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Getaways from Edinburgh · Winter 2026–27

Winter getaways from Edinburgh

Fifteen ways out of the city between December and February, from 35 minutes on the train to North Berwick to a short flight for Up Helly Aa in Shetland or a day's drive and ferry to Islay. Each is sorted by how you get there, with the event worth timing it for, where to stay and one thing to know before you go.

  • 15trips
  • 4by car
  • 9by train
  • 2by air
  • Facts checked 24 October 2026

15 winter trips from Edinburgh, sorted by how you get there: 4 by car, 9 by train and 2 by air. The quickest to reach is North Berwick and the East Lothian coast, 35 min away; the longest trip is Islay, 5 hr 30 min. Each one lists the travel time, the dates worth timing it for and where to stay.

At a glance

GetawayFrom EdinburghBest forTime it for
Braemar and Royal Deeside 2 hr 10 min Ski, Romantic, Food & wine Late December to February, when Glenshee is open for snowsports in a good season
Glencoe and Fort William 3 hr Ski, Outdoors, Romantic Late December to February for snowsports at Glencoe Mountain and Nevis Range, conditions permitting
Isle of Skye 5 hr 30 min Food & wine, Romantic, Outdoors A long weekend in December, or Hogmanay for Kinloch Lodge's three-night Hogmanay Escape
Islay 5 hr 30 min Food & wine, Romantic, Outdoors Weekdays from 11 January 2027, when Ardbeg's tours restart, to February
North Berwick and the East Lothian coast 35 min Outdoors, Spa, Romantic Any winter weekend
Glasgow 50 min City break, Culture, Festival Celtic Connections, 14–31 Jan 2027
Scottish Borders 1 hr Culture, Spa, Romantic December to February
St Andrews 1 hr Culture, Romantic, Spa December to February, avoiding 25 and 26 December and 1 and 2 January, when the cathedral and castle are closed
Gleneagles and Stirling 1 hr Spa, Romantic, Food & wine December to February
Dundee 1 hr 16 min City break, Culture, Family Catwalk: The Art of the Fashion Show, 3 Apr 2026 – 17 Jan 2027
Aberdeen and Stonehaven 2 hr 36 min Festival, City break, Spa Stonehaven Fireballs, 31 Dec 2026 – 1 Jan 2027
Aviemore and the Cairngorms 2 hr 54 min Ski, Outdoors, Family Late December to early January, when the reindeer hill trips and Strathspey Railway's Mince Pie Specials both run
Inverness 3 hr 32 min Culture, City break, Spa December to February
Orkney 1 hr Culture, Outdoors, Festival Christmas Day and New Year's Day for the Kirkwall Ba'
Shetland 1 hr 30 min Festival, Culture, Outdoors Lerwick Up Helly Aa, 26 Jan 2027

By car 4 trips

2 hr 10 min
Photograph · VisitAberdeenshire / VisitScotland
Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Braemar and Royal Deeside

About 2 hr 10 min by car from Edinburgh via the M90 to Perth and the A93 over Glenshee, per The Fife ArmsThe Fife Arms puts Aberdeen about 1 hr 25 min away by the A93 through Banchory; Aberdeen is the nearest station, and there is no public transport from the airports to Braemar.

Braemar is about two hours and ten minutes from Edinburgh over the Cairnwell pass, with Glenshee's ski area on the way. The Fife Arms has 47 rooms and suites, open-fire cooking in the Clunie Dining Room and folk music in the Flying Stag.

Do
  • Glenshee Ski Centre Twenty-two uplifts across three valleys, which the centre calls the most extensive skiing and snowboarding in Scotland; lifts depend on snow.
  • The Flying Stag The Fife Arms' public bar, with local ales and live folk music on Wednesday and Friday evenings.
  • The Clunie Dining Room The Fife Arms' restaurant, cooking local, seasonal Scottish produce over open fire.
Stay
  • The Fife Arms Forty-seven rooms and suites in Braemar, owned by Iwan and Manuela Wirth, with an art collection that includes a Lucian Freud in reception; up to two dogs per room at £30 per dog per night.

