Photo by Aleksander Korobczuk on Unsplash
If you’re a fan of the book or TV Series Outlander then explore the land that inspired Outlander on your tour of Scotland. In this article, we highlight the filming locations close to the North Coast 500 driving route, which is the best way to explore Scotland’s wild beauty.
See where Outlander stars, such as Sam Heughan (Jamie) and Caitriona Balfe (Claire), shot their scenes at Outlander filming locations as well as visiting Outlander book locations. Along the way you’ll also explore historic attractions with real-life Jacobite connections, where you can delve into the true story of the Jacobite cause.
“The country is so beautiful, but there’s so much history and it is so tangible so you can literally be driving around and see the evidence of history, of past lives, of things that happened. We were encountering objects, like a pistol or sword that was used at Culloden, or a chair that Mary, Queen of Scots used.
You start to realize that you have all this history around us in Scotland and it really wasn’t that long ago that all this happened. You can really feel it – the history, or the ghosts of the past.”
— Sam Heughan (Jamie Fraser)
There are so many filming locations used in the seven-season show, but below is a list of those that are on – or very close – to our Celtic Routes signature North Coast 500 route.
If you’re staying a few days in Edinburgh or Glasgow before the start of your trip, then scroll down to the bottom for a list of Edinburgh and Glasgow locations.
never heard of outlander?
This epic tale adapted from Diana Gabaldon‘s popular series of fantasy-romance novels focuses on the drama of two time-crossed lovers.
Outlander follows the story of Claire Randall, a married combat nurse from 1945 who is mysteriously swept back in time to 1743, where she is immediately thrown into an unknown world where her life is threatened. When she is forced to marry Jamie, a chivalrous and romantic young Scottish warrior, a passionate affair is ignited that tears Claire’s heart between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives.
Crazily, author Diana Gabaldon hadn’t even set foot in Scotland when she starting writing the book that has driven such a global interest in this wild, historic and deeply romantic country.
From the opening credits – scenic shots of Scotland accompanied by a mournful rendition of the Skye Boat Song – you are sent back in time to a rough, perilous time in Scotland’s rich but often violent history.
You can stream Outlander online on streaming services including Starz, Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. Warning: there are some disturbing scenes in the show.
“Outlander has increased tourism by an average of 67 percent at the sites mentioned in the books or used in filming”
— Visit Scotland
day 1: start your trip with an outlander (de)tour
If you’re starting your tour in Edinburgh the drive to Dunkeld is around 90 minutes. Alternatively, for fans of the TV series Outlander, you can take a detour adding around 60-75 minutes of driving time (plus any time exploring the locations) that captures a number of the filming locations of this historical TV series.
hopetoun house
As you leave Edinburgh at the start of your adventure, why not take a little detour to explore one of the finest examples of Scotland’s grand architecture, the splendid Hopetoun House, on the outskirts of Edinburgh, doubled as the stately home of the Duke of Sandringham in season one; provided the backdrop for Parisian streets, the spare room in Jamie and Claire’s Paris apartment, and the Hawkins Estate in season two and Ellesmere and the stables at Helwater in season three. Interesting fact: in real life, the house is vast compared to how it appears in the TV show, as some of its wings were digitally erased.
blackness castle
A short drive from Hopetoun House and standing looking out over the Firth of Forth near Edinburgh is the impressive Blackness Castle, often referred to as ‘the ship that never sailed’ due to its ship-like shape. This 15th-century fortress provided the setting for the Fort William headquarters of Black Jack Randall, as well as featuring in the heart-wrenching scene of Jamie’s incarceration.
bo’ness & kinneil railway
The Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway was transformed into a wartime London railway station where Claire and Frank said their goodbyes in Season One. Tour this heritage railway and explore the adjacent Museum of Scottish Railways, before taking the chance to board a preserved vintage steam or diesel-hauled train travelling between Bo’ness and Manuel Station.
linlithgow palace
The entrance and corridors of the magnificent, ruined Linlithgow Palace were used as Wentworth Prison where Jamie was imprisoned in the first season. Once a favoured royal residence of the Stewart kings and queens and the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots, this wonderful 15th-century site, with its elegant courtyard, still oozes charm and glamour. Tour it for a great insight into what life in such a vast palace must have been like.
