POV: You don't want boring weekends in Scotland
In Edinburgh and fancying changing it up from the usual this weekend? This guide will suggest ways of making the most of your weekend without the need for a car, some of these trips could be afternoon trips some will involve an early start and late finish but all will leave you with a good story.
If you are just looking for ideas of things to do in and around Edinburgh check out my guide on what to do on a sunny day in Edinburgh below:
Pentland Hills
If you're into hiking but, like me, don't have a car and live in Edinburgh this really is the easiest option. There are a couple Lothain buses that go to this area, The 44 takes you to Balerno where you can walk to the start point of the West Kip, East Kip and Scald Law (highest peak in the Pentlands) hike mentioned in the guide listed above.
Be sure to have a map and tell someone where you are hiking as people have gotten lost in these hills. I was using OS Maps App on my phone but it did use a lot of battery so ensure you have a portable charger if doing this too!
There are plenty of walks to do in and around the Pentlands depending on your fitness and energy levels, have a look through the website below and see what you fancy!
St Abbs
This quaint seaside town has seen some fame in recent years as it is featured in Avengers Endgame and Harry Style's music video 'Adore You'. The fishing village of St Abbs is fairly well known but not crazy busy. It is about an hour drive from Edinburgh and about 1.5hrs via public transport. You will take the train down to Berwick upon Tweed and then the 235 bus towards St Abbs.
The St Abbs Head walk is not to be missed. It offers gorgeous views of the cliffside and as you walk back you will get a birds eye view of the town of St Abbs. You walk from St Abbs, round the lighthouse and loop back via the St Abbs National Nature Reserve on a 3.9 mile loop where you will see lots of wildlife, including puffins if you're lucky!
North Berwick
North Berwick is an easy train ride away from Edinburgh. It's a beautiful seaside town to explore and castles as well as a famous golf course. For the nature lovers, North Berwick has the Scottish Seabird Centre, perfect for a family day out at the interactive experiences or just to learn about Scotland's wildlife.
A trip to North Berwick is never complete without a stop at one of the most scenic cafes there is, Drift. Right on the shoreline, it has incredible views of bass rock and the area of North Berwick.
Dunbar
This is the place to go if you're into surfing, with gorgeous beaches and the most days of sunshine. It is definitely a lot less popular with tourists so if you're looking for a quieter spot near the sea, this is the place to go. Again, there is a train that goes direct to Dunbar from Edinburgh so its super easy to get to from the city centre.
Loch Lomond & Beyond
No trip to Scotland is complete without seeing some of the mountains and lochs it boasts. The best way to see Loch Lomond, Glenfinnan’s viaduct (aka the Harry Potter bridge) and Fort William is through a tour. If you have a car you can of course do it this way and there are trains that go that direction.
If going by train from Edinburgh you will have to go to Glasgow central, then change trains and get the train that goes towards Mallaig, but be careful cause the train usually splits and half of the train will go towards Oban.
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