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Football away days in Scotland: Ranking the five best

Written by Harry Dowsett
Last Update: August 17, 2024
Published on

Football away days are some of the best experiences in the sport, the combination of being in the opposition's territory and only your club's most passionate fans being present really helps to create a fantastic atmosphere. There is nothing else quite like it, and many fans prefer them to a home game.

It's not just the atmosphere either, it's the whole experience. From the journey itself to drinking in the pubs, aways days are often jam-packed with entertainment.

That said, here are the top five away days in Scotland and the best pubs, hotels and food you can get whilst there.

The best football away days in Scotland

Football Away days in Scotland
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5. Hibernian – Easter Road

Football away day at Hibernian Easter Road
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Located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, Easter Road receives a huge tick when it comes to the destination. Being in the capital city, the stadium also boasts fantastic public transport links to the rest of the country, plenty of hotels for an overnight stay should you require it, and finally, an abundance of proper pubs.

Food and drink at Easter Road

The food at the ground does not have the best reputation on social media, with one fan describing one particular double bacon cheeseburger on offer as “hospital food” – a far from ideal meal.

However, do not panic as there is a wide array of pubs in the local area that, along with having an excellent drinks menu, also serve great food and are very welcoming to away fans.

Some of the best options for your away day include:

Best hotels near Easter Road

The next most important thing to worry about on an away day, particularly if your journey is a lengthy one, is a place to spend the night. Below are three hotels located near Easter Road with good reviews, relatively affordable prices and a welcoming atmosphere:

Given the fact that Edinburgh is a very popular destination for a multitude of reasons, hotels in this area can be a little pricey compared to other parts of the country, It is for that reason that we recommend shopping around for the best deal before booking your rooms.

4. Ayr United – Somerset Park

Away day at Somerset Park
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Next on the list is an away day at Ayr United's Somerset Park – lauded by many supporters as the best old-school ground in the country. With a capacity of just over 12,000, the ground is of modest size, but that just means that it is even easier to conjure up an amazing atmosphere on matchday.

Food and drink at Somerset Park

As is to be perhaps expected with a ground of this nature, the food on offer at Somerset Park is far from fancy, but if all you are after is some chips, or even burgers and pies, then you can't go wrong at the ground's concourse. Take, for example, the chips and curry sauce pictured below, priced at just £3.50.

However, with Ayr known for having some incredible pubs in the local area, it may also be worth considering getting some food and drink in one of the following bars before the game:

Best hotels near Somerset Park

If you are planning on spending the night in Ayr after the match, then here are three examples of hotels that have good reviews and are located relatively near the ground:

3. Heart of Midlothian – Tynecastle Park

Tynecastle Park
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Perhaps a little unlucky to only make third on this list, an away at Hearts is likely many people's favourite date on the calendar. Located in Edinburgh, Tynecastle has all the pros that apply to Easter Road but takes the matchday experience to another level.

Slightly smaller in size and heaped with tradition, the atmosphere at the ground is scarcely matched anywhere else.

Food and drink at Tynecastle Stadium

Inside the ground itself, you will find a variety of the expected pies, burgers, and chips among other offerings, most of which will be a fairly good value for money purchase. If, however, you would prefer to visit a good pub beforehand and get most of your food and drink there, then two good options for away fans are as follows:

Best hotels near Hearts stadium

For those travelling supporters intending on making a night of their away day in Edinburgh, then here are a few good options of hotels with good reviews that are close to the ground:

Just like at Easter Road, this away day is in the capital city of Scotland, so hotels in this area can be a little pricey compared to other parts of the country, It is for that reason that we recommend shopping around for the best deal before booking your rooms.

2. Dundee United – Tannadice Park

Away day at Tannadice Park
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In truth, both of the Dundee-based clubs in Scotland could have made this list, but we decided to keep it to just one, and it was an away day at Dundee United's Tannadice Park that made the cut.

A caveat to this is the fact that the experience can differ greatly depending on the stand you are sitting in, and the best experience comes when away supporters are housed in the Shed End.

Food and drink at Tannadice Park

Food at Dundee United's ground does not have the best of reputations online, but thankfully for Tannadice Park, away days are more about the overall experience than it is about the concourse. That being said, you may want to avoid the burgers (pictured below) at the stadium, with fans particularly critical of that offering.

Getting your food and drink at an away-fan-friendly pub before the match is therefore a better option and certainly worth considering. Some of the best establishments in the local area are as follows:

Best hotels near Dundee United stadium

If the drinks flow a little too fast, or your journey is a lengthy one, then you may want to consider staying in Dundee overnight. If doing so, some good hotels in the local area that are relatively affordable are as follows:

Normally, the availability at these hotels is very good, but bear in mind that demand will of course increase on matchday so book early to guarantee a room and the best price possible.

1. Ross County – Global Energy Stadium

Away day Global Energy Stadium
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Regarded by many as the best way in Scotland at the moment, Ross County's Global Energy Stadium has a capacity of just 6,500 – giving the ground a traditional and authentic feel. The small size also means that the atmosphere inside the stadium is incredible, and fans are housed extremely close to the pitch.

This is one of the best away days in Britain let alone Scotland, and certainly a must for every Scottish football fan.

Food and drink at Global Energy Stadium

Despite the old-school feel of the ground, the food served is actually of a fairly good quality. Whether you are after some more of the standard football food, such as burgers and hotdogs, or after something a little more traditional to Scotland, such as the haggis pie, there is a dish for everybody.

However, as good as the food at the ground is, most fans are still going to want a few pre-match beers at a local pub beforehand. Three of the best options for away fans are:

Best hotels near Ross County stadium

If you are a travelling fan planning on spending the night in Dingwall, then two of the best hotels with good reviews and affordable prices are as follows:

Booking in advance should mean that you are unlikely to encounter any availability issues, but we advise you to shop around for the best deals before doing so.