culross
The rustic town of Culross was used in several scenes: The Mercat Cross area was transformed into the fictional village of Cranesmuir where Geillis lived, and behind the impressive Culross Palace was where Claire’s herb garden at Castle Leoch was located in season one. The ruined church, which was the Black Kirk in season one, is a short walk away from the village centre. The town was also a backdrop to the Jacobite encampment and makeshift hospital scenes in season two and doubled as the location of Balbriggan Cottage where Laoghaire and her daughter Joan lived in season four.
drummond castle gardens
The beautiful Drummond Castle Gardens is one of Europe’s finest formal gardens. In Outlander the gardens are shown as the ornate park and orchard of the Palace of Versailles in France. During your visit look out for the two beautiful copper beech trees which were planted by Queen Victoria in 1842. The Castle itself isn’t open to the public but the grounds and gardens are.
tibbermore parish church
As you approach the Cairngorms National Park on the first day of your adventure you will pass close to the characterful Tibbermore church featured as Cranesmuir Church for the scene of the infamous witch trial. Why not take a short detour and stand in Claire and Geillis’s footsteps in the pulpit – if you dare!
dunkeld house hotel
Nestling gently in an idyllic Highland Perthshire riverside setting, Dunkeld House Hotel sits within 280 acres of woodland and overlooks the River Tay – Scotland’s longest river, which is renowned for its salmon fishing. The woodlands doubled as the North Carolina wilderness where Jamie, Claire and Young Ian set off in search of Roger when he was sold to the Mohawk. This is where you’ll stay on Night 1 of your trip.
day 2: cairngorms to the highlands
highland folk museum (newtonmore)
Replicas of 18th-century turf-roofed crofts at the Highland Folk Museum in Newtonmore made the ideal choice for period scenes, including when Dougal collected the rent, in the first season of Outlander. Visit to learn how Scottish Highlanders lived, built their homes and dressed during this period. Open April-October with Free Entry you will pass this early in the morning on Day 2 of your tour as you leave Dunkeld heading for Cromarty and onwards to Dornoch.
highlands mountains
The idyllic area around Loch Rannoch and Kinloch Rannoch, in Highland Perthshire, was seen in the background as Claire and Frank enjoyed their second honeymoon, following the end of the war. Why not take your own tour of the area and explore the awe-inspiring scenery of high mountains and sparkling lochs as enjoyed by the couple in the first episode?
day 7: around glen coe
glen coe
One of the highlights of any trip to Scotland, the spectacular valley of Glen Coe is a world-famous Scottish location of high mountain peaks, ridges, rushing rivers and waterfalls and features in Outlander’s opening credits.
glenfinnan monument
Just beyond nearby Fort William is the legendary Glenfinnan Monument where Bonnie Prince Charlie raised his standard and started the second Jacobite Rising in 1745. You will pass through Fort William in the afternoon of Day 7 and have time to detour to Glen Coe before heading down to Port Appin and your accommodation for the evening.
day 8: trossachs, stirling and glasgow
On your final day, as you route back from Port Appin to return your vehicle you can plot your route through a number of Outlander filming locations in the Trossachs, Stirling and finally Glasgow.
loch katrine
Loch Katrine was the inspiration and setting for Sir Walter Scott’s poem The Lady of the Lake and is set within the quintessential Trossachs landscape. Soak up the peace and tranquillity of the area, and discover the roads travelled by Roger and Brianna when they first got to know each other after meeting in Inverness in Season 2. Why not take an Outlander-themed trip along Loch Katrine aboard the SS Sir Walter Scott Steamship?
doune castle
Stunning Doune Castle near Stirling played a leading role in the show in Season 1, substituting for the fictional Castle Leoch – home to Colum MacKenzie and his clan in the 18th century. It also featured in the 20th-century episode when Claire and Frank visited the castle in ruins on a day trip. Visit this once-royal residence and picture the grand banquets that would have once been held here.
deanston distillery
Located at the gateway to Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park and housed in a former cotton mill, Deanston Distillery provided the setting for Jamie’s cousin’s wine warehouse on the docks of Le Havre. Take a behind-the-scenes tour of the distillery to discover the centuries-old tradition of whisky distilling.
