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Stirlingshire

A Highland Day Trip from Edinburgh

A day by car, from Stirling Castle to the Hermitage.

Written by Graeme Johncock

Directions

It’s no surprise that most visitors to Scotland want to see at least a little bit of the Highlands. There’s nothing quite like the rugged mountain scenery, with dramatic history bursting from every glen. This daytrip from Edinburgh is the perfect taster that I regularly take guests on when they’re short of time for exploring far!

Pick your dates, and who is coming, and every stop will say whether it is open that day, and what it is like with children, a dog or a wheelchair.

How
A day by car
Distance
About 80 miles
Starts
Stirling Castle
Ends
The Hermitage
Good for
Castles, Walks

Book before you go

0 of 1 booked

  1. Accommodation nearby

    If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.

    Juniper2 miles awayJuniperSleeps 2Pheasant Cottage5 miles awayPheasant CottageSleeps 6Little Pheasant5 miles awayLittle PheasantSleeps 4Charlottefield7 miles awayCharlottefieldSleeps 4

Worth booking aheadStirling Castle: online, for a set time: it is £2 cheaper than at the gate.

The day

  1. Stirling Castle

    Stirling Castle

    An attraction

    While Stirling Castle isn’t in the Highlands, it’s an ideal place to break up the journey, sitting around an hour from Edinburgh. This historic fortress was the key to holding the Highlands and it was said that if you controlled Stirling, you controlled Scotland. No wonder it’s seen so many sieges over the centuries! Give yourself an hour or two to explore the Great Hall, Palace, Douglas Garden and the Kitchens or join one of the castle’s guided tours.

    More about Stirling Castle

    The rest of this day is for members.

    7 more stops, what to do at each, and the drive between them. Members read every one of our days, and the magazine.

    Become a memberAlready one? Sign in

  2. Trossachs Woollen Mill

    An attraction

  3. Loch Lubnaig

    An attraction

  4. Balquhidder Parish Church

    An attraction

  5. Falls of Dochart

    An attraction

  6. Finlarig Castle

    An attraction

  7. Fortingall Yew Tree

    An attraction

  8. The Hermitage

    An attraction

Directions for the day
Where to stay

Places to stay near where the day ends, and when each is next free.

A red timber cabin with a steep pitched roof stands on a hillside among pines, a covered deck and chairs to one side.Juniper
  • Sleeps 2
  • 2 miles away
Check datesAn aerial view shows a stone and timber cottage with a round hot tub in the garden, hills rising behind a dry stone wall.Pheasant Cottage
  • Sleeps 6
  • 5 miles away
Check datesLittle Pheasant, PerthshireLittle Pheasant
  • Sleeps 4
  • 5 miles away
Check datesA stone cottage with a gabled dormer window catches evening light among autumn trees, a bench and picnic table on the gravel outside.Charlottefield
  • Sleeps 4
  • 7 miles away
Check dates

Make it a weekend

Days that start near The Hermitage.

PerthshireThe Hermitage falls and lunch at Birnam Arts.PerthshireAutumn in Big Tree Country.PerthshireA walk to Pine Cone Point in Craigvinean Forest.

More days by Graeme

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Argyll and Bute · For membersTravelling from Edinburgh to Oban.StirlingshireExploring the Clackmannan Tower Trail.FifeA Day Along the South Fife Coast.