The beautiful city of Edinburgh is one of the most popular cities for overseas visitors in the United Kingdom. Indeed, only London, Manchester, and Birmingham topped Scotland’s capital in a list of top 20 places visited for at least one night in the UK in 2021.
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Home of Scotland’s parliament, the world’s largest arts festival, a 1,000-year-old castle, and the picturesque Arthur’s Seat mountain, there is little wonder Edinburgh is a hot spot for tourists.
If you’re planning a trip to Edinburgh and looking for ideas to try outside the city with family or friends, then you are in the right place.
The easiest way to explore the surroundings of Edinburgh is by car. If you are planning to share driving responsibilities after an exhausting trek through the countryside, then remember to take out temporary insurance to insure the car for a day to be covered.
Glentress
For the mountain bike lovers among you, Glentress, near Peebles in the Scottish Borders, is the place for you.
Whether beginner or expert, there are trails to suit all skill sets in Glentress, home to one of the 7stanes mountain biking centres and a little over an hour’s drive from Edinburgh.
There is much more to do here than just biking. For walking enthusiasts, there are glorious routes to explore, offering beautiful views of the Tweed Valley.
Take in the live osprey cams and the observation beehive at the Wildlife Room, where you can educate yourselves on the creatures you might bump into around Glentress Forest.
After a busy day, pop into the cafe for coffee and refreshment before heading home.
Dunbar
If open water is more your thing to get the adrenaline pumping, then a visit to Dunbar, East Lothian, is in order.
Haul on the wetsuits and head to Foxlake Adventures, where you can tackle cable wakeboarding, ringos, segways, and open-water swimming.
Situated only 25 miles east of Edinburgh in the wonderful woodlands on the edge of John Muir Way, Foxlake is ideal for family fun, adventures with friends, or individual activities.
Remember to replenish your energy stores with some of the delicious supplies at Jay Birds Larder before piling back into the car.
Lochs near Edinburgh
Scotland is home to some of the most beautiful lochs and reservoirs in the world, and there are plenty to explore that blend into the landscape near the city.
Glencorse Reservoir, just south of Edinburgh, is housed at the Pentland Hills Regional Park. Here you can take the dogs down the scenic trails, hop on the bike, or rent boats for fishing.
Around an hour’s walk away is the James Jardine-designed Threipmuir Reservoir, so combining the two is doable. The regional park takes about 40 minutes to get to by car from Edinburgh centre, and be sure to visit the Flotterstone Inn for some lovely food.
Alternatively, right among the city life is Holyrood Park. Home to Arthur’s Seat, ramblers can take a walk to Dunsapie Loch, St Margaret’s Loch, and Duddingston Loch.
Duddingston Loch is a popular place for birdwatchers because it is a haven for birdlife such as geese and waterfowl.
