Helloooooo Outlander fans, welcome! I am your people, lets have some fun. This is an outlander kinda-crazy-lady safe space, so don’t worry, no judgement here if you want to fly to Scotland to see all the Outlander things. It’s kind of what I did 🤷🏻♀️
Last summer my family and I took a trip to Europe from New Zealand, and the last 10 days was to be spent in Scotland. What a dream! I was so excited to get there, for many reasons, but one of the biggest being my love for Outlander. Now I know there are many reasons people want to visit Scotland, it’s an incredibly beautiful place of course, and many of us have ancestral connections there (including my husband and I) and I would highly recommend anyone visit. It IS super beautiful, the people are lovely, it’s down to earth and just sticks with you. I have a blog specifically for our 10 Day Trip to Scotland if you need some itinerary help (including the Outlander locations) but this blog is just for all us fans who want the DL on the filming locations.
This was a family vacation, so we didn’t go overboard on the film locations - but it was just enough to wet my appetite and satisfy the Outlander itch, so if you’re headed there soon, here are the locations I highly recommend you visit.
Bakehouse Close / Jamie’s Print Shop
While in Edinburgh we took the opportunity to visit Bakehouse Close, the location of Jamie’s print shop in Edinburgh. If you’re already planning on taking a walk along the Royal Mile, then this won’t be far out of your way. As this was our first full day in Scotland, I was so excited to see a filming location. It was pretty cool and my first insight into the magic of TV and angles. You walk through a little tunnel to get there, and out the other side the steps of Jamie’s shop are unmissable. Oh to be where the cast and crew were, I loved it, location one done!
(more photos at the bottom of the page)
Midhope Castle / Lallybroch
The holy grail! If you’re wanting to visit Outlander locations, this is the cream of the crop. Lallybroch. We all want to walk up the path whispering ‘take me home to Lallybroch’ (yes, I did this) and trust me, it will send shivers down your spine. I LOVED it here. From the warm welcome from James at the gate to walking up ‘that’ road to the castle, it was just really special. The castle is in beautiful condition and looked as pretty as a picture. We were VERY lucky to be the only ones there for the first 15-20 mins, and then joined by only 2 other people. I loved sitting on the front steps just as Claire did, and getting to wander around the property. I would recommend booking online prior to your arrival, it’s around 7pounds and you select a time slot when you book. Even though it was quiet when we visited, there are buses and tours that frequent, so better to be safe than sorry.
Midhope castle is 30 mins from Edinburgh, or 45 mins from Glasgow and is easier reached by car.
Doune Castle / Castle Leoch
I was really keen to visit Doune Castle, otherwise known as Castle Leoch, and as it was kind of on our way heading to the highlands we took a quick detour to visit. We were driving from Glasgow, and the castle is only around 40mins away and the drive is pretty. Funnily enough on the drive we passed Cumbernauld and Wardpark studios where Outlander is filmed and produced completely by accident. The castle is abandoned, but you can go in. When we visited there were people there selling tickets, but we opted for a quick walk around the gardens as we needed to head off. You could totally do both castles in a half day trip from either Glasgow or Edinburgh as they are not far apart.
Doune Castle is in the small town of Doune, around 40 mins from Glasgow or 1 hr from Edinburgh. Free to visit the exterior, a charge to go inside.
Wardpark Studios / Cumbernauld
Ok so if you’re a die hard fan, you might just want to see the studios where Sam, Catriona and the cast and crew frequent during filming. I mean, there’s not a lot to see, but I still enjoyed getting to see the Outlander and Blood of my Blood office signs and got a kick out of it. We found it purely by accident while driving by on the highway, but seeing as we were going by I shot off at the next exit to take a peak and get a little photo with the sign. hahah why not! Was crazy to see how huge it was too, what an operation.
If you put in 2 Wyndford Rd into your GPS, you should get to the main gate.
Kinloch Rannoch / Craigh na Dun
This location takes a little more commitment as it’s further out, around 2hrs from Edinburgh but if you have the time I recommend it. It’s really only accessible by car. The location for Craigh Na Dun doesn’t look exactly as it did in the show as of course the stones were replicas and built for filming, but everything else is the same - the hill with beautiful views out either side plus the unique trees. As soon as we pulled up, I knew where I was.
This location is on private property and a working farm. The farmer who owns the land (as far as my knowledge at time of writing) lets people on to the land to visit. Please be respectful and shut the gates etc.
Getting to Craigh na Dun is a bit of effort as it’s remote, but it’s a really beautiful day drive. It’s a part of Scotland that you likely wouldn’t otherwise see. It’s remote on farm roads, not really on the way to anywhere. I thought it was a magical place. Directions wise, thankfully there is a location already saved into google maps that you can use. Here is the LINK for you to use.
Have fun recreating some fun Outlander photos! Free to visit.
Culloden Moor
Ok, so I wouldn’t really deem this a filming location (although there are scenes set there), but a very significant place in Scotlands History. I had never heard of the Battle of Culloden before watching Outlander, but was very moved by the story and the history of what happened there. We decided to visit and thought it would be a good place for our son to see as well. Plus we wanted to visit the burial stones of our ancestors. Culloden is not far out of Inverness, with ample parking and an incredible visitors centre. We spent most of our time just walking the lines of the Scottish and the British armies and reading all of the plaques. It’s incredible that this place has been protected and is available to visit. I found it really eerie and sad, especially to see where members of my family stood and fell, but I am also so glad we went. If you are a fan of Outlander, I’m sure you will be looking for the Fraser stone, which as we visited was cordoned off due to too many people standing around it. I’m not sure if it is permanently like this, but please be careful when visiting. Free to visit the battlefield, a charge to see the additional displays in the visitors centre.
Clava Cairns (Standing Stones)
Technically not a filming location at all, but it has Outlander relevance if you’re into the whole standing stones/travel through time to find your highlander thing! Which, if you’re here reading this, I’m guessing you are. I recommend visiting here while you’re in the area visiting Culloden as it’s really not far, and it’s a really interesting place. It is also said to be the inspiration for Craigh Na Dunh and I’m pretty sure one of the main stones there is a body double for the one in the show. It’s a dead ringer! I did try, like I’m sure many thousands of others have, to pass through, but hubby grabbed me just in time ;)
Are you there Jamie?
So that’s it. I know there are many more spots and maybe one day I’ll get back there to see them, but this was certainly enough to satisfy my Outlander fantasies!
Have fun, Sassenach.
