Leave Edinburgh and begin following the trail of film locations featured in the Outlander TV Series.
First, we travel to the place that needs no introduction: Midhope Castle, known as Jamie’s lovely home Lallybroch. The cosy interior of the house has been re-created in the film studios. In reality, visitors can’t explore the ruins of the castle, instead, you can sit on the iconic steps of Lallybroch and wait for Jamie or Claire to walk through the beautiful archway in the courtyard.
We then journey through the charming countryside to *Blackness Castle. It’s an impressive fortress that’s known as the ‘ship that never sailed’ because it resembles a giant stone boat. You have time to walk along the ramparts and explore the fictional headquarters of Jack Randall.
The next stop is Linlithgow Palace, otherwise known as Wentworth Prison. Unfortunately, the palace is undergoing some refurbishment and you can’t explore the interior. But you're still able to admire the structure and enjoy the surrounding settings. It’s also where you have lunch, so try local specialities or have a picnic by the loch and take a photo of the ruins of Mary Queen of Scots’ birthplace.
Heading north, we journey past Stirling Castle and the Wallace Monument to Doune Castle, or as it’s called in Outlander, Castle Leoch. This formidable building represents home to Colum MacKenzie and his clan in the 18th-century episodes. When you visit, you can discover its real storey and get an insight into the living conditions of a Scottish earl in the 14th century. There’s also an excellent audio guide describing how this castle was used as a filming location for Monty Python and the Holy Grail.*
Travel back in time once more as your driver-guide takes you to Culross. This virtually unchanged 16th-century village overlooks the sea and poses as the fictional town of Cranesmuir. You have time to visit Claire’s herb garden, explore the palace, or wander the ancient streets while you imagine what life must have been like 400 years ago.
From there, we head back to Edinburgh, where we arrive in the late afternoon.
