Outlander Trail

Leaving Edinburgh you follow the trail of some of the film best known locations featured in the Outlander TV Series. Heading north to Inverness our first visit will be the charming village of Culross, the fictional village of Cranesmuir and the home of Geillis Duncan and her ill-fated husband Arthur. Exploring the towns cobbled streets is like taking a step back in time. Look carefully and you may even find Claire’s herb garden behind the impressive, historic Culross Palace.

We continue to the small town of Falkland to revisit one of the first scenes of the show where Falkland substitutes for 1940s Inverness. See if you can recognize the familiar sights such as Mrs. Baird’s Guesthouses (The Covenanter Hotel) and the Bruce Fountain where Claire sees the ghost of Jamie. In the early afternoon we stop at the Newtonmore Highland Folk Museum, which houses replicas of 18th century turfroofed Highland crofts, making it a perfect choice for the period scenes. Heading North again we pass Aviemore where you may recognise the stunning hilly and wooded area of Tulloch Ghru which appears during the journey Claire takes with Jamie and the Highlanders from Craigh na Dun to Castle Leoch? Arriving in Inverness later that afternoon.

Overnight - Inverness

You start your day by visiting the mysterious site of Clava Cairns near Inverness. This well-preserved complex of ring cairns and standing stones is as ancient as it is beautiful. And it’s also said to be the inspiration for the standing stones of Craigh na Dun.
Your driver-guide can’t promise any time travel here but exploring this 4,000-year-old site feels like stepping back in time.

In the afternoon we visit Culloden which plays such an important role in Scottish history and the Outlander books. It’s at 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. 

We continue our journey to the heart of Clan Fraser lands. Here you can pay your respects at the tomb of Lord Lovat, the ‘Old Fox’ of the Jacobite Rebellion, who’s Jamie’s manipulative grandfather in the saga. After seeing some of the most important sites from the Outlander universe, we return to Inverness with time to explore the city for another evening.

Overnight - Inverness

Your day starts with a visit to 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 Jamie to hide.

Next, we leave the ancient forests behind and continue along Loch Ness to stop at Urquhart Castle. Standing on the banks of Loch Ness for 1,000 turbulent years, this castle offers a taste of the Highlands at their most dramatic. You can choose to explore this majestic ruin and discover its secrets. And while you’re there, be on the lookout for Nessie.

The journey takes you through the Great Glen before heading to Glenfinnan. The monument here commemorates the meeting of Bonnie Prince Charlie with his loyal supporters and marks the beginning of the doomed Jacobite Rising. The column stands framed by Loch Shiel and a well-known section of the Jacobite Steam Train railway line, famously used as the Hogwarts Express in Harry Potter.

Moved by the history and beauty of this site, you travel to your overnight stop in Fort William, underneath the shadow of Britain’s tallest mountain, Ben Nevis.

Overnight - Fort William

You start the day with a magnificent drive through Glencoe and cross the rugged Trossachs area 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.

Later, we stop for a photo at Linlithgow Palace. This pretty palace is a favourite of ours because of its connections to Mary, Queen of Scots. It also starred as Wentworth Prison and is known for one of the most intense scenes in the Outlander series.

The last highlight of the day is Blackness Castle. This tough-looking fortress looks like it could fend off an entire empire. And in Outlander, it represents Fort William. You can choose to walk along the ramparts and explore the fictional headquarters of Jack Randall.
After having been immersed in the history and landscapes that inspired Outlander, we return to Edinburgh in the early evening.