pollok country park
Pollok Country Park, on the south side of Glasgow, doubled as the grounds surrounding the fictional Castle Leoch in season one. The park also stood in for the French countryside that the characters travelled through between Le Havre and Paris in season two. Explore this extensive woodland area – it was once voted the best park in Britain and Europe.
the university of glasgow
In Seasons 3 and 4, The University of Glasgow doubled for Harvard University where Frank taught as a professor and where Brianna visited him in his office. Established in 1451, the University of Glasgow is the 4th oldest in the English-speaking world and has around 28,000 students. The Hunterian Museum, which is well worth a visit, can also be found within the university’s historic campus.
glasgow cathedral
The crypt of this imposing medieval cathedral doubled as L’Hopital Des Anges in Paris where Claire volunteered to work in Season 2. The cathedral has a rare timelessness to it and is a stunning example of Gothic architecture. It boasts one of the finest post-war collections of stained glass windows in Britain and is also one of the few Scottish medieval churches to have survived the Reformation unscathed.
george square
Historic George Square, a wonderful civic space in the very centre of Glasgow, was turned into a 1940s set to film Frank’s spontaneous proposal to Claire. Look up at the impressive architecture around you, as Glasgow is home to many ornate buildings with fine period features.
kelvingrove park
Beautiful Kelvingrove Park doubled for the Boston Park where Claire frequently took walks in Season 3. The park also featured when she pushed Brianna in her pram, passing a man who was playing the bagpipes. Visit this popular public park with its many statues, monuments and varied wildlife and the nearby famous and free-to-enter Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum.
days 9 & 10: around edinburgh
Let us book you an extra night or two in Edinburgh and as well as exploring all that this most historic and picturesque city offers, you can visit some more Outlander filming locations:
craigmillar castle
The ruined medieval castle of Craigmillar (Edinburgh’s other castle) featured as Ardsmuir Prison, the place of Jamie’s incarceration in season three. Visit one of the best-preserved medieval castles in Scotland, to admire stunning views across Edinburgh. Interesting fact: Mary Queen of Scots used the castle as a safe haven in 1566.
bakehouse close
Bakehouse Close, just off Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, was the setting for Jamie’s Print Shop (Season 3) and where we saw Claire reunited with Jamie after years of separation. This is one of the best-preserved closes in the city and was transformed into busy 18th century Edinburgh for exterior shots of the Print Shop. Why not visit the fascinating Museum of Edinburgh next door?
tweeddale court
The hustle and bustle of the market where Claire is reunited with Fergus (was filmed in Tweeddale Court. The entrance to this time capsule of a street is from Edinburgh’s historic Royal Mile. Take time to explore one of the oldest parts of Edinburgh. It features in Seasons 3 and 4.
newhailes house
Located just a few miles east of Edinburgh, this 17th-century Palladian villa served as Governor Tryon’s home in North Carolina, where Jamie discussed the offer of a land grant in exchange for service to the English Crown. Newhailes also featured when Jamie and Claire were introduced to Wilmington Society. The house is currently closed for restoration work, please check the National Trust for Scotland website for the latest updates. The extensive and historic Newhailes Estate is open to the public all year and offers unspoilt views across the Forth.
signet library
The stunning interior of the Signet Library in Edinburgh’s Old Town was transformed into the Governor’s Mansion in Jamaica in Season 3. The library is home to the prestigious Society of Writers to Her Majesty’s Signet (also known as the WS Society), which dates back to the 15th century. The ‘writers’ of documents sealed them with ‘the Signet’, the private seal of the Scottish kings. Why not enjoy afternoon tea in the Colonnades and relax in the elegant surroundings? The library is open for legal business only but the ground floor ‘Colonnades’ is open all year for lunch and afternoon tea
This is just a snapshot of the many Outlander filming locations that can be found all across Scotland. Discover Scotland’s rich but turbulent past, and relive scenes from the deeply romantic hit show Outlander on your holiday to Scotland.
Explore for yourself or take part in an expert-led tour or expedition – either way, let’s talk about how you get your historical fix during your Celtic Routes journey around bonny Scotland.
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