What Is the Best Thing to Do in Glasgow, Stirling, and St Andrews?

If you only have one day in a Scottish city or historic town, the question I hear most often from visitors is:

“What’s the best thing to do?”

My answer is almost always the same.

If you want to cover more ground, understand what you’re seeing, and experience a place with real authenticity, you should explore by bike with a local guide. Cycling allows you to get the lay of the land, move easily between neighbourhoods, and learn the stories behind what you’re seeing — all at a relaxed, enjoyable pace.

Here’s how I’d recommend spending time in Glasgow, Stirling, and St Andrews if you want to make the most of a short visit.

The Best Thing to Do in Glasgow

Glasgow often surprises visitors.

Once you get away from the main streets, people are amazed by how much green space the city has, how peaceful the canal paths and parks are, and how beautiful the architecture of the West End can be. Many visitors are also surprised by just how important Glasgow has been in world history.

Best Experience: Explore Glasgow by Bike

Cycling allows you to link together places most visitors would never combine on foot, including:

• The Forth and Clyde Canal, calm and traffic-free

• Kelvingrove Park, one of Glasgow’s finest green spaces

• The University of Glasgow, whose architecture regularly creates “wow” moments

Guests often say they would never have seen these sides of Glasgow without a bike tour. If you only do one thing in the city, get beyond the centre and see how Glasgow really works.

The Best Thing to Do in Stirling

If I had to choose one place I enjoy guiding the most, it would be Stirling.

The history of Scotland here is unrivalled. This town sits at the heart of the Wars of Independence, and understanding Stirling helps visitors understand Scotland as a whole.

Best Experience: Ride Through Scotland’s History

Cycling in Stirling allows you to:

• Follow the footsteps of William Wallace and Robert the Bruce

• Visit real battle sites, not just monuments

• See how geography shaped Scottish history

Highlights that regularly surprise visitors include:

• The stunning University of Stirling campus

• Views toward the Wallace Monument

• The peaceful ruins of Cambuskenneth Abbey

Add excellent cycling infrastructure and panoramic views over the Forth Valley and surrounding mountains, and Stirling becomes one of the most rewarding places in Scotland to explore by bike.

The Best Thing to Do in St Andrews

St Andrews is famous for golf and medieval streets, but many visitors never see beyond the town centre.

Best Experience: Coastal Cycling & Hidden Corners

If you only walk around St Andrews, you miss some of its best locations, including:

• East Sands Beach and the old harbour

• The Kinness Burn Trail and Lade Brae Walk

• Craigtoun Country Park, with panoramic views above the town

• The Bogward Doocot and the Pictish cemetery at Hallow Hill

Cycling connects these places naturally, turning a visit into a flowing experience of coastline, countryside, and history rather than a checklist of sights.

Why Cycling Works So Well for Short Visits

Cycling allows visitors to:

• Cover far more ground than walking

• Avoid busy roads using cycle lanes and quiet routes

• Stop often to talk, take photos, and enjoy the surroundings

• Learn from a local guide, not a script

The pace of the tours is always very relaxed, with plenty of time to take things in.

Common Questions About Cycling in Scotland

Is cycling in Scotland too hilly?
There are hills, but e-bikes completely solve this concern.

Are the roads busy?
Routes are carefully chosen to use cycle paths, canal towpaths, and quiet infrastructure.

What about cycling on the left-hand side?
This is never an issue — guests are guided throughout.

Who are these experiences best suited for?
Most guests are couples from North America, across all age ranges. Solo travellers are also very common, with families joining less frequently.

Final Thought: One Day, Done Properly

If you want to feel like you’ve truly experienced a place — not just visited it — the best thing to do in Glasgow, Stirling, or St Andrews is explore at a local pace, with local knowledge, and enough freedom to enjoy the journey.

That’s why so many guests say they saw things they would never have found on their own.