Edinburgh Outlander Tours

If you're reading this article you probably had your hair standing on end and biting your nails in your armchair when Claire travelled through the stones, hated Laoghaire with all your heart and couldn't contain it, had a hard time when Jaime was held prisoner by Randall or cried, like everyone else, at Angus' death. Did you know that many of the locations for these famous scenes are in Scotland no less?

A tour of the Outlander locations is a must on your list of things to see and do in Edinburgh. You definitely need to see these seemingly surreal places, but they're just around the corner on your trip around the city. As well as being places of great beauty, I find it fun to visit and relive moments from this saga. And what better way to do it than with a guided tour?

If you're thinking of visiting the Outlander locations but don't have that much time to spend in Scotland, a day tour in Edinburgh is the best option.

Planning your own itinerary around the different locations can be a bit cumbersome, but a guided tour is the perfect way to get to know these wonderful places in a practical and comfortable way. All you have to do is enjoy yourself and take pictures.

In all cases, these tours include an expert guide who will tell you about the curiosities and history of each monument. The groups vary according to the company and you can choose between small groups of 10 people or groups of around 20 people. Please note that entrance fees to the attractions are not included in the price of the tour.

Don't worry about transport or connections, a van will pick you up from your accommodation and take you to all the places you want to see to relive these great scenes from Outlanders. The tour is a full day tour, starting early in the morning and returning to your accommodation in the evening.

Typical itinerary for this type of tour

The itinerary of this guided tour is designed to allow you to explore the most iconic and representative locations where Outlander was filmed in Scotland. You will be able to discover:

• Midhope Castle, from the Renaissance period and Lallybroch for the fans;
• Blackness Castle, a 15th century fortress and the structure that became Fort William in the saga;
• Linlithgow Palace is well known as the birthplace of Mary, Queen of Scots, and where Jamie is imprisoned at the end of the first season, Wentworth Prison;
• Doune Castle, where the friendship between Claire and Jamie is born;
• The small village of Culross, where you can visit Culross Palace, a fortress where different scenes from Outlanders were filmed, and you will probably remember it as Castle Leoch.

Details of interest

• Approximate price: from £60
• Duration: 10/12 hours.
• I recommend this option... if you want to get to know the main locations of the series and surprise yourself by visiting the most famous sites.

If you're an Outlander fan and want to make the most of your time in Scotland, you can take a multi-day tour of the Outlander locations and not miss a thing.

The tour lasts 7 days, during which comfortable transport will take you from place to place, specially designed to immerse you in the scenes that gripped you so much on screen.

What these tours usually include

In addition to the English-speaking guide who will accompany you throughout the tour, all transfers are included for the whole week, including airport pick-up in case you need it.

As for accommodation, you will be covered for 7 nights in a 3-star hotel for the duration of the tour.

Meals are not included in the price, so you can choose the dishes and restaurants you prefer in each city during this week. All breakfasts are included in the price of the tour.

This guided tour includes entrance tickets to all the attractions visited, so you just have to enjoy yourself and try to remember which scene each place corresponds to.

Typical itinerary for multi-day tours

The itinerary takes in the most iconic locations but also allows you to experience Edinburgh's surroundings in a more dynamic and fun way.

The Scottish Highlands has a lot to offer and what better way to visit than to be transported back to scenes from the famous Outlander series. You'll be able to enjoy:

• Craigmillar Castle, the third castle in the city of Edinburgh and Ardsmuir Prison in the series;
• Aberdour Castle, a 12th century fortress and the monastery where James is taken to heal his wounds after escaping from prison;
• The fishing port of Dysart, a famous spot on the Fife Coastal Path, which you will probably remember as the port of Le Havre;
• Falkland, the 1940s village of Inverness;
• Blackness Castle, Fort William's prison;
• Doune Castle, where Claire and Jamie's friendship is born;
• Midhope Castle, the famous Lallybroch in Outlander;
• The stately home of Hopetoun House, the residence of the Duke of Sandringham;
• Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway station, the place where Claire and Frank say goodbye during World War II in the series;
• Glasgow, a city in Scotland where a significant number of Outlander scenes were filmed;
• The battlefield of Culloden
• The real-life town of Inverness, among others.

Details of interest

• Approximate price: from €850
• Duration: 7 days.
• I recommend this option if... you're a fan of the series and want to relive many of the scenes you've enjoyed in front of the screen. Plus, you'll get to know Edinburgh's surroundings in depth.

If you are curious about the locations of Outlanders, but don't feel like leaving the city of Edinburgh, you can take a guided tour of the city and discover the different scenes that were filmed there.

Your English speaking guide will give you all the historical explanations related to the sites and remind you of each scene as you walk through the streets of the city. This is an excellent way to see the wonderful city of Edinburgh from a different perspective and feel like you are on a film set.

No transfers are needed as the locations are within the historic city centre and the whole tour is on foot. The tour lasts approximately 4 hours, so once the tour is over, you can continue the day with other activities during your time in Scotland.

Typical tour itinerary

The itinerary consists of visiting the different important points within Edinburgh related to the locations that have become iconic in the Outlander series. You will discover:

• Craigmillar Castle, the third castle in the city of Edinburgh and Ardsmuir Prison in the series;
• The Signet Library, the great mansion of the Governor of Jamaica and the cradle of great structural events for the plot of the Outlander story;
• The Bakehouse Close, a hidden alleyway at the end of the Royal Mile where Alexander Malcolm' s printing press is located in the series;
• The World 's End pub, site of Claire's first meeting with Mr Willoughby;
• Fisher's Close, where you can take in the atmosphere of the 15th century scenes.

Details of interest

• Approximate price: from £55
• Duration: 4 hours.
• I recommend this option if... you're a fan of the show but don't have the time to do a full day tour or if you don't feel like travelling outside Edinburgh.

If you're interested in learning all about every corner of Edinburgh, as well as the Outlander locations, there are plenty of activities that might interest you. Edinburgh is a city rich in history, but so is the surrounding area.

Therefore, a tour of the Highlands or Loch Ness is a great way to complete your Scottish itinerary.

Also, a tour of Scotland's finest castles, world famous for their preserved fortresses and dramatic locations amidst cliffs and rolling green hills, is a great idea.

If you are still planning your itinerary and need to know more, I recommend the posts about Edinburgh in 1 day, Edinburgh in 2 days or Edinburgh in 3 days with different options around the city, so you can make the most of your holiday.