Just outside Edinburgh, and easily accessible for a day trip, are some fantastic attractions. If you have the time, these are all worth a visit. If your time is limited, choose the one that is most aligned with your interests as each of these places is very different from the other. The Scottish countryside is vibrantly green year round. With its rolling hills and picturesque landscapes, these trips are as much about the journey as the destination.

Stirling

The City of Stirling is about an hour west of Edinburgh, and getting to Stirling via train from Edinburgh is relatively easy, making it a busy tourist destination. Once you arrive the Stirling Hop on Hop off City Bus will get you to the top attractions.

Stirling Castle

Stirling Castle is a restored Renaissance Palace, with most of the current structures being built during this time, and influences from the English, French, and German. One of the grandest castles at the time, it was the principal royal center and site of the coronation of Mary Queen of Scots. This castle holds a lot of royal history which you can uncover via guided or audio tours. The docents, who are in period dress, will also provide information on the buildings and rooms if you choose to wander without any guides.

Stirling Castle sits on top of a ‘crag’, a rugged cliff or rock face, with stunning views of the Scottish countryside surrounding the castle. This is a lovely place to visit, and the restorations and period dress makes you feel as if you are stepping back in time.

The Church of the Holy Rude

Just a short walk from Stirling Castle is the Church of the Holy Rude. This is the medieval parish church of Stirling, Scotland, and is named after the Holy Rood, which is a relic of the cross on which Jesus was crucified. This is the church where James VI was crowned the King of Scotland after Mary Queen of Scots was forced to abdicate.

The National Wallace Monument

Also nearby is the National Wallace Monument commemorating where William Wallace led his troops to victory at Stirling Bridge. William Wallace became Scotland’s National Hero when he defeated the English at Stirling Bridge during the First War of Scottish Independence. Braveheart, featuring Mel Gibson, is a fictional account of this war hero’s tale. From the top of the monument, if you are willing to climb the stairs, are stunning views of Stirling and the Scottish countryside.

Tantallon Castle

Tantallon Castle is a castle ruin on the North Sea. When I visited, I was able to able to walk through the castle ruins and upstairs to the highest parts of the castle. While you can still visit the grounds, the castle structures are now restricted while they conduct masonry inspections. Hopefully, that will change in the future.

Tantallon met every one of my expectations of a Scottish castle ruin with its falling down structures in a backdrop of the rough, blue, icy cold sea. This place is truly stunning!

Without a car, this is not an easy place to get to. I took the train from Edinburgh to North Berwick and then hopped on a bus. However, the bus doesn’t have regular stops at the castle, so I had to let the driver know that I wanted to stop there.

Getting back into town via public transportation proved even more difficult, so I actually gave up and walked the three miles along the water back into town. I may have been starving when I got back into town, but the fish pie at The Ships Inn was superb. It’s still there like it’s been for many years.

Rosslyn Chapel

If you are a Dan Brown Da Vinci Code fan, this is a must-visit. Rosslyn Chapel was founded in 1446 as a family chapel and is still a working church today, as well as a major tourist attraction thanks to The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown.

‘When I decided to write The Da Vinci Code, I knew that its finale would have to take place at the most mysterious and magical chapel on earth — Rosslyn.’ 

Dan Brown

The visit includes a map for a self-guided tour of the grounds and a chapel. There are some short informational talks, but you are mostly on your own.

To get here without a car requires about an hour on both a train and a bus, and it’s always interesting to get out of the major cities to see the surrounding suburbs. to make the most of our time in Roslin, we had lunch at The Original Rosslyn Inn before we returned to Edinburgh.