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Winter tip The route to Braemar crosses Glenshee on the A93, and The Fife Arms says the weather can change rapidly: check the forecast in snow and allow extra time.

3 hr
Photograph · VisitScotland
Lochaber, Highlands, Scotland

Glencoe and Fort William

Around 3 hours by car from Edinburgh to Glencoe, per VisitScotlandVisitScotland puts the bus at about 3 hours. Inverlochy Castle is 3 miles from Fort William, whose station is served by trains from Glasgow and the Caledonian Sleeper.

Glencoe is about three hours from Edinburgh by road, with two ski areas within reach: Glencoe Mountain and Nevis Range, home to the UK's only mountain gondola. Inverlochy Castle, where Queen Victoria spent a week sketching in 1873, and Lord Strathcona's 1896 Glencoe House are the stays.

Do
  • Glencoe Mountain Resort Twenty runs and eight lifts for skiing and snowboarding; uplift depends on snow and wind.
  • Nevis Range The UK's only mountain gondola; the winter snowsports season normally runs from late December to April, depending on snow.
  • Glencoe National Nature Reserve Run by the National Trust for Scotland and open daily all year; the visitor centre is free to enter, 20 miles south of Fort William, and closes 24–26 December, 31 December and 1 January.
Stay
  • Inverlochy Castle A 19th-century castle in the foothills of Ben Nevis, 3 miles from Fort William on the A82; Queen Victoria stayed a week in 1873.
  • Glencoe House Built by Lord Strathcona in 1896 and run as a hotel of private suites.

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Winter tip Glencoe Mountain's chairlift stops in high winds, so check the resort's snow report on the morning; Glencoe Visitor Centre parking is £4.

5 hr 30 min
Photograph · VisitScotland
Highlands, Scotland

Isle of Skye

About 5 hr 30 min by car from Edinburgh to Portree, per VisitScotlandSkye is reached by the Skye Bridge at Kyle of Lochalsh, or by CalMac's daily Mallaig to Armadale ferry. VisitScotland puts the bus from Edinburgh at about 7 hr 30 min, and Inverness about 3 hours away by car.

Skye is a long drive, about five and a half hours from Edinburgh, but in winter the island is quieter and Talisker's distillery stays open daily. Stay at Kinloch Lodge on Loch na Dal in Sleat or at The Three Chimneys at Colbost, whose suites come with a dinner table reserved.

Do
  • Talisker Distillery At Carbost on Loch Harport, about 45 minutes' drive from Portree; open daily 10 am to 4.30 pm from November to February, closed 25–26 December and 1–2 January. The one-hour Distillery Tour and Tasting is from £22; no under-8s on tours.
  • Dinner at The Three Chimneys Michelin Selected restaurant with 3 AA Rosettes at Colbost, near Dunvegan.
  • Kinloch Lodge Hogmanay Escape Three nights' dinner, bed and breakfast over Hogmanay from £1,470 per person sharing; the lodge says festive packages are often full.
Stay
  • Kinloch Lodge Family-run hotel at the foot of Kinloch Hill on the shore of Loch na Dal in Sleat, with an award-winning kitchen.
  • The Three Chimneys & The House Over-By Five split-level suites and one family suite next to the restaurant at Colbost, overlooking Loch Dunvegan.

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Winter tip Some of Skye's roads are single track with passing places, and winter daylight is short, so plan the drive from Edinburgh around the light and the forecast.

5 hr 30 min
Photograph · Another Place, The Machrie
Argyll and Bute, Scotland

Islay

About 5 hr 30 min: roughly 3 hr 30 min by car from Edinburgh to Kennacraig via Glasgow, then about 2 hours on CalMac's ferry to Port Askaig, per Another Place, The MachrieLoganair flies from Glasgow to Islay in about 45 minutes. CalMac's winter timetable runs 19 October 2026 to 25 March 2027; Port Ellen is closed until 2029, so sailings use Port Askaig, and every passenger needs a ticket before travel.

