Four Scottish castles tour ( Blackness Castle , Stirling Castle ,Doune Castle & Linlithgow Palace) from Private tours Edinburgh

Looking for day trips from Edinburgh ? How about taking a tour from Edinburgh of Scotland's historic castles and film locations ?

Four ancient Scottish castles feature in this tour – 

• Blackness Castle ( Outlander )
•  Stirling Castle 
• Doune Castle ( Monty Python, Outlaw King and Outlander )
• Linlithgow Palace ( Mary Queen of Scots and the Outlaw King )

For the latest information about availability and best prices please contact David at Private Tours Edinburgh by phone / WhatsApp on +447305294773 or contact us online .

Book your day trips from Edinburgh .

Your tour guide is David , an experienced tour guide and travel photographer. Your photo guide will offer assistance as required with taking pictures. Bring your DSLR or iPhone for some amazing pictures of the stunning scenery .

To avoid booking fees you can make a booking by phone / WhatsApp on +447305294773 or contact us online . 

Check out our brand new range of Scottish travel mugs

Shore excursions- all of our tours are available as shore excursions from the Edinburgh ports South Queensferry, Newhaven and Rosyth . Daytime phone number +44131 549 9785.  

  Private tours Edinburgh

1 Blackness Castle

Blackness Castle goes back to 1440 . The castle provides the setting for Fort William, as the original fort no longer exists.

The castle is long and narrow because of the shape of the rock on which it is situated and it is sometimes called ‘ the ship that never sailed ‘ . It guards the bay at Blackness and is only a few miles from Linlithgow Palace . The first castle was built in the middle of the 15th century by Sir George Crichton , Earl of Caithness , a member of one of the most powerful families in Scotland . King James II acquired Blackness in 1453 when he annexed the lands of the Crichtons . From then on the castle was mainly used as a prison . In 1543 Cardinal Beaton was held here for a month . Rebuilding started in the 1530s under the direction of Sir James Hamilton of Finnart who also worked at Linlithgow Palace and Stirling Castle . He was instructed to make the castle safe from artillery , and he achieved this by making the south and east walls very thick . A new tower was built at the south end . In the 1560s , in the reign of Mary Queen of Scots , a Spur was built to protect the main gate . In the 1870s the castle was the main ammunition depot for Scotland .The Castle is a popular location for historical re-enactments and has changed little in 600 years . Doune is one of the best preserved medieval castles in Scotland. https://privatetoursedinburgh.com/2019/12/03/outlander-five-castles-tour/

Hamlet has scenes filmed at Blackness Castle and Dunnottar Castle.

Lowest price guarantee - superb online prices , 30% below other OTAs .

Starring: Mel Gibson and Glenn Close

The tour spends up to an hour at each location .

• Travel by saloon car
• Small private group tour with a maximum of 4 people
• Outlander gifts are available , please ask your driver for details . Our unique range of Outlander gifts includes face masks , throw pillows , art prints, phone cases, stickers, framed prints , t-shirts and travel mugs. Outlander tour gift vouchers are also available

2 Doune Castle

Originally dating to the 13th Century, Doune Castle near Stirling plays Castle Leoch, home to Colum MacKenzie and his clan in Outlander TV series .

It also features in the 20th century episode when Claire and Frank Randall visit the castle on a day trip. In Outlander Jamie calls Claire Sassenach as a term of affection .

Once a Royal residence, Doune Castle was rebuilt by Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany in the late 14th Century.

Doune has appeared several times on screen and was widely used in Monty Python and the Holy Grail. It also represented the castle Winterfell in Game of Thrones. 

3 Linlithgow Palace

This royal pleasure palace and birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots became the backdrop for some of the most harrowing scenes of the TV show Outlander .

Depicted as Wentworth Prison, the prison corridors and entrance were used in episode 15 of the first series when Jamie Fraser was brutally incarcerated by his adversary, Black Jack Randall.

Built in the 1400s and 1500s, the now-ruined palace is set among the spectacular surrounds of Linlithgow Loch and Peel.

More Linlithgow Palace pictures

4 Stirling Castle

Stirling Castle is one of Scotland’s most impressive castles due to its imposing position overlooking the whole of the Forth Valley and its impressive architecture.

From Stirling Castle’s ramparts, visitors can take in views of the Forth Valley and Ben Lomond , as well as two of Scotland’s most important battle sites – Stirling Bridge (1297) and Bannockburn (1314). The castle is at the head of Stirling’s historic old town.Like Edinburgh Castle , Stirling sits on a volcanic rock dominating the city skyline . Like Edinburgh Castle , Stirling is built on a huge piece of volcanic rock .

Stirling Castle is not only one of Scotland’s grandest and most imposing castles, it was also a real favourite with Scotland’s kings and queens. And their investment in it demonstrated just how much they loved to use it, as well as their desire to ensure it both impressed all who visited it, and represented a statement of their power and wealth. James IV created the Great Hall, the largest medieval banqueting hall ever built in Scotland, and James V’s Royal Palace, with its lavishly decorated Renaissance façades, was a masterpiece of the period.

Major conservation work has been carried out at Stirling Castle over many years to preserve the attraction as a major national and international monument. The refurbishment of the Great Hall was completed a couple of years ago . A particular feature of the Great Hall is stained glass windows featuring clan crests . A number of banquets , concerts and special events are held in the Hall throughout the year .

Phone Private tours Edinburgh on 07305-294773 for details and bookings .

Fife tours

Scotland Tours from Private tours Edinburgh

For more details phone 0131 549 9785 / 07305-294773 . Shore excursions- all of our tours are available as shore excursions from the Edinburgh ports South Queensferry, Newhaven and Rosyth . Daytime phone number 0131 549 9785.

Edinburgh transfers

This day trip from Edinburgh is ideal for solo travellers and small groups of up to to 4 people . Our photo tours of Scotland set off from Edinburgh and feature visits to the top scenic locations in the Highlands of Scotland. Perfect for iPhone and DSLR users with a passion for landscape photography ( and Instagram ) . Your guide will give you his unique Insights into Scottish culture ,music and art including best selling artist Jack Vettriano of Lunchtime Lovers fame .

Day trip from Edinburgh

Your tour guide/ driver is David . Find out more about him on Tripadvisor

Outlander tours