward. The hike is quite rocky and steep, but very do-able!
🍽 Eat: At the bottom of the hill there is a wee milk shake where you can get fresh, local milk! Refreshing after a long, hot hike!
🌟 Have some extra time? Add on the Falls of Clyde just beyond the center of Lanark.
5. Kilpatrick Hills
Now one of my favorite get-aways from Glasgow! The countryside of the Kilpatrick’s are so vast and diverse you are bound to take a new trail each time. Just fair warning, it is usually boggy—dress accordingly!
🚝 Travel: Train from Queen Street, Charing Cross, Partick, or Hyland Station. Get off at Old Kilpatrick Station. The hills are directly behind the station’s carpark; only about an 8-minute walk.
🥾 Time to Climb: No set trail—let the trail choose you! Just enjoy wandering about. Trains are quite regular, so it is easy to get back. Both paved and unpaved routes. No estimated time (I spent 8 hours walking about—you will not run out of places to walk!).
6. Ben Lommond
Because who doesn’t want to say they’ve climbed one of Scotland’s famous Highlander munros??
🚝 Travel: Take Scottish Citylink Bus 914 towards Fort William from the Kersland Stop (~1 hr 13 min). Get off at Tarbet Hotel (11 stops). Take the Water Taxi.
❗️There is only one water taxi to the shore, and one back to Tarbet—DO NOT MISS IT! Book in advance, as space is limited!!
🥾 Time to Climb: ~4.5-5 hours. 7.5-mile (12km) hike upwards.
7. Conic Hill
Conic Hill is an iconic, and rather easy hike with some very rewarding views at the top! I have not been yet—but it is on my list for a “weekend adventure!”
🚝 Travel: Board at Queen Street, Charing Cross, Partick, or Hyland Station and take the train to Balloch. Then take bus 309 to Balmaha.
🥾 Time to Climb: ~2-3 hours. 2.5-mile (4km) hike upwards.
8. Callander Crags and Bracklinn Falls
Callander is a quaint little town situated between the highlands and the lowlands. Its less touristy than its counterparts and is packed with outdoor activities.
🚝 Travel: Take the train from Queen Street Station to Stirling. Then bus 59 to Callander.
🥾 Time to Climb: The Crags will take ~1.5-2 hours. It is a 2.5 miles (4 km) trail. The falls are a wee walk from the Crags’ carpark…add on ~1 hour for them.
🌟 Make sure to walk around the town and visit a few bakeries! There are many Roman ruins and wildlife to be seen!
9. Glen Ogle Trail
This is a lovely low-level trail that gives you great views of the Trossachs. You walk past several waterfalls and some viaducts!
🚝 Travel: Take the train from Queen Street Station to Stirling. Then bus 59 to Callander, and bus C60 toward Killin. Get off at Cameron Court.
🥾 Time to Climb: ~3-4 hours. 6-mile (10.5 km) trail.
🌟 Can Add On: Acharn Woods to Killin and the Falls of Dochart
🥾 To extend your hike ignore the return point still during the trail. It will add on a few more hours. But you can always take the local bus back to Lochernhead!
10. Doone Hill and Fairy Knowe
Scotland is a land steeped in folklore and the town of Aberfolye has it all! Walk of the legendary Doone Hill and see if you can find some faeries yourself!
🚝 Travel: Take the train from Partick to Milngavie. Then bus X10A from Milngavie Station Bus Stop to Aberfolye, Get off at Queens Crescent stop.
🥾 Time to Climb: ~2 hours. 4-mile (6.5km) trail.
🌟 Doone Hill is part of the Fairy Knowe trail.
❗️❗️DISCLAIMER: Signposts are a little vague. Refer to: https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/lochlomond/doon-hill.shtml and your own map for a successful trek.
Make sure to get out and enjoy this beautiful country!
💕 Callie
UofG Visiting Students 
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