Although Edinburgh has a full complement of attractions and plenty of activities visitors, there are also some worthwhile side trips you can take into the surrounding countryside. Whether in the Lothians and further south towards the Borders -- or north across the Firth of Forth into the Kingdom of Fife -- many attractions are no more than an hour's drive from the city. The closest regions are West and East Lothian, on either side of the city. The highlights include the impressive ruins of Linlithgow Palace, a favorite of the Stuart dynasty; 18th-century Hopetoun House; or the seaside town of North Berwick, with its views of Bass Rock. South in the Borders, the historic Melrose Abbey and Abbotsford, Sir Walter Scott's majestic home, beckon day-trippers.
One of the best excursions from the Scottish capital is north to Fife and places such as the golfing mecca of St. Andrews, with the oldest university in Scotland. There's also the ancient town and one-time capital of Dunfermline. It can be visited in a day, which will give you plenty of time to see its historic abbey as well as the Andrew Carnegie Birthplace Museum.
Guided Minitours from Edinburgh
Sightseeing tours from Edinburgh can give tourists a wee taste of the often stunning countryside as they whisk visitors on 1-, 2-, and 3-day excursions, whether to Stirling and Loch Lomond or further north to Glen Coe and the shores of Loch Ness. Timberbush Tours (555 Castlehill; tel. 01312/266-066; www.timberbush-tours.co.uk) use minibuses to take small groups to the Highlands. Prices for a 2-day tour range from £58 ($107) in low season to £63 ($116) at the height of summer, and the prices only cover transportation and guide. Heart of Scotland Tours (37 Logie Green Rd.; tel. 01315/588-855; www.heartofscotlandtours.co.uk) offers 1-day minibus tours of different regions, such as Loch Lomond, the Borders, or Fife. They depart from Waterloo Place near Calton Hill at 8am or 9am in the morning, returning to Edinburgh between 6pm and 8pm. Prices range from £27 to £32 ($50-$60). More intrepid adventurers might want to consider a "hop-on, hop-off" hostel bus service offered by MacBackpackers (105 High St.; tel. 01315/589-900; www.macbackpackers.com). This bus does a circuit of Scotland stopping at Pitlochry, Inverness, Kyle of Lochalsh, Fort William, Oban, and Glasgow. The basic price is £75 ($139).
