Having soaked up the magic of the wonderful Scottish city of Edinburgh, it's worth hitting the open road to explore a range of fantastic day-trip destinations. Car hire gives you the freedom to enjoy the buzzing attractions of this city as well as the natural beauty spots of the Scottish countryside. On your travels through the Scottish countryside, you'll encounter charming fishing villages, elegant palaces and beautiful stately homes. Scotland's hidden gems are never far away with car hire. Once you've sorted your Edinburgh car hire, all that's needed is a map and a healthy sense of adventure. Scotland is a country that was made for touring. Mountains, lakes and rivers form the backdrop to your Scottish car hire odyssey. Active types will be glad to discover that Mother Nature has provided all of the raw materials for an outdoor adventure. Fishing, hiking and scenic walks are just some of the activities that can be easily organised with Edinburgh car hire. Of course, these are just suggestions- the best thing about car hire is that you have the freedom to design your own unique getaway.

The following is a list of four of the most attractive drives within easy reach of the city of Edinburgh.

1. Midlothian

Scenic Midlothian is situated south of Edinburgh and boasts a number of excellent attractions. Driving around Midlothian, your first stop should be The Pentlands, where you'll find Europe's longest artificial ski slope at the Midlothian Ski Centre. From here it's just a five-mile drive to Rosslyn Chapel, which famously featured in The Da Vinci Code novel. Other places of interest in the area include the impressive Borthwick Castle, situated 12 miles to the southeast of Edinburgh, Edinburgh Crystal Visitor Centre and the fascinating Scottish Mining Museum.

2. Eastlothian

Travelling slightly further a field, Eastlothian is well worth a drive. Here you'll encounter everything from the seaside beach resort of Dunbar to the world-class championship golf course of Muirfield. The medieval town of Haddington and the nearby Lennoxlove House are also sure to catch your eye. The stately home of Lennoxlove House boasts a collection of artefacts associated with Mary Queen of Scots, as well as many priceless works of art.

3. Westlothian

The Westlothian region is home to some of Scotland's most famous buildings and palaces. Linlinthgow Palace, situated 12 miles to the west of Edinburgh, is reputed to be the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots. The palace is open to the public and admission is quite cheap. Following the same route you'll come across a number of other curiosities including the impressive Falkirk Wheel, a rotating boatlift, the 17th century own of Culross and the historic town of Dunfermline, where free attractions such as The Pittencrieff House Museum, will impress thrifty sightseers. Meanwhile, a visit to Deep Sea World in nearby North Queensferry is an easy but relatively expensive way to while a few hours.

4. Leith Seaport

The buzzing little seaport of Leith is found to the north of Edinburgh. Leith offers a number of cultural and historical attractions including the elegant royal yacht Britannia, the Ocean Terminal shopping Mall and the Water of Leith- a perfect place to enjoy a low cost seafront lunch.