Recently updated on July 12th, 2022 at 03:27 pm
Outlander has taken both sides of the Atlantic by storm with its unique mix of Game of Thrones narratives and Brave Heart histrionics. Based on Diana Gabaldon’s historical novels which fling nurse Claire Randell back from WWII to 18th century Scotland (where Jacobites and Hanoverians wrestle for power), seasoned Outlander fans will know the hit show makes use of incredible locations across Scotland. From castles to country houses, from ancient standing stones to picturesque villages, the show doesn’t just travel through time but Caledonia’s most memorable sites, too. With this in mind, we follow in the footsteps of handsome highlander, Jamie Fraser, and embark on a tour around the country.
Blackness Castle
The filming location for the infamous Fort William prison in Season One, Blackness Castle is the HQ of Black Jack Randall and one of the most impressive strongholds in Scotland. Sometimes referred to as “the ship that never sailed” thanks to its appearance from the shoreline, it offers romantic views of the Forth of Forth and Fife in all weathers.
Falkland
A stand-in for 1940s Inverness, where Claire’s story begins, the village of Falkland has an important history that belies its rural appearance. Once the homeland of Stewart kings (who lived in the royal palace), nowadays Outlander fans should stop at the Covenanter Hotel if they wish to see Mrs Baird’s B&B in the series, or simply stroll around its whitewashed cottages, tea rooms and antique shops.
Culross
Across the River Forth stands Culross. Famous as the birthplace of St Mungo, its yellow-ochre houses form the location of the fictional village of Cranesmuir, where visitors can see Claire’s garden (complete with herbs, vegetables and fruit trees) and Geillis Duncan’s home in its beautifully preserved 16th century town centre.
Orkney
Orkney’s the home of Scotland’s most famous mythological creature: the “selkie”. A seal that can disguise itself as a human on land, it forms an important part of a folk tale central to the TV series, but Outlander fans may also find the island’s sunsets, windswept coastline and folksy pubs just as appealing.
Doune Castle
A spectacular 14th century castle with a 100ft-high gatehouse and oak-filled Lord’s Hall, Doune repeatedly pops up at all the important junctions of Scottish history. Here, starring in Outlander, it plays Castle Leoch, where Claire was hosted by the Mackenzie Clan when she arrived in 1743.
Highland Museum
Travel back in time with a visit to the Highland Folk Museum that was repeatedly used a film location during “Rent”, the fifth episode of Season One. Showing the reality of Highland crofts, with their turf roofs and hard living, everything from the food eaten to the habits practised are accurately evoked.
Glasgow
Glasgow’s cathedral doubles up as L’Hopital des Anges, the Parisian Hospital Claire volunteers at, but also possesses beauty in its own right as one of the few Scottish cathedrals to survive the Reformation. The loch-side Linlithgow Palace also stars as the stand-in for the prison entrance and corridors of Wentworth Prison, where Jamie was imprisoned in the series.
If you want to follow Claire and touch the stones of Craigh na Dun, the easiest way to do it is to book here for a place on a Highland trail inspired by the TV series.
Image Credits: Blackness Castle © iStock/allanlee. Culross © iStock/StephenMcCluskey81. Doune Castle © iStock/benstevens. Linlithgow Palace © iStock/SJVictrix.