Follow the Footsteps of Outlander's Jamie & Claire
The TV show Outlander set pulses racing whilst capturing the hearts and imagination of a global audience, but did you know you can visit most of the locations where filming took place?
Why not walk in the footsteps of Jamie and Claire Fraser and visit some of the fantastic places where many of your favourite scenes occurred?! We have selected 5 awesome locations for you to discover and start your "Outlandish" journey in Scotland
1. Culross
The Royal Burgh of Culross in Fife is a village which will make you feel like you have literally stepped back in time.
The main feature is the oddly yet beautiful yellow Culross Palace & Gardens. A wonderful attraction ran by the National Trust for Scotland which features 17th and 18th-century interiors and a stunningly colourful garden in which was Claire’s herb garden in the first season,
Another recognisable scene in the Royal Burgh is the Mercat Cross which is in the fictional Cranesmuir where Jamie & Claire rescued a young boy who had earlier theived, who had his ear pinned to a post. Culross ges on to feature in seasons 2 & 4 also.
Check out our accommodation listings nearby in Fife and in the Central & Stirling area.
2. Preston Mill
In the village of East Linton in East Lothian is the excellent attracion that is Preston Mill and Phantassie Doocot. This is one of the oldest working, water-driven meal mills in Scotland and has provided the backdrop for a number of scenes during the Jacobite Uprisings in season 1.
Like Culross Palace & Gardens, the mill is run by the National Trust for Scotland so you can of course visit to see and hear the mill mechanisms in action and learn about the millers who worked here. The tour guides will reveal the exhausting nature of the miller’s work, from heavy lifting to dealing with floods, mice and dust.
Architecturally, this building doesn't look like any other in Scotland so it has proved quite popular with photographers also. Just across the River Tyne lies another beautful structure which is Phantassie Doocot, built in the 16th century to house 500 pigeons!
Our accommodation listings for Edinburgh & the Lothians can be found here.
3. Drumlanrig Castle
In season 2, you will see the beautiful Drumlanrig Castle which is a 17th century castle near Thornhill in Dumfries & Galloway. The Castle was used in Outlander, as the Duke of Sandringham’s estate. Whilst Claire, Jamie and Murtagh confront the Duke in the kitchen, the British Army set up camp in the grounds of the estate just outside the castle.
Drumlanrig is home to over 40 acres of stunning gardens for you to wander round. The exterior, living rooms and bedrooms became Bellhurst Manor in the series, including a bedroom once slept in by the real Bonnie Prince Charlie on his way north to Culloden. The pink coloured stonework of the building gave it it's nickname, the Pink Palace.
This would have been a special location for lead star Sam Heughan who hails from Dumfries and Galloway himself!
Check out these fabulous places to stay in the South of Scotland.
4. Drummond Castle Gardens
These incredible gardens of Drummond Castle are used in season 2 as the elaborate park and orchard of the Palace of Versailles in France. It is here that Claire and Jamie encounter “Black Jack” Randall unexpectedly but also, it is where Claire wears that showstopping red dress that became one of the shows most talked about fashion designs.
Drummond Castle Gardens is situated near Crieff in Perthshire, and the locations is said to be one of Europe’s finest and important formal gardens. The garded has been designed in the Italian parterre style and they are approached by a mile-long driveway of beech trees. There are also peacocks to look out for and these lend an aristocratic feel to the garden.
Although the castle itself it not open to the public, the gardens are from May to September.
Find your perfect accommodation in Perthshire.
5. The University Of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow was used in Season 3 & 4 of Outlander and it doubles for Harvard University where Frank teaches as a professor and where Brianna visits him in his office. Filming took place here in the summer and winter of 2016. The cloisters of the main campus are instantly recognisable and also give off a Hogwarts/Harry Potter vibe.
The public are permitted to visit the campus grounds and there are guided and self guided tours on offer. The University of Glasgow is actually the fourth oldest in the English-speaking world and was founded in 1451. It is also the second oldest in Scotland, and has more listed buildings than any other university in the UK! Today there are approximately 28,000 students. The Hunterian Museum can also be found within the university’s historic campus. It is the oldest public museum in Scotland and also hosts one of the country's largest collections.
Stay tuned to our Glasgow and Around section for accommodation listings in the near future.