Artist-led Outlander Art Experience

There’s only one thing that’s better than a tour of Outlander filming locations in Scotland…our Outlander Art Experience! Join us on this 12-day Outlander-themed art and history tour of Scotland and really connect with the land where Jamie and Claire travelled through centuries and lived their love that knew no time nor borders.

With your sketchbook journal in hand, feel the creative flow as we visit Doune Castle (Castle Leoch), Culross (Cranesmuir), the Battlefield of Culloden, Jamie’s Printshop in Edinburgh and much, much more.

Drawing and painting facilitate contact with reality and create a strong bond with places – something that’s more difficult to experience during conventional travel. The stronger the emotion, the deeper it will be remembered in your mind. We work with watercolours, charcoal, graphite and other materials, and integrate treasures we find on our journey, such as oak leaves or feathers.

The tour includes a printmaking workshop with Jan Baxandall at Highland Print Studio in Inverness and we’ve built in elements of creative writing which will help you turn your sketchbook into your own personal Outlander-inspired story. To enrich your creative time-travel experience further, you’ll also get the opportunity to learn about herbal remedies used by Claire and Geillis in a session with Scottish herbalist Anna Canning in Culross (Cranesmuir). A truly authentic experience from which you will leave inspired and refreshed!

Itinerary

Day 1 – Arrival in Linlithgow (by Edinburgh)

Arrival at hotel in Linlithgow. Welcome reception, introduction to the tour, 3-course welcome dinner. Introduction to creative writing.

Day 2 – West Lothian and nearby area

Linlithgow Palace (Wentworth Prison in Outlander and birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots in real life), overlooking Linlithgow Loch. Hopetoun House (stately home of the Duke of Sandringham (S1); backdrop for Parisian streets, the spare room in Jamie and Claire’s Paris apartment, and the Hawkins Estate (S2)). Midhope (Lallybroch). Blackness Castle (Fort William headquarters of Black Jack Randall).

Day 3 – Edinburgh

Jacobites Exhibition at National Museum of Scotland, Bakehouse Close (Carfax Close, home to Alexander Malcolm’s print shop). Greyfriar’s Bobby. National Portrait Gallery.

Day 4 – Stirling area

Doune Castle (Castle Leoch). Drummond Castle Gardens (ornate park and orchard of the Palace of Versailles in France). Deanston Distillery as indoor alternative (Jamie’s cousin’s wine warehouse on the docks of Le Havre). Possibly Tibbermore Church (Cranesmuir Church, hosts the scene of the infamous witch trial)

Day 5 – Glasgow

George Square (location of Frank’s spontaneous proposal to Claire). Glasgow Cathedral (L’Hopital Des Anges in Paris where Claire volunteers to work). Charles Rennie Mackintosh Centre at The Lighthouse. Willow Tea Rooms.

Day 6 – Free day

A day to rest, relax and explore Linlithgow a bit more. Or you could hop on a train to nearby Stirling, or visit Edinburgh or Glasgow again – both have lots to see and do, and the shopping is great too.

Day 7 – East Fife

Culross (Cranesmuir where Geillis lives. The town also lends its backdrop to the Jacobite encampment and makeshift hospital scenes). Culross Palace Gardens (Claire’s herb garden at Castle Leoch). Garden tour and herbalist workshop led by Scottish herbalist Anna Canning. She will teach us how to make infused oils, herbal balms and creams and you get to take home products created by you – and a handout with recipes for making more once you’re back home.

Day 8 – Making our way to Inverness

Falkland (substitutes for 1940s (S1) and 1960s (S2) Inverness. Covenanter Hotel stands in for Mrs. Baird’s Guesthouse; Bruce Fountain is where the ghost of Jamie looks up at Claire’s room; Fayre Earth Gift Shop doubles as Farrell’s Hardware and Furniture Store; and Campbell’s Coffee House and Eatery is Campbell’s Coffee Shop). Highland Folk Museum in Newtonmore (replicas of 18th century turf-roofed Highland crofts; scenes include when Dougal collects the rent. Visit to learn how Scottish Highlanders lived, built their homes, dressed and more). Culloden Battlefield and Clava Cairns near Inverness. Overnight stay in Inverness.

Day 9 – Inverness

Drypoint printmaking workshop at Highland Print Studio with Jan Baxandall. Develop one of your sketches, or a new design, into a print using this ancient technique which would have been used in the 1700s. Free afternoon. Overnight stay in Inverness.

Day 10 – Heading back south

Loch Ness. Fort Augustus. Glencoe. Arrive back in Linlithgow.

Day 11 – Studio day in Linlithgow

An opportunity to develop your artwork further in a studio setting. Artist Nicky Sanderson will be available for guidance and advice. Farewell dinner at the Champany Inn.

Day 12 – Departure

We say goodbye, but you’ll be taking back a precious sketchbook journal, filled with your artwork, and no doubt you’ll want to come back to Scotland soon! 😉

Cost: £3130 per person, based on two sharing (plus £690 to have a double room to yourself).

This includes:

• Artist-guided tour of Outlander filming locations (sketchbook journaling, variety of media)
• 11 nights in luxury accommodation (9 nights at Champany Inn in Linlithgow; 2 nights at Glenmoriston Townhouse hotel in Inverness)
• 11 full Scottish breakfasts (different dietary requests catered for)
• Welcome reception with Prosecco
• Welcome three course evening meal at the Champany Inn, with coffee/tea and wine, on arrival night
• Farewell three course evening meal at the Champany Inn, with coffee/tea and wine, on the last night
• Half-day Printmaking workshop at Highland Print Studio in Inverness, including all materials
• Herbal walk at Culross Palace Gardens followed by herbalist session, led by Scottish herbalist Anna Canning, including all materials
• Group transport (combination of minibus transport and public transport, in line with our Responsible Travel policy)
• Entry fees to most properties visited as part of the tour
• Custom-made sketchbook and some art materials
• Workshop venue hire
• Pre-travel information pack (by email)
• Wild at Art canvas bag for carrying art materials
• Some surprises!!
• A member of the Wild at Art team will accompany the group to ensure you’re well looked after

This art holiday starts and finishes in Linlithgow (20 mins from Edinburgh Airport). If you’d like to arrive a bit earlier or stay some extra nights after the Wild at Art vacation we can assist you with finding accommodation. Our hotel Champany Inn and other local hotels are extremely busy at that time of year, so please let us know your requirements as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

Not included: flights to and from Scotland; meals other than those listed above. Airport transfers can be arranged at an additional cost (approx. £60 return from Edinburgh Airport, contact us for quote from Glasgow). Guests are required to take out personal travel insurance. A non-refundable deposit of £500 secures your space.

*Please note: for bookings made by 31 January 2021 the Easy Registration option applies. Secure your place by paying a non-refundable registration fee of just GBP100!