Glasgow is a great city to visit. There’s so much going on, and it’s really easy to get around and visit all of its attractions. It’s a fantastic base for exploring other places, too. Here’s our round-up of some of our ideas for day trips from Glasgow by train.

What day trips from Glasgow by train are there?

Glasgow is well-situated in the Central Belt of Scotland. This means that it’s easy to jump on a train (or something else!) to visit somewhere new. Whether you want to see a new city or embrace the great outdoors, there’s something for everyone.

Isle of Arran

Fancy popping to an island for a day? It’s perfectly easy to do! Just book your train tickets with Railsmartr to Ardrossan Harbour, then head over to the CalMac website and reserve yourself a space on a ferry from Ardrossan to Brodick. You can reach the island from Glasgow in around two hours.

Once you reach the island, you have a selection of Stagecoach Buses at your disposal to help you to reach all parts of this beautiful island with ease. You can take the bus to the Lochranza Distillery, Brodick Castle and the beautiful Blackwaterfoot:

This is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful day trips from Glasgow that you can embark on! A day return (valid after 9am weekdays) is £9.50 out to Ardrossan Harbour, while a return on the ferry starts at £8.40. It’s a quick and easy connection, too. Just walk straight ahead out of the station and follow the signs.

Stirling

You can get to Stirling in as little as 30 minutes from Glasgow Queen Street. This makes it one of the most practical day trips from Glasgow by train.

If you make your way up to the Old Town, you’ll find a wealth of history to explore. The main attraction of course is Stirling Castle:

It had a part to play in many a historical event. Did you know that the Battle of Bannockburn took place within sight of the castle walls?

Just a short walk away from the castle is the Church of the Holy Rude. It’s the second-oldest building in Stirling (after the castle) and was established in 1129:

Looking to learn about a darker side of Stirling? Take a look at the Old Town Jail. It has a ‘sweet’ history too, as it was a sweet factory for part of its life, as well!

A day return to Stirling is £9.20 if you’re travelling after 9am on weekdays (any time on weekends and Bank Hoildays).

Linlithgow

This is one of the ideal day trips from Glasgow if you’re just looking for a walk in the great outdoors. The main attraction you’ll find in Linlithgow is the Peel and Palace.

You’d never guess that this was just half an hour from the bustling City Centre of Glasgow:

You can take a stroll around the whole of Linlithgow Loch (pictured above). It’s a pretty level and short walk (around an hour), so it’s perfect on a nice day with the kids or to walk the dog.

At the time of writing (June 2023), it’s unfortunately not possible to go inside of the palace while works are going on. However, you can still take a close look at the palace that once served as a royal nursery for James V, Mary Queen of Scots and Princess Elizabeth (later Elizabeth I):

A day return to Linlithgow is £13.60 if you’re travelling after 9am on weekdays (any time weekends and Bank Holidays).

Is there anything else I should know?

Ready for some more inspiration? We’ve written lots more content all about day trips by train. Whether you’re travelling from Newcastle, Leeds, London, Edinburgh or around Kent, we’re sure to have something for you. Don’t forget that there are plenty of advantages when it comes to leaving the car at home.

Thinking of trying one of these day trips from Glasgow soon? You can book it all with Railsmartr. We’ll be sure to show you even the slower and cheaper options, so you can get the best value fare for your journey.

Changed your mind? Need to travel on a different day? No problem at all. You can change or refund your ticket (if it’s refundable) without any extra fees.

Visting Glasgow? We’ve got plenty of inspiration for you, as we’ve taken a day trip to Glasgow ourselves.

_{^{All fares stated on this page are for ONE adult with no Railcard discount and were correct at 12:00 05/06/23. They’re subject to change at any time and Railsmartr are not responsible for any loss or disappointment incurred as a result of the information provided.}}