Short Trips from Glasgow
One hour or less!
Loch Lomond
Despite being less than an hour’s train ride from the bustle and sprawl of Glasgow, the bonnie banks and bonnie braes of Loch Lomond comprise one of the most scenic parts of the country. At the heart of Scotland’s first national park, the loch begins as a broad, island-peppered lake in the south, its shores clothed in bluebell woods, narrowing in the north to a fjord-like trench ringed by 900m-high mountains. Stroll on the loch shore at sunset. Hike up a Munro before sunrise. Camp out in a wild glen, or cycle over the Duke’s Pass. Spend an afternoon fishing, bouldering, or horse riding – whatever your style, you’ll find something brilliant to do here.
Falkirk
Falkirk is a town in Scotland’s central belt, located around a 30-minute drive or 45 minutes on the train from Glasgow.
The Falkirk Wheel, the world’s first and only rotating boat lift is an engineering masterpiece which transports boats 115 ft between the different levels of the Union, and Forth & Clyde canals. You can ride on the wheel and learn all about it at the visitor centre.
Whilst you are there, you could also visit The Kelpies, the two 30-metre-high horse head sculptures which are a true feat of engineering.
Looking for some inspiration? Why not check out this handy interactive map, packed full of ideas for day trips and longer stays in Falkirk and the surrounding area.
Forth and Clyde Canal
The Forth & Clyde Canal crosses central Scotland east to west and is linked to the Union Canal via the Falkirk Wheel. With the building work beginning in 1768, the Forth & Clyde Canal was the first canal to be built in Scotland and played a vital part in the Scottish Industrial Revolution by helping to transport materials. Today the Forth & Clyde Canal is the popular host of a variety of activities including boating, fishing, cycling, walking and wildlife spotting.
Edinburgh
Why not visit Scotland’s capital city, with an abundance of history, top quality attractions and beautiful architecture, Edinburgh is a city that you won’t forget in a hurry. Explore the Medieval Old Town and the elegant Georgian New Town, which sit side by side, and visit unique attractions throughout the city on a holiday in Edinburgh. You’ll discover why Edinburgh is the second most visited city in the UK after London. Every year over two million tourists visit Scotland’s capital city!
Direct trains from Edinburgh run every 15 minutes on weekdays and take 45 minutes. You can reach Edinburgh by car from Glasgow in around an hour.
Stirling
Did you know that Stirling’s top attractions have witnessed some of the most defining and dramatic moments in Scotland’s history? Stirling is the ancient capital of Scotland, laying at the heart of the nation’s history and linked to two of its best-known heroes, William Wallace, and Robert the Bruce. Occupying a strategic position in the cultural heartland of Scotland, it is surrounded by glorious countryside and yet 45 minutes on the train from Glasgow.
