Day 1: Arrival in Edinburgh & Outlander’s First Steps
Your driver-guide greets you at Edinburgh Airport and escorts you directly into the landscapes and towns that bring Outlander to life.
Falkland: Inverness in the 1940s
Your first stop is the picturesque Village of Falkland, which Outlander fans will instantly recognize as Inverness in the 1940s.
In the opening episode, this is where Claire and Frank stayed at Mrs. Baird’s guesthouse. Strolling through the charming square, you’ll see the fountain where Frank lingered, as well as the shopfronts and cottages that set the tone for Claire’s fateful journey through time.
Midhope Castle: Lallybroch
Next, continue to the much-loved Midhope Castle, known on screen as Lallybroch, Jamie Fraser’s ancestral home.
Standing in its courtyard is one of the most moving experiences for Outlander enthusiasts; it is easy to imagine Claire and Jamie returning here after their adventures, welcomed back by family and clan.
Though now a ruin, the atmosphere remains powerful and authentic.
Blackness Castle: Fort William
Your Outlander trail continues at the imposing Blackness Castle, which became Fort William in the series.
Here, the show’s most harrowing scenes unfolded, including Jamie’s brutal flogging.
As you explore the castle with your guide, you’ll uncover both the grim Outlander moments captured here and its true history as a formidable 15th-century stronghold guarding the Firth of Forth.
Extra Attractions in Edinburgh
Edinburgh City Walking Tour
In the evening, a guided walk along the Royal Mile offers another way to immerse yourself in Edinburgh’s atmosphere.
Holyrood Palace
The official Scottish residence of the monarch. As you tour its grand apartments and gardens, your guide will bring to life the dramatic episodes of Stuart history.
Day 2: Prisons, Palaces, and Noble Estates
Your driver-guide collects you this morning for a day devoted to Outlander’s most atmospheric palaces and noble estates, with time to step into both the on-screen world of Jamie and Claire and the real history that shaped Scotland’s past.
Linlithgow Palace: Wentworth Prison
Your first stop is the dramatic ruins of Linlithgow Palace, a former royal residence that Outlander fans will recognize as Wentworth Prison.
Within these towering walls, Jamie’s harrowing imprisonment was filmed, creating some of the most intense moments in the series.
Walking through the echoing courtyards and spiral staircases with your driver-guide, you’ll not only relive these pivotal scenes but also uncover the palace’s deeper history, including its role as the birthplace of Mary, Queen of Scots.
Hopetoun House: The Duke of Sandringham’s Estate
Next, you visit the magnificent, one of Scotland’s most stately and versatile filming locations.
For Outlander, Hopetoun House provided the lavish backdrop of the Duke of Sandringham’s residence, as well as standing in for multiple Parisian interiors and outdoor settings.
With your guide by your side, wander the opulent rooms and manicured grounds while learning how this one estate transformed into many worlds for the show.
Extra Attraction – Edinburgh Castle
Before dinner, you may choose to enjoy a guided tour of Edinburgh Castle.
Perched on its volcanic rock, the iconic fortress dominates the city skyline. Step inside to see the Scottish Crown Jewels (the oldest in the UK), the Stone of Destiny, and the tiny St. Margaret’s Chapel, while enjoying sweeping views across the city.
Day 3: Castle Leoch & Stirling Legends
Leaving Edinburgh this morning with your driver-guide, you head into Stirling and central Scotland, where both Outlander’s world and Scotland’s true history come vividly to life.
Doune Castle: Castle Leoch
Your first stop is Doune Castle, one of the most iconic Outlander filming sites.
On screen, it became Castle Leoch, the stronghold of Clan MacKenzie. As you wander through its great hall, kitchen, and battlements, your driver-guide will share stories of how the production brought 18th-century life back to these medieval walls.
It’s easy to picture Claire’s first encounters here with Colum, Dougal, and the clan who would shape her destiny. Doune also has a history beyond Outlander, having served as a royal retreat for Scotland’s Stewart monarchs and appearing in Monty Python and Game of Thrones.
Stirling Castle: A Royal Stronghold
Nearby, you’ll explore Stirling Castle, one of Scotland’s most important historic fortresses.
Its Renaissance architecture, grand royal halls, and commanding hilltop position made it a favorite residence of James IV and James V, and the childhood home of Mary, Queen of Scots.
Touring the castle with your guide reveals both the opulence of the royal court and the strategic importance of Stirling as the “gateway to the Highlands.”
The Wallace Monument: Scotland’s Freedom Fighter
Your final stop today is the Wallace Monument, a dramatic tower overlooking the River Forth, built in the 19th century to honor William Wallace.
Climb to its crown for sweeping views over the valley and the battlefield of Stirling Bridge, where Wallace led his famous victory against the English. Inside, exhibitions recount his life and the legacy of Scotland’s long struggle for independence.
Overnight: Stirling area – country manor or traditional inn.
Day 4: Culloden and the Stones of Time
This morning, you journey north into the Highlands with your driver-guide, following the trail of the Jacobites and some of Outlander’s most moving locations.
Culloden Battlefield: The Last Stand
At Culloden Battlefield, step onto the windswept moor where the Jacobite cause met its tragic end in 1746. This is where Jamie and Claire’s world collided with history in the series, and where real Highlanders fought bravely in their final stand.
Walking among the memorial cairns and clan markers, your guide will share the story of that fateful morning, bringing into focus both the drama of Outlander and the harsh reality of Scotland’s past.
Clava Cairns: The Stones of Craigh na Dun
A short drive away lies the mystical Clava Cairns, a Bronze Age site of standing stones and chambered cairns.
With its eerie stillness and timeless presence, it is easy to imagine this as the inspiration for Craigh na Dun, the circle that swept Claire through time. Standing here, surrounded by ancient stones, you’ll feel the blend of myth, mystery, and history that makes Outlander so compelling.
Extra Attractions: Cawdor Castle – Macbeth’s Legacy
End the day with a visit to Cawdor Castle, a romantic Highland estate still lived in by the Cawdor family.
Linked to Shakespeare’s Macbeth and surrounded by beautiful gardens, it offers a gentler counterpoint to the day’s tragic history.
Overnight: Inverness.
Day 5: Return to Edinburgh via Outlander Country
Your driver-guide takes you south from Inverness, retracing the Jacobite trail while adding a final set of Outlander experiences before your return to Edinburgh.
The route weaves through the Highlands into Perthshire and Stirlingshire, where several more filming sites await.
Highland Folk Museum: 18th-Century Village
In Newtonmore, stop at the Highland Folk Museum, where the recreated 18th-century township served as a filming location for Season 1.
This is where Claire watched the Highlanders collect rent, and the authentic thatched cottages perfectly recreated daily life at the time.
Culross: Cranesmuir Village
Further south, pause in the beautifully preserved town of Culross, used extensively as Cranesmuir in the series.
Wander the cobbled streets, visit the ochre-painted Culross Palace, and see where Geillis Duncan’s house stood.
Return to Edinburgh
By evening, return to Edinburgh. Your driver-guide can either return you to your hotel for an additional night in the city or drop you directly at Edinburgh Airport for your onward journey.