Islay is a full day's travel from Edinburgh, by road to Kennacraig and two hours by ferry, but its whisky distilleries keep winter hours. Another Place, The Machrie, with 43 rooms and a links course beside a seven-mile beach, is the place to stay.

Do
  • Ardbeg Distillery Visitor centre open Monday to Friday, 9.30 am to 5 pm, from November 2026 to April 2027; closed 22 December 2026 to 4 January 2027, with tours restarting on 11 January. The Classic Distillery Tour & Drams is £22.50.
  • Laphroaig Distillery Visitor centre open daily in November and on weekdays in December, 9.45 am to 4.30 pm; closed from 24 December, reopening 5 January.
  • The Machrie links A links course at the hotel, by the Atlantic and a seven-mile beach.
Stay
  • Another Place, The Machrie Forty-three rooms, including duplex suites and two-bedroom lodges, near Port Ellen, with 18 Restaurant & Bar, treatments and a fitness studio.

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Winter tip Book the CalMac crossing before you travel: vehicles must check in 30 minutes before departure and foot passengers 10 minutes. Ardbeg's visitor centre does not open at weekends in winter.

By train 9 trips

35 min
Photograph · Scottish Seabird Centre / Rob McDougall
East Lothian, Scotland

North Berwick and the East Lothian coast

About 35 min by train from Edinburgh Waverley to North Berwick, per the Scottish Seabird CentreMarine North Berwick says ScotRail runs up to 19 trains a day on the route, taking about 33 minutes, and the hotel is about half a mile from the station. The Seabird Centre puts the town 25 miles from Edinburgh by car.

North Berwick is about 35 minutes from Waverley, short enough for a Saturday on the coast. The Scottish Seabird Centre streams live from the Bass Rock, Tantallon Castle sits on the cliffs east of town, and Marine North Berwick has an indoor pool, sauna and cold plunge.

Do
  • Scottish Seabird Centre Open daily, 10 am to 4 pm in December and January and to 5 pm in February; new for 2026, 360 cameras stream live from the Bass Rock inside the Discovery Experience. Same-day train tickets earn 25% off entry.
  • Tantallon Castle Open daily 10 am to 4 pm from October to March (last entry 45 minutes before closing); adults £7.50 online. Closed 24 to 28 December and 1 to 4 January.
  • Dirleton Castle Open Saturday to Wednesday, 10 am to 4 pm, in winter, and closed from 24 December to 4 January; adults £4.50, reduced while about a third of the ruins are closed for conservation work.
Stay
  • Marine North Berwick Hotel half a mile from North Berwick station with an indoor pool, sauna, cold plunge and fitness centre; the sauna, cold plunge and gym are for guests aged 16 and over.
  • Greywalls A 1901 house by Sir Edwin Lutyens at Muirfield, Gullane, built as a holiday home and now a hotel with a Chez Roux restaurant, close to the 18th green.

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Winter tip The Seabird Centre's boat trips run only from late March to early October, so in winter the live cameras are the way to see the Bass Rock. The centre closes at 3 pm on 24 and 31 December and all day on 25 and 26 December.

50 min
Photograph · Kris Kesiak / Visit Glasgow
Glasgow, Scotland

Glasgow

About 50 min by train from Edinburgh Waverley to Glasgow (LNER's stated average); LNER says the journey is made on ScotRailLNER puts the distance at 40 miles.

Glasgow is about 50 minutes away by train, and its two big civic museums, the Burrell Collection and Kelvingrove, are free. In January, Celtic Connections fills the city with more than 300 events over two and a half weeks.

Time it for Celtic Connections 14–31 Jan 2027

Glasgow's winter festival of Celtic music, with more than 300 events across several genres over about two and a half weeks.

