Tour Scotland with Outlander

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At the bottom of the Royal Mile you'll find the Canongate and Holyrood area of the Old Town - it dates back over 800 years. The Palace of Holyroodhouse is an elegant royal residence with links to monarchs from throughout the centuries situated at the foot of the Royal Mile. Today it is the official Scottish residence of Her Majesty The Queen.

Take a tour and see Mary Queen of Scots' bedchamber and the room where her confidante, David Rizzio, was brutally murdered. If you've got time afterwards, pop into the Scottish Parliament opposite for a tour.

Time to explore

2 hours

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Edinburgh's Old Town is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site (together with the New Town on the north side of the city centre) and the buildings you’ll see remain largely unchanged from how they would have looked centuries ago.

The Old Town is home to three filming locations from Outlander. Look out for these places as you wander up the Royal Mile:

• Bakehouse Close – this filming location is where Claire and Jamie are reunited after 20 years apart.
• Tweeddale Court – this historic street becomes the 18th century market where Claire meets Fergus again.
• Signet Library – the interior of this beautiful building doubles as the Governor’s mansion in Jamaica.

If you’re looking for a memorable souvenir pop into Hamilton & Young Jewellery Designers, also on the Royal Mile, to browse Celtic and Outlander inspired items.

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Located just a short walk from Royal Mile, on Chamber’s Street, the National Museum of Scotland is full of intriguing objects and brilliant stories.

This world-class museum is the most visited attraction outside of London and is filled with incredible displays covering history, natural heritage, world cultures, design, innovation, technology and more. 

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How does a leisurely ride in a comfy vintage train carriage sound to start your day?

Watch the scenery glide past from the steam or diesel-hauled train and explore the Museum of Scottish Railways, Scotland's largest railway museum, which is next to Bo’ness Station.

Time to explore

3 hours

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Explore the nooks and towers of this beautiful ruined palace and take a refreshing walk around Linlithgow Loch.

In 1745 Bonnie Prince Charlie visited the palace on his journey south. Its elaborate courtyard fountain is said to have flowed with red wine to mark the occasion!

In Outlander the majestic entrance and corridors feature as Wentworth Prison where Jamie was imprisoned.

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Dating from the 17th century, Hopetoun House near South Queensferry is a beautiful stately home surrounded by a vast, 6,500 acre estate.

Various parts of the house and grounds have played roles in Outlander:

• The Duke of Sandringham’s stately home (S1)
• The spare room in Jamie and Claire's Paris apartment (S2)
• The Hawkins Estate (S2)
• The backdrop for Parisian streets (S2)
• The stables at Helwater and the exterior of Ellesmere (S3)

Another key filming location on the Hopetoun Estate is Midhope Castle, which features as the exterior of Jamie’s beloved Lallybroch.

While no filming took place inside the castle (it's derelict inside) the exterior is instantly recognisable. Please note, Midhope is located on a private part of the Hopetoun Estate and access is restricted. If you want to visit, you need to purchase a vehicle permit from the nearby Hopetoun Farm Shop.

Find out more about visiting Midhope Castle.

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Stop for a visit at Blackness Castle, a 15th century fortress on the banks of the Firth of Forth.

In Outlander the castle features as Black Jack Randall’s headquarters in Fort William. Its internal courtyard is shown in the heart-wrenching scenes from Jamie’s incarceration.

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Stop for an afternoon visit at another grand stately home – Callendar House in Falkirk. Located within the expansive greenery of Callendar Park, the house dates from the 14th century and has hosted many famous historical figures, including Bonnie Prince Charlie.

In Outlander the house’s authentic Georgian kitchen appeared as part of Bellhurst Manor, the home of the Duke of Sandringham.

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The beautiful Drummond Castle Gardens is one of Europe's finest formal gardens. In Outlander the gardens are shown as the ornate park and orchard of the Palace of Versailles in France.

During your visit look out for the two beautiful copper beech trees which were planted by Queen Victoria in 1842.

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Formerly a working cotton mill, Deanston Distillery is now famous for the glorious whisky it produces. Take a tour to find out how whisky is made.

In Outlander the historic buildings stand in for Jamie's cousin's wine warehouse on the docks of Le Havre.

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This striking ruin is a key location in the hit TV series Outlander, where it stands in for the fictional Castle Leoch, home to Colum MacKenzie and his clan in the 18th century episodes. The castle is also firmly associated with Monty Python and the Holy Grail and is still very much a place of "pilgrimage" for Monty Python fans.

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With its cobbled streets and rows of historic cottages, your visit to Culross will feel a little like stepping back in time to the 17th and 18th centuries.

In Outlander the Mercat Cross area in the centre of the town becomes the fictional village of Cranesmuir, where Geillis lives, while the garden behind Culross Palace stands in for Claire's herb garden at Castle Leoch.

