Outlander & Film Locations Day Trip

Scotland suffers no shortage of other-worldly filming locations; just ask Jamie Fraser! Not only does this tour set out to explore every one of them, but we take it a step further, to experience how Scotland’s stars of the silver screen have effortlessly inspired an industry for over a century.

This is a typical itinerary for our Outlander & Film Locations Day Trip

The entire trip can be customised to suit your needs

First Stop:

Hopetoun House

Designed and built by the founder of classical Scottish architecture, Sir William Bruce in 1699, Hopetoun House is recognised nationally as one of the country’s grandest stately homes. Hopetoun House recently found stardom when it was used as the Duke of Sandringham's Estate in Outlander, making frequent appearances throughout seasons 1 to 4. You'll surely recognise the Red Drawing Room as it was used for most of the Duke's scenes and if you glimpse through the rear facing windows to the expansive lawns you can imagine Jamie's perilous duel with the McDonald family. The courtyard behind the Stables Tearoom was also transformed into the back alleys of Paris where young Mary Hawkins comes to grief then is seen recuperating in one of the tapestry draped bedrooms. Hopetoun House is the perfect first stop for any Outlander super fan, and luckily, we’ll start as we mean to go on!

*Please note that Hopetoun House closes for the winter at the end of September.

Hopetoun House_outlander film locations tour holidays

Next Stop:

Midhope Castle

Luckily, we haven’t got too far to travel for our next stop, as Midhope Castle is aptly located on the wider estate of our previous stop, Hopetoun House. Having been built around the middle of the 15^th century, Midhope Castle is a fine example of a Scottish tower house, and remains a Grade A listed building today. However, if you’re familiar with the shots and scenes of the Outlander series, you’ll probably recognise the castle as the family home of Jamie Fraser, Lallybroch. It really is a beautifully historic building, and the view from the bottom of the driveway leading up to the house is truly picture perfect – so have your cameras at the ready!

Next Stop:

Blackness Castle

Dominating the shoreline of the Firth of Forth, the 15th century fortress of Blackness Castle was at one point in its long history the most fortified castle in Scotland. Alongside serving as a notorious state prison, famed for incarcerating such prisoners as Cardinal Beaton and the 6th Earl of Angus, Blackness was also the first major residence of the Scottish Monarch passing into the hands of James II of Scotland in 1453. Due to its unintentionally distinctive design, Blackness Castle has earned the nickname as the “ship that never sailed”, however the location has become much more recognised for its depiction of Fort William in Outlander. Luckily, when we step into the castle’s inner courtyard, we won’t spot Jamie Fraser being notoriously flogged by Captain Randall. It was also the castle that Jamie broke into in the mid-season finale to save Claire from the clutches of Black Jack, but would you be brave enough to jump into the crashing waves below like he did?

Next Stop:

Linlithgow Palace

Although it now remains as just a shell of a once very grand and very magnificent structure, the Palace of Linlithgow is by far one of the most notable and protected sites in Scotland. A royal manor has existed on the banks of Linlithgow Loch since the 12^th century. With the location boasting as prime real estate for the Crown, Mary, Queen of Scots ascended to the throne just six days after her birth at Linlithgow in the winter of 1542, in the same birthplace as her father James V in 1512. Many of the 17th century carvings and extensions of the palace were overseen by Master Mason William Wallace; who also notably designed the King’s Lodgings of Edinburgh Castle. To some, it may just appear as a surviving veteran of historic royal living, but to others, especially die-hard Outlander fans like us, Linlithgow isn’t a palace but a prison. The location was used as the setting for the notorious Wentworth Prison. Jamie was imprisoned by the Redcoats here. The torture scenes were filmed in its dungeon, and our heroine was sentenced to hang inside its walls. Linlithgow also stood in for numerous scenes in the new Netflix movie about King Robert de Bruce, Outlaw King.

So naturally, Linlithgow Palace is an absolute must for our Outlander Film Locations day trip, just be sure to not get locked up!.

Linlithgow Palace_outlander film locations tour holidays

Next Stop:

Doune Castle

What makes Doune Castle significant above all the other stops on our tour, is that the castle actually remains practically unaltered from when it was originally constructed in the late 14^th century by the Duke of Albany. With the courtyard and towering design reflecting thoughts on what a traditional castle should look like, however the project was never completed to its full intended scale. When the Duke’s son lost his head in 1425, Doune Castle was transferred into the hands of the Scottish Monarchy who transformed the building into a royal hunting lodge. The castle once again changed hands in the later 16^th century, when it was sold to the Earls of Moray. The castle may be one of Scotland’s oldest, but it’s definitely no stranger to the big screen. John Cleese rode an invisible horse around the fortress in Monty Python’s “Holy Grail”, whist Elizabeth Taylor portrayed the damsel in distress in the 1952 smash “Ivanhoe”, all of which were filmed at Doune Castle. It’s now better recognised as the original setting for Winterfell Castle in the Game of Thrones series, and more importantly under the pseudonym of Castle Leoch, the clan home of the Mackenzie's in Outlander.

Next Stop:

Royal Burgh of Culross

Our next stop will take us down to the winding streets of historic Culross. Due to its location of the banks of the Firth of Forth, the town traditionally served as a bustling port, receiving goods from the farther reaches of Europe, and during the 16^th and 17^th centuries, Culross was also a major producer of coal, serving as the location for the first mine in the world to tunnel under the sea. For such a historic town, there is certainly no shortage of other-worldly buildings to explore. Everything from the magnificent mustard-coloured Culross Palace, to Mercat Cross in the centre of town will be sure to leave your cameras flashing. For the more eagle-eyed of you, Culross is better recognised as the setting for the fictional town of Cranesmuir in Outlander. The series took full advantage of the breathtaking and protected backdrop for the production of many of its episodes. As we wander across the square, Geillis Duncan’s house will emerge towering on the right. Geillis also met her end at Mercat Cross when she was burnt at the stake for being a witch. It was also in this area that Jamie and Claire rescued the thief, Tammas, when his ear is pinned to the post. Just off the square, we’ll be able to spot the idyllic Little Causeway; the location of Laoghaire’s home in season 4. The interior shots of the home were shot in the nearby Culross Palace, which is also on our itinerary. So lace up your boots and get ready to step back in time; Culross is certainly not to be missed on any Outlander pilgrimage!

Culross__mini highlands Tours Scotland Holidays

Final Stop:

Falkland Village, Palace & Garden

Falkland Palace was the favourite holiday destination of Scottish royalty for centuries, and we know you’re going to fall in love with its intrigue and beauty too! 12^th Century hunting lodge turned castle turned royal palace, the design of Falkland is an intelligent take on a combination of Scottish and French Renaissance architecture. When James V died at the palace in December 1542, Falkland became a popular retreat for the following Stuart monarchs. Mary, Queen of Scots used to roam around the palace gardens, perhaps practising falconry, or testing her tennis skills at Britain’s oldest tennis court, which has remained intact since 1539! The beauty of Falkland village and Palace also enticed those producing Outlander, who featured the town square, the palace and surrounding gardens throughout some episodes. Most notably, the town’s main street and fountain which fills in for 1940’s Inverness and it was inside of the palaces apothecary, where Claire meets Mary Hawkins whilst purchasing medical supplies to attend to the sick Alex Randall. Just make sure you don’t bump into the ghost of Jamie!

Outlander & Film Locations Day Trip

This is a typical itinerary for our Outlander & Film Locations Day Trip

The entire trip can be customised to suit your needs

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