Do
  • The Burrell Collection Free museum in Pollok Country Park, reopened on 29 March 2022 after a major refurbishment and named Art Fund Museum of the Year 2023; open 10 am to 5 pm, from 11 am on Fridays and Sundays.
  • Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum Twenty-two free galleries, opened in 1901, with Dalí's Christ of St John of the Cross in a new ground-floor display and daily recitals on the 1901 Lewis and Co organ; conservation work means some areas are under scaffolding.
  • UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup Comes to Glasgow for the first time on 13 December 2026, in Kelvingrove Park, as listed by Visit Glasgow.
Stay
  • Hotel du Vin at One Devonshire Gardens Forty-nine bedrooms and suites in a tree-lined Victorian terrace in the West End, with a 3 Rosettes restaurant; junior suites have period fireplaces and bay windows.
  • Kimpton Blythswood Square Georgian building at 11 Blythswood Square in the city centre, with private gardens outside and the Spa at Blythswood Square.

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Winter tip Hotel du Vin's terrace has no lifts, so ask for a ground-floor room if stairs are a problem. The Burrell and Kelvingrove open an hour later, at 11 am, on Fridays and Sundays.

1 hr
Photograph · Stobo Castle
Scottish Borders, Scotland

Scottish Borders

Just under an hour by train from Edinburgh Waverley to Tweedbank on the Borders Railway, per AbbotsfordTweedbank is roughly a mile from Abbotsford, a 20-minute walk on the signposted Abbotsford Link. Abbotsford says it is about an hour from Edinburgh by car as well; the Peebles stays below need a car.

The Borders Railway puts Sir Walter Scott's Abbotsford and the abbeys of Melrose and Dryburgh within an hour of Waverley. Stay near Peebles, at Cringletie's David Bryce house or at Stobo Castle, which calls itself Scotland's only destination spa.

Do
  • Abbotsford Sir Walter Scott's home near Melrose; the Abbotsford Trust says the estate is always open and free to walk. Check the house's winter days before you go.
  • Melrose Abbey Open daily 10 am to 4 pm from October to March (last entry 30 minutes before closing; the museum closes 12 noon to 2 pm); adults £7.50.
  • Dryburgh Abbey Open daily 10 am to 4 pm in winter, closing at 2 pm on 24 December; adults £7.50 online.
Stay
  • Cringletie Fifteen rooms and suites, including a two-bedroom cottage, in a house designed by David Bryce and completed in 1863 on Edinburgh Road, Peebles, with a walled garden dating to the 1660s.
  • Stobo Castle Adults-only destination spa seven miles from Peebles, with meals included in a stay; no one under 14 is allowed on site.

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Winter tip Abbotsford's house has closed in January and February for its annual conservation clean in past winters (the estate stays open), so check the 2027 dates with the Trust before planning around a visit inside.

1 hr
Photograph · VisitScotland
Fife, Scotland

St Andrews

About 1 hr by train from Edinburgh Waverley to Leuchars (LNER's stated average), then by bus to St AndrewsLNER lists Leuchars as the station for St Andrews and puts it 50 miles from Edinburgh.

St Andrews is about an hour by train to Leuchars. The cathedral and castle ruins stay open through winter, and two hotels look over the Old Course: Rusacks, established in 1887, and the Old Course Hotel, with its Kohler Waters Spa.

Do
  • St Andrews Cathedral Open 10 am to 4 pm on Mondays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from October to March (last entry 45 minutes before closing); the grounds are free, and free guided tours end with a chance to climb St Rule's Tower. The museum and shop are closed for conservation work.
  • St Andrews Castle Bishop's palace, fortress and state prison with a rock-cut bottle dungeon; open daily 10 am to 4 pm in winter, adults £10 online. The mine, countermine and Bishop's Apartments are currently closed.
  • West Sands The long beach beside the Old Course; St Andrews West Beach Wheelchairs lends six beach wheelchairs free, bookable for an hour to half a day.
Stay
  • Old Course Hotel Five-star, 175-room hotel by the Old Course and West Sands, with the Kohler Waters Spa's pools, sauna and steam rooms and the Road Hole Restaurant.
  • Rusacks St Andrews Established in 1887 and set above the Old Course, with views of West Sands and the North Sea; dining includes 18 Rooftop, The Bridge and Rao's at Rusacks.

