4-Day Outlander Trail From Edinburgh
Day 1 Leaving Edinburgh, we embark on a journey tracing the famous locations from the Outlander TV Series. Our first stop is the iconic Midhope Castle*, known as Jamie’s home, Lallybroch. While visitors can't explore the castle ruins, you can sit on the steps and imagine Jamie or Claire walking through the courtyard archway. Next, we head north to the charming village of Culross, which doubles as Cranesmuir in Outlander. Wander its cobbled streets and discover Claire’s herb garden behind Culross Palace. In Falkland, relive the show's opening scenes depicting 1940s Inverness. Recognize landmarks like Mrs Baird’s Guesthouses and the Bruce Fountain, where Frank encounters Jamie's ghost. Leaving behind the castles and villages, we delve into the Highlands. Passing through lush Perthshire, we stop at the Newtonmore Highland Folk Museum, reminiscent of MacKenzie clan villages in the series. Continuing north, we reach Inverness by early evening, after passing Aviemore. Day 2 Begin your day at Clava Cairns near Inverness, a mystical site of ring cairns and standing stones believed to inspire Craigh na Dun in Outlander. Though time travel isn't promised, exploring this 4,000-year-old site feels like stepping into history. The next stop evokes a lot of emotions; it’s the forbidding Culloden Battlefield. This site plays a crucial role in Scottish history and the Outlander books. You can explore the visitor centre and the site and pay tribute to those who lost their lives at the last battle fought on British soil. Continue to Clan Fraser lands, where you can pay respects at the tomb of Lord Lovat, Jamie's grandfather in the saga. After visiting key Outlander sites, return to Inverness for another evening to explore the city. Day 3 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. You then continue along the entire length of Loch Ness and through the Great Glen before heading to Glenfinnan. It stands framed by typically spectacular Highland scenery and bedside a section of the Jacobite Steam Train railway line famously used as the Hogwarts Express in Harry Potter. Your overnight stop is in Fort William underneath the shadow of Britain’s tallest mountain, Ben Nevis. Day 4 You start the day with a magnificent drive through Glencoe, across the rugged Trossachs area onto Doune Castle. The castle is an extensive ruin that represents Castle Leoch in the TV program. Later, you have a photo stop at Linlithgow Palace. It's a favourite of ours because of its connections to Mary, Queen of Scots.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.After having been immersed in the history and landscapes that inspired Outlander, we return to Edinburgh in the early evening.