The Ultimate Outlander Private Tour

Our 3 day Outlander & The Highlands Tour is the perfect experience for Outlander fans who want to see some of the magnificent scenery around Scotland alongside visiting some of the iconic locations from Outlander (with a little Harry Potter, Monty Python and James Bond, but we'll come to that!)

Like all of our tours, we offer private bookings for 1-7 passengers, as well as completely flexible itineraries, door to door transport each day to and from your accommodation and nationwide transfers.  The only limit is your imagination.  So read on to discover what we will see on the ultimate Outlander experience.

Let's start with day 1.  The day begins with a pick up direct from the door of your accommodation in Edinburgh.

Our first stop is an essential location for any Outlander fan, Midhope Castle - also known as Lallybroch, the beloved home of Jamie Fraser.  Weathered and atmospheric, Midhope is a 16th century tower house.  Its stone walls and arched entryway perfectly capture the sense of history described in Diana Gabaldon's novels.  We can wander the grounds and see the iconic courtyard and doorway where Claire and Jamie's story unfolded.

From there, it's a short journey to Hopetoun House which played various roles in the series.  Hopetoun is one of Scotland's grandest stately homes, built in the 17th century and expanded by famed architect William Adam.  It's a striking contrast to the rugged charm of Lallybroch with its sweeping staircases, ornate rooms and extensive grounds.

The red drawing room stood in as parts of the Duke of Sandringham's home in season 1, where Jamie and Claire both encountered intrigue and danger.  We can also explore the courtyard which was used as the Parisian streets from season 2.  In the grounds you will find several scenes from the Helwater and Elsmere estates as well as the scene of the Duke of. Sandringham's duel.

Next, it's on to one of Scotland's most atmospheric ruins, Linlithgow Palace.  In Outlander, it became the foreboding Wentworth Prison.  Within its stark stone walls and shadowy passageways, Jamie's brutal imprisonment and harrowing scenes with Black Jack Randall were brought to life in season 1.  Visitors can walk the same echoing halls and climb the worn spiral staircases tracing the steps of history and drama alike.

Aside from Outlander, the palace was one of Scotland's great royal residences, standing on the shores of Linlithgow Loch.  It was first fortified in the 12th century under David I, but the palace as we know it began under King James I in the early 15th century.  Successive Stewart monarchs expanded it, turning it into a lavish residence admired across Europe.  It became a favoured stop for royals travelling between Edinburgh and Stirling and is most famous as the birthplace of Mary, Queen of Scots in 1542, as well as her father James V in 1512.

​After James VI left Scotland for London the palace gradually declined in importance.  It was badly damaged by fire in 1746 after being occupied by government troops during the Jacobite rising and it was never repaired.

After this it's time to cross the bridge and head North.  The next stop is the village of Falkland in Fife.  Acharming conservation village, its cobbled streets and historic buildings provided the perfect backdrop for the very first episodes, when Claire and Frank honeymoon after World War II.  We can see the Covenanter Hotel which doubled as Mrs Baird's guesthouse, where Claire and Frank stayed, as well the Bruce Fountain where Claire first glimpses the mysterious Highlander watching her from the street.

From here, we're off to Versailles.  Well, Drummond Castle Gardens to be precise!  We're continuing North into Perthshire where the formal castle gardens were used to represent the gardens of the Palace of Versailles.  Imagine Claire and Jamie strolling through exquisitely laid out parterres, meeting aristocrats and navigating the dangerous politics of the French court.  With their intricate patterns, statues, sweeping terraces (and robot lawnmowers) the gardens perfectly captured the elegance and grandeur of 18th century France.  You might even find a copper beech tree that was planted by Queen Victoria during a visit in 1842, which still grows today.

Then we head to the charming town of Pitlochry, the ideal place to enjoy an evening stay at the end of day 1.

Day 2 starts with a pick up from the door of your accommodation in Pitlochry.  We start with a short drive to the. Cairngorms national park to visit the Highland Fold museum in Newtonmore.  This is one of the most authentic Outlander filming locations and the very first place outside of Inverness where Claire truly steps into the 18th century Highland life.

In season 1, when Claire travels with Dougal, Rupert,  Angus and the other Mackenzie men, the township provided the perfect setting where Claire helps to shear sheep, watches rent being collected, and begins to understand the daily struggles and strong sense of community in Highland life.

Visitors can explore the Baile Gean Township, an authentic reconstruction of an early 1700s Highland village complete with thatched cottages, barns and turf-roofed houses.

Then it's off to one of the most important, poignant and historically powerful places in both Outlander and Scotland's real history.  Culloden battlefield.

In Outlander, Culloden is central to the story's arc.   Jamie and Claire's mission in season 2 is to prevent the doomed battle, knowing it would devastate the Highland clans and change Scotland forever.    Claire visits the battlefield in Season 3 to visit the graves of the fallen and Jamie's memorial stone, although the scenes were filmed elsewhere out. of respect for the battlefield.

