Top 10 Outlander Filming Locations in Scotland
The Outlander books and TV series have captured imaginations and hearts across the world, and we’ll be the first to admit that we’re no exception.
As history fans who grew up in Scotland, it’s been fascinating to follow the story of Jamie and Claire and delve a little deeper into the tumultuous period of the 18th century Jacobite risings.
Outlander was filmed on location in Scotland, and we’ve created a list of our top 10 filming locations to help you plan an Outlander Tour of Scotland …
Doune Castle
The striking 14th century Doune Castle features as the fictional 18th century Castle Leoch, being home to Clan MacKenzie.
The castle is remarkably well preserved, and the excellent self-guided audio tour (narrated by Sam Heughan from Outlander and Terry Jones of Monty Python fame) will guide you through the castle’s history and its use as a film location.
Explore the vast Great Hall and wind your way up the spiral staircase to enjoy views over the River Teith to the beautiful surrounding countryside.
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Culross
The Royal Burgh of Culross, located in the Kingdom of Fife, has been prominently featured in many seasons of the popular Outlander franchise. The village is most recognisable as the fictional Cranesmuir in seasons 1 and 2 and also appears in season 4 as the residence of Laoghaire. The Mercat Square, with its iconic Mercat Cross, is easily recognisable from scenes such as the witch trials. During our visit to the gardens of Culross Palace, we felt such an air of mystery and could easily imagine Claire searching for remedies in her 1740s herb garden.
The village’s cobbled medieval streets provide a rare opportunity to explore an 18th-century Scottish village, and we highly recommend taking the time to wander the winding lanes. We recommend climbing the steps behind Culross Palace for a breathtaking view over the village, Palace Gardens and Firth of Forth.
Keep an eye out for Culross in the eighth and final season of Outlander, where the enchanting and ancient village has been used again as a filming location!
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Hopetoun House
This expansive stately home sits just outside Edinburgh in South Queensferry and has been home to the Hope family for over 300 years, with the current Earl of Hopetoun still living there today.
Scenes in the first 3 seasons have been filmed on the estate, and it will be particularly recognisable to fans as the Duke of Sandringham’s home. The lawn and steps to the rear of the house provided the set for the duel between the Duke and the head of the McDonald clan, and the dramatic sword fight in season 1. Venture upstairs and you’ll find yourself in Claire’s Parisian bedroom in season 2.
Visitors to Hopetoun House are encouraged to wander around the house and grounds at their own pace and step back through time. We’d recommend making your way up to the roof viewing platform where you’ll be treated to great views across the Firth of Forth towards the three bridges.
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Midhope Castle
Also on Hopetoun Estate is Midhope Castle, the location for Lallybroch or Broch Tuarach, the ancestral home of Jamie Fraser. This was our personal favourite location! As soon as the castle came into view we felt as though we were in the Scottish Highlands, and the resemblance of the exterior to Lallybroch was incredible.
The building is derelict so only the outside can be explored, but this adds to the atmosphere. It’s a definite must-see.
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Blackness Castle
We were instantly transported back to 18th century Scotland at the striking Blackness Castle. On the shores of the Firth of Forth, this Fortress and former prison was nicknamed ‘The ship that never sailed’ for its boat-like structure when seen from the River Forth. Used as Fort William in the TV series, the castle was Black Jack Randall’s headquarters, and several of Jamie’s prison scenes were filmed there.
To blow away any cobwebs, we ventured through winding passageways and onto the battlements walk, where we were treated to fantastic views across the Firth of Forth towards the Kingdom of Fife.
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Linlithgow Palace
Linlithgow Palace in West Lothian is a popular filming location and it’s easy to see why. The ruined Royal Palace of the Stuart kings and queens is surrounded by a large park and sits alongside Linlithgow Loch, meaning that on a calm day the imposing structure eerily reflects in the cool water. As the birthplace of both James V and Mary Queen of Scots, the Palace has lots to offer history buffs as well.
In Outlander, Linlithgow Palace was used as the entrance and corridors of Wentworth Prison, where Jamie was taken by the redcoats to face Black Jack Randall.
It’s also the setting for perhaps the most intense event: “those” torture scenes with Jamie and Randall. See the location for yourself, if you dare…
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Inverness
You’ll find two particularly poignant Outlander locations near the city of Inverness in the Scottish Highlands. The first is Clava Cairns, thought to be the inspiration for the Craigh na Dun standing stones which transport Claire back to 1743. Although no scenes were actually filmed here, these ancient burial stones are definitely worth a visit.
Culloden Battlefield was the site of the final battle of the failed 1745 Jacobite uprising. Featured in seasons 2 and 3, stones lie on the field commemorating the Highland clans who lost men in April 1746. After walking across the windswept moor, you can learn more at the excellent Culloden Visitor Centre.
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Highland Folk Museum
Have you ever wondered what life was like for people living in the Scottish Highlands hundreds of years ago? Now you can experience it for yourself at the Highland Folk Museum – Britain’s first open-air museum – which has been created to give visitors a real taste of how Highland people lived and worked.
For Outlander fans, the star of the show is the recreated 18th-century township which was used in filming as the MacKenzie village.
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Falkland
The impossibly picturesque village of Falkland in the Kingdom of Fife is now famous around the world thanks to its appearance in the opening scenes of season 1 as 1940s Inverness, home to Claire and Frank during their post-war second honeymoon.
Falkland Palace is nearby and definitely worth a visit. Once the country residence of the Stuart royal family, it’s now revered as an excellent example of Renaissance architecture and houses a palace garden and orchard.
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Callendar House
A magnificent French Renaissance-style mansion in the grounds of Callender Park in Falkirk – the kitchens at Callendar House date back to the 14th century and stand in for the Duke of Sandringham’s kitchen in season 2 of Outlander. The kitchens are still in full working order, and staff are on hand to tell visitors what it was like when they were transported back to the 18th century on set, and to provide tasty samples of period recipes.
The rest of the house is packed full of information about the history of the area, including the building of the Antonine Wall by the Romans (a section of it went through the grounds of the house), and the transformation of the region at the dawn of the industrial era.
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Book an Outlander Tour of Scotland
If you’d like to experience the magic of Outlander for yourself, our self-guided Outlander Tour takes in all of these incredible sites – and many more.
Send us an enquiry and start planning your dream trip to Scotland today.
Katie Rogen & Josephine Dair