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Winter tip St Andrews Cathedral is closed Tuesday to Thursday in winter. Historic Environment Scotland says its phone line is down, so email standrewscathedral.vo@hes.scot to ask about guided tour times.

1 hr
Photograph · VisitScotland
Perthshire and Stirling, Scotland

Gleneagles and Stirling

About an hour by train from Edinburgh to Gleneagles, per LNERGleneagles station is less than two minutes from the hotel, which offers a free chauffeur transfer from the station. VisitScotland puts Stirling about 45 minutes from Edinburgh by train and 55 minutes by car.

Gleneagles is about an hour from Edinburgh by train, and its station is a two-minute transfer from the 1924 hotel, with its 850-acre estate, spa and Restaurant Andrew Fairlie. Stop at Stirling Castle on the way, and look at Cromlix, Kim and Andy Murray's Victorian mansion near Dunblane, for a smaller stay.

Do
  • Gleneagles pursuits The estate's Pursuits programme includes falconry, gundogs, horse riding and golf, alongside Resident Spa, Day Spa and Gym & Swim facilities.
  • Restaurant Andrew Fairlie Gleneagles' two-Michelin-star restaurant; the hotel notes The Glenturret is the only other two-star restaurant in Scotland.
  • Stirling Castle Open daily 9.30 am to 5 pm from October to March (last entry an hour before closing); adults £18.50 online, and code GOOD25 with a bus or train ticket gives 25% off.
Stay
  • Gleneagles Opened in 1924 on an 850-acre estate at Auchterarder, with 232 rooms and 27 suites.
  • Cromlix Victorian mansion and estate at Kinbuck, near Dunblane, owned by Kim and Andy Murray, 48 miles from Edinburgh; restaurants include Cradle and The Garden Room.

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Winter tip Stirling Castle closes at 4 pm on 24 December and opens at 11 am on 1 January. Bring your train ticket for 25% off entry with code GOOD25.

1 hr 16 min
Photograph · John Pow / Dundee Heritage Trust
Dundee, Scotland

Dundee

About 1 hr 16 min by train from Edinburgh Waverley to Dundee (LNER's stated average)LNER runs about four direct trains on weekdays, between 08:07 and 22:22, and puts the distance at 36 miles.

Dundee is about 75 minutes by train and the UK's only UNESCO City of Design, per VisitScotland. V&A Dundee is free and open daily, RRS Discovery, the ship of Scott's 1901 to 1904 Antarctic expedition, is moored beside it, and Verdant Works tells the story of the city's jute mills.

Time it for Catwalk: The Art of the Fashion Show 3 Apr 2026 – 17 Jan 2027

V&A Dundee's exhibition on the fashion show; tickets required.

Do
  • V&A Dundee Free design museum on Riverside Esplanade, open daily 10 am to 5 pm; some exhibitions and events are ticketed. VisitScotland lists David Bowie: On Tour opening on 4 November 2026.
  • Discovery Point and RRS Discovery The Dundee-built ship of Captain Scott's 1901 to 1904 expedition; open daily 10 am to 4 pm in winter, off-peak pass £14. Closed 24, 25, 26 and 31 December and 1 and 2 January.
  • Verdant Works Restored jute mill museum with working machines; from 1 November 2026, open Tuesday to Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm. The Explore More pass (£26) covers this and Discovery Point.
Stay
  • Apex City Quay Hotel & Spa Waterfront hotel overlooking City Quay and the River Tay, with Yu Spa, a heated indoor pool and a hydrotherapy pool; a seven-minute walk to V&A Dundee.
  • Malmaison Dundee In the historic Mathers Hotel building at 44 Whitehall Crescent, on the Tay, with Chez Mal Brasserie & Bar.