The Battle of Culloden was fought on 16th April 1746.  It was the final confrontation of the Jacobite Rising.  Charles Edward Stuart, Bonnie Prince Charlie, led the Jacobite army in a desperate attempt to restore the Stuart monarchy, but they were decisively defeated by the  government forces under the Duke of Cumberland.  The battle lasted less than an hour but had disastrous consequences.  Thousands of Highlanders were killed or wounded and the battle effectively ended the clan system.  In the aftermath, Highland culture was systematically suppressed - tartan was banned, Gaelic discouraged and many families were displaced.

There is an excellent visitor centre at there battlefield site, which tells the story from the points of view of both sides.  Walking on the windswept moors where the clan memorials and mass graves remain is especially moving and well presented, with flags marking the relative front lines of the battle.

When we last visited, there was a Highland cow sleeping on the Jacobite front line, which was very poignant.

It's a short hop to one of the most iconic stops on any Outlander tour, Clava Cairns - the inspiration for Craigh na Dun.

In the show, Claire touches one of the stones and is transported back to 1743.  In reality, it's the ancient cairns and standing stones at Clava that give the same haunting sense of mystery,  Outlander fans often visit here to imagine the moment Claire's life changed forever.

Clava Cairns is a Bronze Age burial site, dating back over 4,000 years.  The site consists of passage graves, ring cairns and standing stones, all aligned with the setting sun during the winter solstice.  Archaeologists believe they were used for both burials and ceremonies and their astronomical alignment suggests deep spiritual significance.  It remains one of Scotland's most evocative prehistoric sites.  The stillness of the circles, the moss covered stones, the ancient alignment with the sun make it a place that feels timeless.

Providing you haven't accidentally travelled back to the 18th century, it's time to head west now.  We'll follow the shores of Loch Ness, with as many stops to try and spot Nessie as you like.  It's a stunning drive that takes us the length of the loch and then continues all the way across the Great Glen to Fort William, our stop at the end of day 2.

Day 3 will take us through some of the most wondrous scenery.  We leave Fort William and take a scenic drive to Glenfinnan.  One of Scotland's most iconic historic sites.  While it isn't a major Outlander filming location, it's deeply tied to the real Jacobite story that shapes the series.

On 19th August 1745, Bonnie Prince Charlie raised his standard at Glenfinnan, marking the beginning of the Jacobite rising.  Clans gathered to support his claim to the throne, swelling the Jacobite army that marched through Scotland and into England, before ending in tragedy at Culloden the following year.  The Gelnfinnan monument stands tall at the head of Loch Shiel, commemorating the clansmen who gave their lives for the Jacobite cause.

From a filming point of view, Glenfinnan is most famous for the Harry Potter films, where the Hogwarts Express crosses the Glenfinnan Viaduct.  We can take an easy walk to a great viewpoint jut in time to watch the Jacobite steam train cross the viaduct on its way to Mallaig.

Then we're off on the most scenic part of the whole tour, as we head down to Glencoe.  We'll stop at a number of scenic viewpoints along the way, including The Three Sisters, The Meeting of the Waters and Rannoch Moor.

Glencoe appears right at the beginning of the series, in the opening credits, with sweeping shots of the dramatic mountains and valleys.  Its imagery sets the tone for the epic love, danger and history that unfolds.

Its real history is dramatic and tragic,  Glencoe is infamous for the massacre of 1692.  In the wake of the Jacobite uprisings, government troops who had been given hospitality by the MacDonalds of Glencoe turned on their hosts at dawn, killing dozens and forcing others to flee into the snowy mountains, where many perished.  The massacre became a symbol of  betrayal and suffering in Scottish memory.  Today, it's one of the most dramatic landscapes in the Highlands with towering mountains, sweeping glens and cascading waterfalls.

We can then take diversion into Glen Etive, a stunning drive which take us along a magnificent valley, where we can find an iconic view from Skyfall.

We're heading South now, but we have the opportunity to stop and meet three very friendly highland cows.  Or "hairy coos".

Then we continue to one of the most recognisable Outlander locations.  Dounce Castle stands in for Castle Leach, the seat of Clan Mackenzie.  The castle's great hall, courtyard and surrounding grounds were all used for filming.  Done has also ben used in. Game of Thrones and most famously in Monty Python and the Holy Grail.  There is a great audio guide with which you're led around the castle by Jamie from Outlander and Terry Jones from Monty Python.  Can you smell elderberries?!

Done was built in the 14th century by Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany (a powerful uncle to King James I of Scotland).  It has served both as a fortress and a residence.  It has seen royal visitors, Jacobite trips and even served as a garrison during the risings.  It's one of the most impressive medieval castles.

After we leave Doune, we had back to Edinburgh, enjoying spectacular views of the Wallace Monument and Stirling Castle along the way, not to mention the amazing Kelpies.

And then it's back to Edinburgh.  The perfect destination at the end of our Highland adventure.  To dream of castles, mountains, lochs, mysterious stone circles and, of course, hairy coos!