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Explore the historic streets of this picturesque town and visit grand Falkland Palace, which was built in the 1500s and became a favourite country residence for many kings and queens.

In Outlander, Falkland is one of the first places shown on screen - the town substitutes for 1940s Inverness where Claire and Frank go on their second honeymoon.

Around town you can visit:

• The Covenanter Hotel, which stands in for the cosy Mrs Baird's Guesthouse.
• The Bruce Fountain, where the ghost of Jamie looks up at Claire's room.
• Fayre Earth Gift Shop, which doubles as Farrell's Hardware and Furniture Store.
• Campbell's Coffee House and Eatery, which becomes Campbell's Coffee Shop in the show.

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See what life was like for the people of the Highlands from the 1700s up until the 1960s at the Highland Folk Museum in Newtonmore.

In Outlander the museum's replica 18th century Highland crofts are shown when Claire joins Dougal and his followers on their task to collect rent from the clan's tenants.

Time to explore

3 hours

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Stand on the rugged moorland where the 1746 Battle of Culloden took place and feel the atmosphere of the site where one of the most harrowing battles in British history took place.

Culloden Moor was the site of the Jacobites’ final stand in the Risings, when Bonnie Prince Charlie and his followers, including clans such as the Frasers and MacKenzies, were defeated by the Duke of Cumberland's government troops.

In the Outlander novels, the moor is where Jamie fights in the 1746 Battle of Culloden. Pop into the Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre to discover more about the battle.

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Located just a few minutes’ drive from Culloden Battlefield, the Clava Cairns are said to have provided an inspiration for Outlander’s mysterious Craigh na Dun – the standing stones which sweep Claire back in time.

This sacred site was an important Bronze Age burial place. Its grave sites, cairns and standing stones date from around 4,000 years ago.

Make sure and take lots of pictures, but please don't climb on any of the monuments.

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Take a walk through the capital of the Highlands, Inverness. Head along the banks of the River Ness and explore the Ness Islands, a series of small wooded islands connected by a footbridge. If you've got a few hours to fill during the day, you could visit the Inverness Botanic Gardens or the Inverness Museum & Art Gallery.

In the evening, you might catch some live folk and traditional music at pubs such as Hootanannay or Gellions Bar, and enjoy a large glass of your favourite tipple. You could also check out some of the city's events at arts and music venues, such as the Ironworks and Eden Court Theatre.

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A trip to Inverness isn’t complete without visiting Loch Ness. This huge expanse of water is an immensely impressive sight – the loch holds more water than all the lakes in England and Wales combined. In the Outlander novels, Claire and Frank take a cruise on the water and in her 18th century life Claire meets the Loch Ness Monster here (referred to as a water horse in the novel). You can still take a cruise on the Loch today, which is a great way to take in the awesome landscape.

Time to explore

3 hours

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On the north west shore of Loch Ness you’ll find the beautiful ruins of Urquhart Castle. The site has been a significant place since around AD 580, when St Columba is said to have visited. There has been evidence of a castle on the site since the 1200s.

It was the first Jacobite Rising of 1689 that marked the end for Urquhart Castle as a working castle and garrison. In 1692, following the end of the first rising, government forces blew up the castle to prevent it falling under Jacobite control in the future. Urquhart Castle has lain in ruins ever since.

Take a tour to learn about the castle’s history and explore the ruins.

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Stretch your legs and breathe in fresh Highland air as you visit the Glenfinnan Monument on the banks of Loch Shiel. Bonnie Prince Charlie raised the Jacobite flag here in August 1745 (beginning the final Jacobite Rising), after arriving on the mainland from the Outer Hebrides.

Climb the monument for views out across Loch Shiel and pop into the visitor centre to learn more about the 1745 Rising.

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Explore the history of the west Highlands and see archaeological finds and treasures from throughout the area. The museum also has a great Jacobite exhibition with plenty of lesser-known stories to uncover.

Some of the fascinating items you can see include:

• Bonnie Prince Charlie's death mask
• A fine silk waistcoat belonging to the Prince
• A fan created for a grand ball at the Palace of Holyroodhouse
• A secret portrait of Bonnie Prince Charlie

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Get a better view of Britain’s highest peak, Ben Nevis, on a gentle ride in a suspended mountain gondola up the side of Aonach Mor, one of Ben Nevis’ lofty neighbours.

Soak up the far reaching views towards Ben Nevis, Fort William, the Great Glen and the surrounding Highlands and hop off at the top station to visit the Snowgoose Restaurant & Bar, where you can have a hot drink, a tasty snack or a meal.

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Featured in Outlander’s opening credits, visiting world-famous Glencoe will be a highlight memory from your trip. Driving through this deep-carved glen feels like you’re entering in a secret part of Scotland. Scenes from Skyfall were also filmed here, in the shadow of Buachaille Etive Mor.