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Winter tip Verdant Works is closed on Sundays and Mondays from November 2026, and Discovery Point closes on 31 December as well as over Christmas and New Year, so plan a Hogmanay trip around both.

2 hr 36 min
Photograph · VisitAberdeenshire
Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Aberdeen and Stonehaven

About 2 hr 36 min by train from Edinburgh Waverley to Aberdeen (LNER's stated average)LNER runs about three direct trains on weekdays, between 10:28 and 20:34, and puts the distance at 92 miles.

Aberdeen is about two and a half hours by train, and at Hogmanay the coast south of the city has one of Scotland's best-known New Year customs: around 40 fireball swingers parade up and down Stonehaven's High Street at midnight. Dunnottar Castle, near Stonehaven, opens most of the winter.

Time it for Stonehaven Fireballs 31 Dec 2026 – 1 Jan 2027

About 40 swingers parade up and down the High Street swinging flaming balls for around 20 minutes, followed by fireworks.

Do
  • Stonehaven Fireballs Free, unticketed ceremony on the High Street at midnight on 31 December, followed by fireworks over the bay at about 00:25; donations welcome at the gate.
  • Dunnottar Castle Open 10 am to 3 pm in December and January (last entry 2 pm) and to 4 pm in February; closed 16 and 25–26 December 2026 and 1–2 January, and at short notice in high wind or snow.
  • Beach Ballroom Hogmanay Ceilidh A Hogmanay ceilidh in Aberdeen with the Hipflask Ceilidh Band and the Bucksburn Mini Pipe Band, stovies and a glass of bubbly at midnight; over-14s only.
Stay
  • The Chester Hotel Sixty-four rooms, including 11 suites, at 59–63 Queen's Road in Aberdeen's west end.
  • The Marcliffe Hotel & Spa Set in 22 acres on North Deeside Road at Pitfodels; it calls itself Aberdeen's only AA five-star hotel.

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Winter tip The organisers say to arrive from 22:00 for a viewing spot; the entry gates always close at 23:40, or earlier if the High Street reaches capacity. They do not run transport, so check timetables before relying on a late train back to Aberdeen.

2 hr 54 min
Photograph · VisitScotland
Cairngorms National Park, Scotland

Aviemore and the Cairngorms

About 2 hr 54 min by train from Edinburgh Waverley to Aviemore (LNER's stated average)LNER runs about one direct train on weekdays, at 16:34, over 89 miles.

Aviemore is just under three hours by train, and from there the CairnGorm funicular climbs to 1,097 metres in about five minutes in the snowsports season. The Cairngorm Reindeer Herd, free-ranging since 1952, takes visitors out on the hill through the Christmas holidays.

Do
  • CairnGorm Mountain funicular Two-kilometre railway from the Base Station to the Ptarmigan Top Station at 1,097 metres, running about five minutes each way in the snowsports season; adult day pass £17.95 online.
  • Cairngorm Reindeer hill trips Walks of 20 to 40 minutes to the free-ranging herd, about 1.5 to 2 hours in all; adults £29.40. Trips run most days through the Christmas holidays, then stop until February half term.
  • Strathspey Railway Mince Pie Specials Two festive steam trains a day from 27 December to 5 January, as listed by the railway; book early.
Stay
  • Killiehuntly Farmhouse Five guest rooms in a Scottish country house with Danish design, in the Cairngorms National Park; breakfast, a set three-course dinner and a packed lunch are included.
  • Grant Arms Hotel Fifty-one rooms on The Square in Grantown-on-Spey, dating to 1765, home to the Bird Watching & Wildlife Club since 2008.

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Winter tip Reindeer tickets go on sale 30 days ahead, at the same hour as the trip, and holiday dates sell out fast. There are no hill trips from the end of the Christmas holidays to February half term.

3 hr 32 min
Photograph · The Inverness Castle Experience / VisitScotland
Highlands, Scotland

Inverness

About 3 hr 32 min by train from Edinburgh Waverley to Inverness (LNER's stated average)LNER runs about one direct train on weekdays, at 16:22, over 113 miles; ScotRail and the Caledonian Sleeper also serve Inverness. Kingsmills Hotel puts the drive up the A9 at about 3 to 4 hours.

