The story of "Outlander"
The strong and independent nurse Claire worked in the combat zone during the Second World War and is also very knowledgeable in naturopathy and history. After the end of the war, she is pulled through an old stone circle in the Scottish Highlands on her second honeymoon with her husband Frank to the year 1743 - and thus into a dangerous and adventurous new life. Her knowledge helps her, but it soon brings her into disrepute as a witch. When she is forced to marry the Scottish freedom fighter Jamie, a passionate romance begins.
The filming locations in Scotland
Outlander in Kinloch Rannoch
Kinloch Rannoch is a small village about 40 km from Pitlochry. In the immediate vicinity of the village, the scenes were filmed in which the main actress Claire disappears into the stone circle of the present and travels into the past. The stone circle from the series does not exist there in reality, but the landscape is beautiful and therefore still worth a visit.
Tulloch Ghru
The landscape in this area near Aviemore in the foothills of the Cairngorms National Park was used several times in the series. She can be seen, for example, in the opening credits of the series. In the pilot episode, Claire travels with the Highlanders of Craigh na Dun (where the stone circle is) through this landscape to Leoch Castle.
Outlander and Doune Castle
Doune Castle is a late medieval castle located 13 km from Stirling. In Outlander, it's Leoch Castle – home to Chief Colum MacKenzie and his clan. He is Jamie's uncle. Doune Castle has also been the filming location for Game of Thrones (Winterfell Castle) and Monty Python's Knight of the Coconut. 5 minutes drive from Doune Castle is the Deanston Distillery. A stopover here is recommended not only because of the excellent, honey-fresh whisky, but also because the distillery served as a film set in the first and second seasons – namely as a warehouse in the French port of Le Havre, where Count St. Germain stores his wine. On guided tours of the distillery, you will also learn more about the exciting whisky production.
Highland Folk Museum
The museum is located in Newtonmore in the Cairngorms National Park. In this open-air museum, many of the film scenes in and around the village of the MacKenzies were filmed. For example, here in the 5th episode, Dougal MacKenzie collects rent and taxes.
Outlander Scenes in Falkland Islands
The city is located about 60 km north of Edinburgh. In the series, Falkland represents Inverness in the 1940s and appears several times in the first episodes of the series.
Glencorse Old Kirk
Glencorse Old Kirk is a 17th century church. It is located at the foot of the Pentland Hills south of Edinburgh. In this church, the two main actors Claire and Jamie get married.
Blackness Castle
This 15th-century castle is located near Edinburgh on the Firth of Forth. In Outlander, the castle is the headquarters of Black Jack Randall. Randall is an officer in the English army occupying the English Highlands and one of the villains of the series.
Hopetoun House
Hopetoun House is located in South Queensferry in the immediate vicinity of Edinburgh. In the series, it depicts the mansion of the Duke of Sandringham. The English Duke is a scheming nobleman who is well acquainted with Colum MacKenzie. An interesting side note for you: In reality, the Hopetoun House is much larger than it appears on the screen. Some parts of the building were digitally erased in the series.
Aberdour Castle
The castle is located in the historic village of Easter Aberdou, about 10 km from North Queensferry. In the last episode of the first Outlander season, she portrays the French abbey of Saint Anne de Beaupré, to which Claire and Jamie set off aboard an old ship.
Culloden Battlefield
Here, in this mystical place, the Frasers and the MacKenzies fought together with other clans in the final uprising of the Jacobites in 1745 at the side of Bonnie Prince Charlie (Charles Edward Stuart). The historic battlefield is located near Inverness. In this place, Claire and Jamie had to say goodbye to each other in tears. The Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre presents an immersive, interactive exhibit that explores the events before and after the Battle of Culloden.
To explore these beautiful filming locations, it's best to pack your camera in the car and travel Scotland on four wheels. Our direct ferry from Amsterdam (IJmuiden) to Newcastle, which is only 80 kilometres from the Scottish border, is practical. Safe travels!
