To celebrate my 50th birthday, one of my best friends joined me on a girl’s trip to remember. Of course, first stop was Scotland. My love of this place has only grown more since I discovered Outlander – don’t get me started on Jamie. My partner scored big brownie points when he gifted me (and my friend- she had to go because it was my birthday and I said so) an Outlander day-tour while in Scotland.
I am a bit of an Outlander tragic and have read all of the books, watched the series several times and am eagerly awaiting the premiere of the new season. As you can imagine I was super excited for our Outlander day-tour, and it didn’t disappoint. I can highly recommend Andy from Highlander tours for an Outlander day-tour that will stay in your memory and make you grin every time you think about it.
Lallybroch
We were picked up from a train station just outside Edinburgh in the Highlander tours minibus, with the other tour guests already onboard having been picked up from Glasgow. First stop was Midhope Castle AKA Lallybroch in the show. Andy was an extra in the show for a few seasons, so he had great insider information. We had a wee dram on the steps and did a little bit of dramatic re-enacting. Fun!
Even without the Outlander fame, it is a beautiful old castle. It is being refurbished I believe, so you might be able to venture inside in the not-too-distant future. Be aware, filming still takes place every now and again and they close it off to visitors during that time.
Fort William
Next stop on our Outlander Day-tour was Blackness Castle or Fort William in the show. This is where we got to play a little dress-ups. Andy showed us how to fold and put on a kilt and I swam in a Redcoat costume. So much fun! Andy showed us where certain scenes from the show were filmed here. For example, the scene when Jamie and Murtagh sneak into the prison and threaten the guard before knocking him out, was filmed in that doorway pictured below.
Castle Leoch
After Blackness Castle we went to Doune Castle which is the fictional Castle Leoch, but also Winterfell from Game of Thrones, and the castle of Monty Python fame – “Your mother was a hamster, and your father smelt of elderberries!” Sam Heughan’s voice guiding us on the tour headset was a nice touch! Walk along the Castle walls surrounding the courtyard, where Claire watched young Hamish play with Dougal. Visit Mrs Fitz’s kitchen and imagine all the pots and pans clanging and the lady herself ordering the staff about.
Cranesmuir
We stopped for lunch at the gorgeous little Red Lion Inn, I believe we all tried their pies that they are famous for. Fed and watered, we ventured on to Culross. This pretty little town is the location for fictional Cranesmuir – where Ghellis lived and where she was to burn, and where the young fellow had his ear hammered to the pillory. The gardens at Culross Palace were the herb gardens of Castle Leoch and the Drawing room of the Palace was Ghellis’s parlour. Of course, it wouldn’t be Scotland without a good ghost story and Andy tells a good one in one of the rooms of the Palace.
Regardless of the connection to Outlander, this little village is one of the prettiest I have seen, and I loved walking around it and hearing how they disguised different modern fixtures to fit the 1700’s. The magic of film and television!
Fictional Inverness
Our final destination was the village of Falkland, which doubled for Inverness in the show. The iconic scene where Jamie – was it Jamie?? – stares up at Claire as she brushes her hair in Mrs Baird’s boarding house, also where Claire spies a blue vase in the shop window. Many scenes from Outlander were filmed here or close by, including the location for Laoghaire’s house – Balriggin.
Edinburgh
There were several other filming locations in Edinburgh that weren’t part of the tour but that I managed to find while we were staying there, such as Fairfax Close – location of the printshop.
I will be in Scotland again in September for a brief visit, and they may just be filming again for the next and final season…… Nooooo!!! If I happen to run into/stalk a handsome tall redhead while I’m there, you know you’re going to hear about it.
Postscript – No Jamie spotting in Scotland….but would you believe that Sam Heughan and some of the lads from the cast came down to me!?! I was determined to see them while they were here. I made the most of my encounter with Sam Heughan, John Hunter Bell, Duncan Lacroix and Charles Vandervaart. For posterity, I will include my photos with these lovely lads. You will see the slightly crazed look in my eye as I got my group photo with them – couldn’t quite believe I was in their company!