Inverness is about three and a half hours from Edinburgh by train. The castle reopened in February 2026 as the £47 million Inverness Castle Experience, with a rooftop viewing terrace over the River Ness, and Culloden and the 4,000-year-old Clava Cairns are a short drive east.

Do
  • The Inverness Castle Experience Opened on 9 February 2026 after a £47 million transformation, with exhibitions on Highland culture and a rooftop terrace; the gardens, Saltire Bistro and shop are free, and the Experience is ticketed.
  • Culloden Battlefield Five miles east of Inverness; the visitor centre opens daily 9 am to 4 pm until 28 February 2027 (adults £12.50), and the battlefield is open all year.
  • Clava Cairns Bronze Age burial cairns about 4,000 years old, open all year.
Stay
  • Rocpool Reserve A restored Georgian mansion on Culduthel Road with views of the River Ness.
  • Kingsmills Hotel Four-star spa hotel on Culcabock Road with a swimming pool, Jacuzzi, steam room, sauna and gym, two restaurants including the Conservatory, and a whisky bar.

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Winter tip LNER's one direct weekday train leaves Waverley at 16:22; the other services on the line are run by ScotRail, so check both before you book. The castle's rooftop platform lift is under maintenance, so the terrace is up seven steps.

A short flight 2 trips

1 hr
Photograph · VisitScotland
Orkney, Scotland

Orkney

Up to an hour flying from Edinburgh to Kirkwall with Loganair, per VisitScotlandLoganair also flies to Kirkwall from Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness and Dundee, and Orkney.com says the airport is five minutes from Kirkwall. By sea, Pentland Ferries cross from Gill's Bay in about an hour and NorthLink from Scrabster in about 90 minutes.

Kirkwall is up to an hour's flight from Edinburgh, and the Heart of Neolithic Orkney, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, stays open in winter: Skara Brae opens daily and the Ring of Brodgar is free and open all year. At Christmas and New Year, Kirkwall's Uppies and Doonies play the Ba' through the streets.

Do
  • Skara Brae Neolithic village open daily 10 am to 4 pm from October to March (last entry an hour before closing); winter tickets cover Skara Brae only, adults £14 online.
  • Ring of Brodgar Stone circle and henge, free to visit and open all year; parts of the inner path may close to let the grass recover.
  • The Kirkwall Ba' Mass street football through Kirkwall, played every Christmas Day and New Year's Day, with games for men and boys.
Stay
  • The Kirkwall Hotel Thirty-seven restored bedrooms on Kirkwall Harbour, with the Harbour View Restaurant and Highland Park Bar.
  • Lynnfield Hotel VisitScotland four-star hotel and restaurant on Holm Road, looking north over Kirkwall to Kirkwall Bay and the north isles.

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Winter tip Skara Brae closes on 25 and 26 December and 1 and 2 January, which are also the Ba' days, so plan the Neolithic sites for the days in between.

1 hr 30 min
Photograph · David Gifford / Promote Shetland
Shetland, Scotland

Shetland

About 1 hr 30 min flying from Edinburgh to Sumburgh with Loganair, per Promote ShetlandLoganair runs up to two flights a day and is the only airline on scheduled routes to Sumburgh, which is about 25 miles south of Lerwick.

Shetland is an hour and a half from Edinburgh by air, and on the last Tuesday of January Lerwick holds Shetland's biggest fire festival, Up Helly Aa: a day-long march, a torchlit procession and the burning of a galley. Busta House, the oldest part of which dates to 1588, makes a quieter base on the mainland.

Time it for Lerwick Up Helly Aa 26 Jan 2027

Shetland's biggest fire festival: 24 hours of marching, a torchlit procession and the burning of a Viking galley, run by volunteers.

