From Edinburgh: 2-day Outlander Experience

We will depart from the historic heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town on the short journey to our first stop of the day at Midhope Castle. This castle has been used as the external filming location for Lallybroch, the family home of Jamie Fraser. The external structure of this 15th-century castle is largely intact, unfortunately the interior of the castle is now derelict, so we will have a quick photo stop here before continuing our journey northwards. Our tour continues to the imposing Blackness Castle. A perfect viewpoint for the Firth of Forth and often referred to as ‘the ship that never sailed’ due to its strong ship-like stone exterior, this 15th-century castle stood in for Fort William in the show. It has also featured in other period films, most recently in ‘Mary Queen of Scots’. Feel free to discover this castle at your own pace and discover the hidden secrets of the castle. Blackness Castle is more than just a filming location, it has own fascinating history before its more recent. The castle has been a royal possession, a stronghold, a prison and the ancestral home to the Crichton family, for whom it was built. You may be reminded of Jamie’s heart-wrenching incarceration as featured in the show, as well as his dramatic escape. Feel free to discover beauty and history of the castle at your own pace so you discover more of the hidden secrets of the castle.We continue travelling to Doune Castle, which boasts a striking 100-foot-high gatehouse and one of the best-preserved great halls in the United Kingdom. In recent times it has become known for playing a starring role in Outlander as Castle Leoch, home of Colum MacKenzie and his clan. Perhaps you may also remember Doune Castle from it’s earlier appearance as Castle Anthrax from ‘Monty Python and the Holy Grail’. Whilst exploring the the castle you can immerse yourself in the ‘Outlander’ spirit by listening to Jamie as he guides you through his uncle’s home.We travel north into the Highlands and visit Glen Coe, the dramatic landscape which features in ‘Outlander’s’ opening credits. Soak in the scenery of one of the most impressive places in Scotland. You’ll be in awe as you stand in this striking glen. Here you can get a sense of the dramatic landscape in which the show was set and imagine how Jamie and Claire may have lived. The tour will then travel through Fort William, home of the UK’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis and the site of Jamie’s incarceration in the show as it was the base of the Red Coat Army.We ill then travel further north through the Great Glen, we will have a quick stop at Loch Ness for a great opportunity for a photo and chance to perhaps get a glimpse of the famous Loch Ness Monster! Your day will conclude when you arrive in our overnight stop in Inverness, where you can use your evening to explore the cobbled streets, churches and impressive architecture, as well as sampling some of the many bars and restaurants in which to enjoy your evening in the Highlands.

Our second day begins with a visit to Clava Cairns, approximately 4,000 years old. These are one of Scotland’s more impressive sights as you can explore freely amongst the standing stones and burial chambers. These cairns are the real-life version of Craigh Na Dun and the inspiration for the novel.We then take the short journey to Culloden, a sombre place to visit as you can walk the battlefield of the quick and bloody 1746 battle. This was the final battle between the Jacobite Forces and the Red Coats and where the rising met its end. Your guide will tell you the whole tragic story, sensationalised in the show.We will then begin to travel south to the Highland Folk Museum where can learn more about the traditional work and lifestyles of the people of the Highlands from the 1700s up until the 1960s. You will have plenty of time to explore this museum, which was an ideal choice for as a setting for various period scenes in ‘Outlander’.As we head further south to Fife, we will visit the village of Falkland, which stood in for 1940s and 1960s Inverness in the show. This small town is home to Falkland Palace and was a favourite retreat for many royals, including Mary Queen of Scots. It has remained remarkably unchanged since the mid-century, making it the ideal filming location. See if you can spot the parallels between Falkland and Inverness!Your final stop of the tour will be the village of Culross. This 17th-century town on the Firth of Forth is preserved by the National Trust and was once a busy port for Fife. The narrow streets of the town mean that Culross is almost free of traffic, making it easy to imagine life here in the 18th century. Here you will have time to explore these narrow streets, which you will recognise as the town of Cranesmuir in the first season of the show. You will then make the short journey back to Edinburgh, where you will say goodbye to your group.