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day-trips Published: 2026-08-25

Day Trips from Glasgow: Lochs, Islands, Coast and Highland Drives

Day trips from Glasgow by car, train and ferry -- Loch Lomond and Loch Katrine, the Isle of Arran, Great Cumbrae, the Ayrshire coast, the A82 to Glencoe, Stirling and the Kelpies.

By the Glasgow Scenery editorial team · Published · Last updated

Glasgow is ringed by water, islands and hills, and most of the good days out are comfortably within one. This guide gathers the trips people actually make — the short hop up Loch Lomondside, the ferry to Arran, the circuit of Great Cumbrae, the Ayrshire coast, and the longer push north through Glencoe and Rannoch Moor. Where a place is reachable by train or ferry rather than car we say so, and where parking decides the trip we say that too.

Loch Lomond Day Trip Itinerary from Glasgow

Loch Lomond Day Out

Loch Lomond lies 40 minutes north of Glasgow. You can travel by car or take the train to Balloch.

Luss Conservation Village

Visit the stone cottages and sandy beach at Luss. Walk the pier to see Ben Lomond across the water.

Loch Cruises and Balmaha

Board a cruise boat at Balloch to tour the islands, or drive to Balmaha to climb Conic Hill.

Visiting Luss Village on Loch Lomond

Slate Cottages

Luss features slate-workers' cottages built in the 19th century. You can walk the paths to the old church and beach.

Historic Day Trip to Loch Katrine

Loch Katrine Pier

Loch Katrine serves as Glasgow's water supply. You can explore the loch by boat or bike, starting at the Trossachs Pier.

Steamship Cruise

Book a tour on the Steamship Sir Walter Scott. The historic boat has carried visitors along the loch since 1900.

Shore Cycling

Rent a bicycle to ride the private, car-free road along the northern shore. The path lead to Stronachlachar.

Biking the Loch Katrine Shore Road

Car-Free Shore Path

The northern shore road closes to public cars. You can cycle the path along the water edge to Stronachlachar.

Isle of Arran Day Trip Guide

Arran Day Guide

Take the train to Ardrossan, then catch the Caledonian MacBrayne ferry to Brodick. The crossing takes 55 minutes.

Brodick Castle

Tour the castle and walled gardens, located under the peak of Goat Fell. The estate contains redwood trees and woodland paths.

Goat Fell Ascent

If you want a mountain hike, the trail to Goat Fell (874m) starts near Brodick and climbs granite ridges to the summit.

Visiting Brodick Castle on Arran

Highland Castle

Brodick Castle features Victorian rooms and a large garden estate. The paths lead through pine woods to a play park.

Day Trip to Largs and the Isle of Great Cumbrae

The Clyde Coast

Largs lies one hour west of Glasgow. It is a traditional resort town with a marina and promenade.

Cycling Great Cumbrae

Catch the passenger ferry to Great Cumbrae. Rent a bicycle in Millport to ride the flat 10-mile loop road around the island.

Nardini's Cafe

After returning to Largs, visit Nardini's for Italian ice cream and fish and chips. The art-deco cafe sits on the seafront.

Renting a Bike on Great Cumbrae Island

Island Loop Route

Great Cumbrae features a flat 10-mile road that circles the coast. Several shops in Millport rent bicycles by the hour.

Culzean Castle and Ayrshire Coast Day Trip

Clifftop Fortress

Culzean Castle stands on a cliff overlooking the Firth of Clyde. Robert Adam designed the building in the late 18th century.

Country Park Walks

Wander the estate grounds to see the swan pond, walled gardens, and camellia house. You can also walk down to the sandy beach.

Culzean Country Park Walled Gardens

Victorian Walled Garden

Culzean estate features walled gardens, glasshouses, and a swan pond. Paths wind through pine woods down to the sea cliffs.

Glencoe Day Trip: Driving the A82

A82 Mountain Route

The drive to Glencoe follows the A82 north. You will pass Loch Lomond and cross the high plateau of Rannoch Moor.

The Three Sisters and Glencoe Pass

The road descend into Glencoe, passing under the peak of Buachaille Etive Mor. Stop at the parking areas to view the Three Sisters ridges.

Driving Rannoch Moor on the A82

Peat Plain Route

The A82 road crosses Rannoch Moor. The flat plateau dots the landscape with pools of water and surrounded by peak ridges.

Stirling Castle Day Trip from Glasgow

Volcanic Castle Rock

Stirling sits 40 minutes from Glasgow by train. The castle stands on a volcanic ridge, overlooking the River Forth.

The Royal Palace

Tour the Stuart chambers in the Royal Palace. Walk the battlements for views of the Wallace Monument and Ochil Hills.

Exploring the Kelpies and Falkirk Wheel

Canal Infrastructure

Falkirk features two major monuments to Scotland's canal network, located 30 minutes east of Glasgow.

The Kelpies

View the 30-meter high steel horse-head sculptures designed by Andy Scott. They stand next to the Helix park canal extension.

The Falkirk Wheel

Tour the world's only rotating boat lift, which connects the Union Canal and Forth and Clyde Canal.

Places in our directory covering this

The directory listings closest to these trips, with their Google rating and review count. Figures are lifted from public Google Maps profiles and shown as a snapshot, so treat them as a starting point rather than the last word.

Been on one of these trips?

Ferry timetables and parking charges change faster than any guide. If something on this page is out of date, or you found a better route, tell us — corrections are folded into the next update and your account is published against the trip it belongs to.