Pull into one of the parking places to absorb the atmosphere created by the towering peaks around you before popping into the Glencoe Visitor Centre. You can grab a bite to eat here before browsing the exhibition.

Time to explore

3 hours

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Built in the 1100s, Glasgow Cathedral is one of the oldest buildings in the city and one of the most intact medieval cathedrals on the Scottish mainland.

Visit to see its beautiful Gothic architecture and step down into the historic crypt, which was built in the mid-1200s to house the tomb of St Kentigern.

In Outlander the cathedral’s crypt doubles as L'Hopital Des Anges in Paris, where Claire volunteers to work.

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In the evening, head to George Square to see the historic area that becomes the 1940s spot where Frank spontaneously proposes to Claire.

Enjoy a stroll through the square as you soak up the ornate architecture of the surrounding buildings and study the square’s many statues and monuments. There are plenty of great places to go for dinner in this area, or in the nearby Merchant City too.

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Visit Pollok House in the south of Glasgow to see the historic building’s grand rooms and vast servants’ quarters. The main part of the house was built in 1752 – during Jamie’s time in Outlander.

In the TV series Pollok Country Park, which surrounds Pollok House, features in a few different scenes. It doubles as the grounds surrounding Castle Leoch and also stands in for French countryside as the characters travel between Le Havre and Paris.

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Stroll through the lush grounds of Kelvingrove park, which becomes the Boston park where Claire enjoys walking.

Afterwards pop over the road to explore the historic University of Glasgow buildings. In Outlander the university becomes Harvard University, where Frank teaches.

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Located in the historic University of Glasgow buildings, the Hunterian Museum has lots of fascinating exhibits and stories for you to uncover, including medicine, zoology and anatomy.

Make sure to visit Mackintosh House too, to see the home that Charles Rennie Mackintosh designed with his wife Margaret Macdonald Mackintosh.

Open: all year

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In the evening head to the city’s West End for dinner and drinks. Look out for Ashton Lane with its twinkling fairy lights, quirky places to eat and independent cinema.

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Surrounded by mature woodland, 14th century Dean Castle in Kilmarnock appears in series two of Outlander as Beaufort Castle, near Beauly in the Highlands. In the show Claire and Jamie visit Lord Lovat at the castle to try and persuade him to send his men to aid Charles Stuart.

Although Dean Castle is currently closed for restoration, the beautiful country park – with its walking routes, Urban Farm, visitor centre and café – is the ideal place to stretch your legs and explore.

If you have time you can also visit the nearby Dick Institute Museum and Gallery – also in Kilmarnock – to view the collections from Dean Castle which are on display at the museum during the castle’s refurbishment.

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Drive along the Ayrshire coast until you reach the pretty harbour village of Dunure.

In Outlander, Dunure doubles as Ayr Harbour, where Claire and Jamie leave Scotland in pursuit of Young Ian. Another great stopping point is Dunure Castle (less than a mile away) which features as Silkie Island in the show.

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Take a tour of this beautiful 17th century castle, near Thornhill, and explore period rooms filled with artwork, French furniture and antiques. Afterwards take a stroll in the castle’s 90,000 acre estate which includes championship mountain biking trails.

In Outlander, the exterior, living rooms and bedrooms of Drumlanrig Castle became Bellhurst Manor, including a bedroom that was once slept in by Bonnie Prince Charlie, as he made his way north to Culloden.

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The lush Galloway Forest Park is close to where Sam Heughan (Jamie from Outlander) grew up in Dumfries & Galloway. Head to Clatteringshaws Visitor Centre to take a refreshing stroll along the shore of Clatteringshaws Loch.

Close by, you can see wild creatures in natural surroundings at the Red Deer Range and the Wild Goat Park.

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Explore Scotland’s oldest inhabited house, a former royal hunting lodge dating from 1107 which remains a family home to this day.

Wander round the beautiful rooms, tour Traquair House Brewery and navigate your way around the maze.

While you’re there find out more about Traquair House’s Jacobite connections - in the 1700s the earls of Traquair supported the Jacobite cause. Bonnie Prince Charlie even visited the house in 1745.

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Pop into this historic print works to see how items such as stationary and newspapers would have been printed before the time of computers.

Although the printing works date from 1866 (after Jamie’s time in Outlander) this quirky historic attraction will give you a feel for what life may have been like for Jamie in his print shop on the Royal Mile in the Outlander novels.

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Located on the south side of Edinburgh, Craigmillar Castle has plenty of interesting rooms and hidden nooks for you to explore. The oldest part of this ruined castle – the tower house – dates from the 1300s.

In Outlander Craigmillar becomes Ardsmuir Prison, where Jamie is incarcerated.