Do
  • Lerwick Up Helly Aa The Jarl Squad leaves Islesburgh Community Centre at 08:15 and the torchlit procession starts at 19:30 on the Hillhead, ending with the galley burning; the march, procession and burning are open to the public.
  • Shetland Museum and Archives Museum and archive at Hay's Dock in Lerwick, open all year, covering the islands from their geology to the present.
  • Up Helly Aa Exhibition In the Galley Shed on St Sunniva Street, Lerwick; Promote Shetland says to check the official site for opening times. A craft fair at Mareel and a food fair at Shetland Museum run in the lead-up.
Stay
  • Busta House Hotel Country-house hotel on Busta Voe at Brae, on the Shetland mainland; the oldest part of the house was built by the Giffords in 1588.
  • Lerwick Hotel Overlooks the water at the southern end of Lerwick, with sea-view suites and the Bay Brasserie; a coastal path leads to the town centre.

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Winter tip Tickets for the Up Helly Aa halls are very limited; Promote Shetland says any Town Hall tickets are advertised on uphellyaa.org towards the end of the year. Book flights and rooms early, and if you miss out, Promote Shetland often streams the procession online.

The season

The winter calendar

The dates that make a winter trip, as the organisers have announced them. Events still waiting on 2026–27 dates are listed with their trip, not here.

April 2026

  • 3 Apr 2026 – 17 Jan 2027Catwalk: The Art of the Fashion ShowDundee

December 2026

January 2027

  • 14–31 Jan 2027Celtic ConnectionsGlasgow
  • 26 Jan 2027Lerwick Up Helly AaShetland

City of Edinburgh Council's schools break up on Friday 18 December 2026 and pupils return on Wednesday 6 January 2027. The February mid-term break starts on Friday 12 February, and schools resume on Monday 22 February 2027, so trains north and the ski areas are busiest in those weeks. School holidays in Scotland →

Questions

Quick answers

What are the best winter weekend getaways from Edinburgh by train?

North Berwick is about 35 minutes away, Glasgow 50 minutes, the Borders Railway reaches Tweedbank in just under an hour, and Leuchars (for St Andrews) and Gleneagles are each about an hour. LNER gives average times of 1 hr 16 min to Dundee, 2 hr 36 min to Aberdeen, 2 hr 54 min to Aviemore and 3 hr 32 min to Inverness.

When is Up Helly Aa 2027?

Lerwick Up Helly Aa is on Tuesday 26 January 2027, with the torchlit procession at 19:30. Loganair flies from Edinburgh to Sumburgh in about 1 hr 30 min, and hall tickets are very limited.

When is Celtic Connections 2027?

Celtic Connections runs in Glasgow from Thursday 14 to Sunday 31 January 2027, with more than 300 events, according to the festival.

Where can I see the Stonehaven Fireballs at Hogmanay?

About 40 swingers parade along Stonehaven's High Street at midnight on 31 December, followed by fireworks. Entry is free; the organisers suggest arriving from 22:00, and the gates close at 23:40.

Where can I ski near Edinburgh this winter?

Glenshee, on the road to Braemar about two hours from Edinburgh, has 22 uplifts across three valleys. CairnGorm Mountain is near Aviemore, and Glencoe Mountain and Nevis Range are about three hours away; all depend on snow.

What is a romantic or spa winter getaway from Edinburgh?

Gleneagles, an hour away by train, has a spa and the two-Michelin-star Restaurant Andrew Fairlie; Stobo Castle near Peebles is an adults-only destination spa; and Marine North Berwick, 35 minutes away, has a pool, sauna and cold plunge.

What are the best winter getaways from Edinburgh by car?

The closest are Braemar and Royal Deeside (2 hr 10 min), Glencoe and Fort William (3 hr), Isle of Skye (5 hr 30 min), Islay (5 hr 30 min). Times are the tourism boards' own figures from downtown in normal conditions; allow more in snow.

Sources (97)

Checked 24 October 2026. Dates change: confirm with the event or hotel before you book. Spot something out of date? Tell us via our corrections policy.

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