Closest ‘Highlands’ from Edinburgh.

[Mangomintmama]

We are taking our 3 DCs (primary aged) to Edinburgh in May half term, will have a hire car and are looking for the closest, scenic places to the city - happy to drive an hour+ but would like to see the true beauty of Scotland having never visited before.
Any recommendations please?

Don't forget Calton Hill for a wander too. It's got Cafe Calton to sit in for a coffee.

There are the Pentlands, right on the southern edge.

Home – Pentland Hills

It’s such a shame people always choose Edinburgh as a default for a visit to Scotland. It’s definitely worth considering Glasgow next time. Loads to do and easy to travel to the west for scenery. (But then I’m biased! 😉)

If you have small DC, have you considered some of the more wild scenery in Edinburgh? Check out Craigmillar Castle, Arthur’s Seat, Duddingston Loch. A lot of people do a wild walk or run around there.

Re the Pentland hills. There is an OS explorer map available. For you spread out on the table and do some planning.

OS Map of Pentland Hills | Explorer 344 Map | Ordnance Survey Shop

And you can consider the borders railway too.

The Most Scenic Train Rides From Edinburgh (theculturetrip.com)

Roslin Glen is great to explore from Pentland hills too

Dunkeld, Pitlochry, Aberfeldy area is probably the closest to the classic “highland” scenery you want.

The Pentland hills outside Edinburgh would be an easy option - only a very short drive and the Flotterstone Inn is good for lunch.

North Berwick is great for kids on a sunny day - proper sandy beach, sealife centre, massive park with a great play area. Not Highlands but very lovely. Massive ruined castle to visit as well - Tantallon castle. The fairy houses at Archerfield Walled Garden are super cute and my young kid loved them. Dirlton Castle is very close by and is another impressive ruin plus has lovely gardens.

Yep this is exactly where I was about to say.

We love the visitors centre.

The steam ship on Loch Katrine offers amazing views too.

I agree with Dollar Glen or a visit to Loch Leven or John Knox Pulpit. All within an hour of Edinburgh and near to each other.

One hundred per cent not what you asked but if you're in Edinburgh with kids, Fort Douglas Adventure Playground is a brilliant trip out for a morning/afternoon. It's the sort of place that would cost an absolute fortune in England. Honestly can't recommend it enough!

Go to St Andrews instead. You'll love it. The beach, the town is beautiful and old.

Stay in Edinburgh. Head for Arthur's seat, the Botanic gardens, or Blackford hill. All three have views, ponds/lochs and space to run around. Botanics is great and has a fabulous cafe, several actually.

if you really want to leave the city, the the Pentland hills are wild and remote with a beautiful reservoir. Nice pubs nearby too. Flotterston Inn or The Steading.

I would head to Perthshire. Stop at the Hermitage for a short walk to Ossian Hall, stop at Dunkeld to visit the Beatrix Potter garden, take a walk along the river through the Birnam Oak forest, the trees are breathtaking and it's the forest famed for MacBeath. Pop into Aran Bakery (a GBBO contestant's shop) have a walk through the village. There is a lovely wee arts square.
You could pop up to Pitlochry, 5 mins north of pitlochry is a beautiful wee forest and loch called Faskally. The walk right round the loch is short and there is a wee bridge in the middle. Faskally also has toilets.

Edinburgh - Ossian's Hall - Beatrix Potter/ Dunkeld - brirnam Woods - bakery for picnic - Faskally woods and picnic - Edinburgh.

That would be my suggestion for a day out. There are also lots of independent shops and handmade along the way. The wee ceramic cafe in dunkeld is lovely if you fancied making a keepsake for the day. This would be a full day trip.

The scenery is outstanding in this area. It is a very easy drive from Edinburgh and then you can leave the A9 and explore.

Dollar Glen gives a hilly feel, Castle Campbell is nice. Dumyat in the Ochil hills too. The Kelpies and The Falkirk wheel then a visit to the Milk Barn for ice-cream or milk shakes. The Pineapple near Airth. Callander or Dunkeld.Berwick Law.

Falkland in Fife is a lovely wee village where you can get a nice coffee / lunch then an interesting walk at Mapsie Den including a waterfall you can walk under!

Edited to add: Drive from Edinburgh to Falkland is 59 mins 😊

Think you're the first person to mention the Milk Barn on here! Great suggestion 👌

For a “wilderness” feel in Edinburgh without a “hike”:

• craigmillar Castle and park. From the castle you can walk through a small wood to the adventure playground. I’d recommend for ages 3-8
• Blackford Hill climb up from near the pond and there’s plenty rambling for kids up there and great views of the city. I’d recommend for ages 5-10
• Arthur’s Seat and Salisbury Crags can have a feeling of proper adventure. There are great walking tours you can find directions for online and learn a lot about the geology as up to. I’d recommend for 8 and over.

Leaving the city:

• Loch Lomond is accessible by train and you could combine with a night in Glasgow or a short tour of Glasgow City Centre as you will need to change trains there
• North Berwick and climbing the law were mentioned up thread. This depends on your kids. Probably fun for under 7s, but it’s a very quick climb for active children! Though you would not be short of other things to do in North Berwick, it’s really lovely!
• Pentlands - I would not take children who were not used to walking! If they managed Arthur’s Seat and were still having fun, I might take then out to the Pentlands another day. As mentioned above either balerno or flotterstone make a good start/end point.

Further:

• Pitlochry is accessible by train from Edinburgh. Time it right and you can do a day trip. It’s “the gateway” to the highlands, so the closest you will get to your original plan. Gorgeous scenery along loch faskally and Ben Vrackie is an excellent climb. With inexperienced children you could easily do the bit over the moor and stop at the loch to turn back.

Love Faskally woods.

Don’t underestimate how steep, or how sheer the drops are for some of the “falls” are in the area especially Aberfeldy.

Auchengarrich Wildlife Park just outside Crieff is set in lovely countryside and is great for young kids. It’s an easy 1 hour drive from Edinburgh past Stirling and Dunblane and isn’t far from Callendar if you decided to make a day of it. Dunked and Pitlochry are slightly further but you start to feel you’re getting into the Highlands.

Agree. Or loch Katrina for the steamer and Ben An. Glorious views of proper highland scenery. The Pentlands are a bit lame for this in my book. But the drive will be more like 90 mins +

On one day of your holiday go on bite the bullet get up early and drive to Aviemore, (which IMO opinion is a bit of a dump but there are supermarkets etc so you can buy a picnic). It is under 2 1/2 hours from Edinburgh youll enjoy the drive and once there take the steam railway, visit the Cairngorm reindeer herd, maybe the Highland Wildlife Park there lots of other things to do. The Cairngorms are simply stunning. You’ll get lovely long days in May so it won’t get properly dark till 11 and often the weather is not bad in May/June.

The Angus Glens are gorgeous but you’re probably around 2 hours from Edinburgh to get there. Not as far as going way up north at least.