Taking day trips to central Scotland's best attractions from Edinburgh

Central Scotland is home to some of the country's most outstanding attractions, from rugged coastal scenery to romantic castle backdrops. However, if you don't drive or have access to a car, exploring these sights can be difficult. This isn't because public transport is insufficient – in fact, train and bus networks in Scotland are comprehensive – but because accommodation in rural areas can be hard to access without a self-driven vehicle at your disposal.

As a result, many car-less travellers in central Scotland opt to base themselves in a large city like Edinburgh or Glasgow and take day trips to the surrounding areas rather than staying in them overnight. If you're planning a series of day trips from Edinburgh, here is an essential list of places to visit that you cannot miss.

The very first port of call for any Edinburgh-based day tripper has to be a ride across the awe-striking Firth of Forth. The Forth separates Edinburgh and the Lothians from the Kingdom of Fife and its crossing is characterised by two iconic bridges: the Forth Rail Bridge, unveiled in 1890, and the Road Bridge, which opened in 1964. There are a few ways to cross the Forth without a car. Firstly, a bus will take travellers across the road bridge, offering the best views of the arguably more magnificent rail bridge. Alternatively, it's also possible to walk across the road bridge, though this is best avoided on windy days. However, an opportunity to cross the rail bridge is an experience in itself and a day ticket on the train from Edinburgh to North Queensferry will take you just to the other side.

If you're keen to explore some of Eastern Scotland's best beaches, be sure to visit to St Andrews, which is renowned for its world-famous golf course and its ancient university. Unfortunately, St Andrews railway station was closed in 1969 so car-less travellers either have to take a coach from Edinburgh or an hour-long train to Leuchars in Fife, which is a short bus ride away. Although the golf course features prominently in the topography of St Andrews, the West Sands is infinitely more attractive to non-golf enthusiasts. The location for the inspirational opening scene of the film Chariots of Fire, the two mile long stretch of beach is a popular location for tourists, dog walkers and kite flyers and offers wonderful views of the chilly North Sea. If you can't make it out to St Andrews, there are some great beaches closer to Edinburgh too. For example, Crammond, which is home to an island you can walk to at low tide, and North Berwick, where you'll find the lauded Scottish Seabird Centre.

And while Edinburgh Castle may be impressive, it's not the only castle in the area. Take the 20-minute train ride to Linlithgow in West Lothian and see its Palace, the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots. Although it now lies in ruins, the structure is well-maintained and visitors are welcome to explore its many corners. Or head back to Fife and visit Aberdour, also accessible by train. Sometimes referred to as 'the Jewel of Fife', this historic town is home to Aberdour Castle and the pretty Silver Sands beach. But perhaps the most famous castle in central Scotland after Edinburgh is that of Stirling in Perthshire, which is 50 minutes from the capital by train. This charming city is also home to the Wallace Monument, a tribute to the Scottish heroic figure William Wallace who was portrayed by Mel Gibson in the film Braveheart.

The city's popularity as a major UK tourist destination means that it offers several accommodation options for travellers, including backpacker hostels, bed and breakfasts and boutique hotels in edinburgh. What's more, most Edinburgh city centre hotels are likely to be located near Waverley Station, the primary rail artery, and the bus depot at St Andrews Square. Resultantly, travellers taking regular day trips to surrounding towns and attractions won't have far to go to access the city's main transport hubs.