Lake District, Edinburgh & Outlander Trail from Manchester | Rail & Trail Journey

You collect your train ticket at the station and head north from Manchester to the historic Cumbrian market town of Penrith. The town’s uniquely coloured castle played a key role in defending the border from its invading Scottish neighbours.

After arriving in Penrith and meeting your Rabbie’s Guide, you enter the Lake District National Park and travel along the northern shores of Ullswater. This lake is often described as England’s most beautiful lake, and it’s here we give you the chance to take a forest walk and see the mighty Aira Force waterfall.

You then travel towards Keswick, stopping outside the town to visit the mysterious Castlerigg standing stones, thought to have been built over 5,000 years ago and a hub of ancient pagan rituals.

You have a short journey into the lively market town of Keswick where you’re dropped off at your accommodation and free to explore the charming town.

OVERNIGHT - Keswick*
*Please note all tours that depart on the 13th, 20th and 27th July will stay in Bowness-on-Windermere instead of Keswick.

After breakfast, you take in views of Ullswater as we head along country roads to its southern shores.

You continue further south and travel over the narrow and winding Kirkstone Pass towards the wonderful Windermere. Here you have the option to take a leisurely cruise on the Lake or eat lunch while enjoying sublime views of the surrounding scenery.

After lunch you travel around the southern tip of Windermere and on towards Coniston Water.

Your next stop is the picturesque conservation village of Hawkshead, where the poet William Wordsworth attended Grammar School.

After exploring the cosy village, you take the narrow country lanes north towards Grasmere, which Wordsworth described as “the loveliest spot that man hath found”. There’s free time to enjoy the peace and tranquillity of the Wordsworth Daffodil Garden by the River Rothy. In the late afternoon, you return to Keswick.

OVERNIGHT - Keswick*
*Please note all tours that depart on the 13th, 20th and 27th July will stay in Bowness-on-Windermere instead of Keswick.

We pick you up from your accommodation and head for the Whinlatter Forest Park and over the Whinlatter Pass into the most dramatic landscapes the Lake District has to offer.

You journey along winding lanes, past the shores of Crummock Water and Buttermere, and towards the Honister Mountain Pass. Stopping amongst the mountains you have the opportunity to enjoy the views of the old slate workings, where a small number of Cumbrians continue to make their living.

After refreshments, you continue through the forests of Borrowdale, passing Derwent Water, where there’s free time for lunch and shopping.

Once you’ve eaten lunch, you begin your return journey, heading towards Penrith and north towards the border. After crossing into Scotland, you take a stop in the town of Biggar, a royal burgh since 1415. From here, it’s a leisurely drive through the rolling border hills to Edinburgh.

OVERNIGHT - Edinburgh
 

Today is a free day to explore Edinburgh. We think you should start with our included Edinburgh City Tour to familiarize yourself with the history, geography, and laugh-out-loud tales of the city. And after that, what you do is up to you; You can venture deep under the city on ghost tours, hike to the lofty heights of Arthur’s Seat, or even just relax in the many beautiful gardens. Just ensure you relax and prepare for your next part of your adventure.

OVERNIGHT - Edinburgh

Today you join a new bus for the continuation of your tour to the Highlands. With your new companions you leave Edinburgh and begin following the trail of the best-known film locations featured in the Outlander TV series.

Heading north, your first stop is the charming village of Culross. In Outlander, Culross posed as the fictional village of Cranesmuir and the home of Geillis Duncan and her husband, Arthur. Exploring the town’s cobbled streets is like taking a step back in time. Look carefully and you may even find Claire’s herb garden behind the impressive Culross Palace.

We continue to the small town of Falkland to relive the first scenes of the show, where Falkland substitutes for 1940’s Inverness. See if you can recognize the familiar sights such as Mrs. Baird’s Guesthouses (The Covenanter Hotel) and the Bruce Fountain, where Claire’s husband Frank sees the ghost of Jamie.

In the early afternoon we stop at the Newtonmore Highland Folk Museum, which houses replicas of 18th-century turf-roofed Highland crofts. These were used as a setting in the first season of the show.

Venturing further north we pass Aviemore, where you may recognise the stunning hilly and wooded area of Tulloch Ghru. This appeared during the journey Claire takes with Jamie and the Highlanders from Craigh na Dun to Castle Leoch. 

OVERNIGHT - Inverness

Your day starts by visiting the majestic Glen Affric. Lochs, mountains and pine forests: this is one of Scotland’s most glorious glens. It’s also an ideal spot for our Jamie to hide!

In the afternoon we visit Culloden, which plays an important role in Scottish history and the Outlander books. It’s not far from the Culloden Battlefield where Claire and Jamie said their tearful goodbyes, before Jamie joined the Jacobite army to fight for the Stuarts. You have the opportunity to explore the visitor centre and site and pay tribute to those who lost their lives at the last battle fought on British soil.

You then take a short drive to the ancient standing stones at Clava Cairns, which could have given the inspiration for Craigh na Dun. We return to Inverness with time to explore the town and enjoy the city for another evening.

OVERNIGHT - Inverness

A short drive this morning takes you to Beauly, the site of Beauly Priory and the tomb of Lord Lovat in the heart of Clan Fraser lands. Beauly priory is a beautiful 13th-century ruin and, according to Diana Gabaldon’s book, is where the Lovat Frasers are buried.

From here, we continue to Castle Leod, ‘home of the Clan MacKenzie’, where you can enjoy a relaxing walk while your guide tells you some of the history of the clan and castle. The Castle has a striking resemblance to how Diana Gabaldon described Castle Leoch, however she had never heard of the castle prior to writing Outlander.

In the afternoon, you have the opportunity to sample ‘The Water of Life’ with a whisky distillery tour and tasting. There might even be time to look out for the Waterhorse at Loch Garve!

You then continue along the entire length of Loch Ness before arriving in Fort William for our overnight stop.

OVERNIGHT - Fort William

You travel to Glenfinnan this morning and visit the monument which commemorates the beginning of the last Jacobite rising. It stands framed by typically spectacular Highland scenery at the head of Loch Shiel. We continue through magnificent Glencoe and cross the rugged Trossachs area and onto Doune Castle. The Castle is an extensive ruin that represents Castle Leoch in the TV programme, home to Colum MacKenzie and his clan in the 18th-century episodes. We return to Edinburgh later that afternoon with a photo stop at Blackness Castle on the banks of the Firth of Forth.