Doune Castle from the air – Castle Leoch in Outlander

▌

Series · 2014–2026

Where wasOutlanderfilmed?

Nearly everything is within an hour of Edinburgh. Castle Leoch is Doune Castle, Cranesmuir is the village of Culross, and Lallybroch is a private tower house you can visit only on set days. Here is the full list, with opening details and the tours that cover the most in one day.

Play

12 locations1 countries21 tours

Tours from $74.79★ 4.6 · 2,339 reviews

Photo: Godot13, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

COLD OPEN

Outlander has been shot in Scotland since 2013 from studios at Cumbernauld, north-east of Glasgow, and almost every location is within an hour's drive of Edinburgh. Castle Leoch is Doune Castle, Cranesmuir is the village of Culross, Fort William is Blackness Castle, Lallybroch is Midhope Castle on the Hopetoun estate. Most are Historic Environment Scotland or National Trust for Scotland properties with normal opening hours; Midhope is the exception.

SC 00 · MAP OF THE FILMING LOCATIONS

Where Outlander was filmed: 12 locations you can visit

Scotland1Doune Castle 2Culross 3Blackness Castle 4Midhope Castle 5Falkland 6Linlithgow Palace 7Hopetoun House 8Aberdour Castle 9Glasgow Cathedral 10Glencoe 11Drummond Castle Gardens 12Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway

ACT IScotland12 locations

Godot13 · CC BY-SA 4.0

EXT. DOUNE CASTLE – DOUNE

Doune Castle

as Castle Leoch

The seat of the MacKenzies in seasons one and two: the courtyard, the great hall and the kitchens. The castle was also Winterfell in the Game of Thrones pilot and Castle Anthrax in Monty Python and the Holy Grail – the audio guide is narrated by Sam Heughan and Terry Jones.

VISITING

Historic Environment Scotland, admission charged, open daily year-round (shorter hours October to March), closed only around Christmas and New Year. 15 km from Stirling; bus from Stirling in about 25 minutes.

NOTEDoune is the one location on every tour. If you come on your own, go at opening – the coaches arrive from about half past ten.

13 tours · from $74.79 →

The ochre Culross Palace and the village street, Cranesmuir in Outlander

John Knight from Clackman… · CC BY 2.0

EXT. CULROSS – CULROSS

Culross

as Cranesmuir

The 17th-century royal burgh on the Forth is the village where Geillis Duncan lives; the Mercat Cross square is where the boy's ear is nailed to the pillory; Culross Palace's garden is Claire's herb garden at Castle Leoch.

VISITING

The village streets are free and always open; Culross Palace is National Trust for Scotland with open daily 1 April to 31 October, closed November to March.

NOTEThe ochre-coloured palace and the Study are the two buildings on screen; the rest is real houses with real residents – keep off the doorsteps.

13 tours · from $74.79 →

Blackness Castle on the Firth of Forth, Fort William in Outlander

VictorPaulK · CC BY-SA 4.0

EXT. BLACKNESS CASTLE – BLACKNESS

Blackness Castle

as Fort William

Black Jack Randall's headquarters: the courtyard where Jamie is flogged in season one and the scene of his rescue. The castle also appears in season three as a prison.

VISITING

Historic Environment Scotland, admission charged; on the Forth 25 km west of Edinburgh, no useful bus.

13 tours · from $74.79 →

Midhope Castle on the Hopetoun estate, Lallybroch in Outlander

Worldfootage · CC BY-SA 4.0

EXT. MIDHOPE CASTLE – ABERCORN

Midhope Castle

as Lallybroch

The 16th-century tower house on the Hopetoun estate is the exterior of Jamie's family home, Lallybroch, in every season. The interior is a set.

VISITING

Private, on a working estate. Exterior only – drive, archway, courtyard and steps – on a per-person ticket bought online or at the gate; open daily from late February, shorter hours in winter, closed at short notice for filming, farming or estate events. No interior; toilets in the farm courtyard, and the castle is a short walk from the ticket hut.

NOTEThe tour operators know the closure dates; on your own, check the Hopetoun estate's list of closure dates before you drive out, or you will find a locked gate.

13 tours · from $74.79 →

The Bruce Fountain and square in Falkland, Fife, 1940s Inverness in Outlander

Bill Kasman · CC BY-SA 2.0

EXT. FALKLAND – FALKLAND

Falkland

as 1940s Inverness

The village square with the Bruce Fountain is where Frank sees the ghost of Jamie looking up at Claire's window in the first episode; the Covenanter Hotel is Mrs Baird's guesthouse, Fayre Earth is the chemist.

VISITING

Free village; Falkland Palace next to it is National Trust for Scotland with admission, open daily March to October. An hour from Edinburgh by car through Fife.

13 tours · from $74.79 →

The gateway of Linlithgow Palace, Wentworth Prison in Outlander

Ammienoot · CC BY-SA 4.0

EXT. LINLITHGOW PALACE – LINLITHGOW

Linlithgow Palace

as Wentworth Prison

The entrance and corridors of the ruined royal palace are the prison where Jamie is held by Randall at the end of season one.

VISITING

Historic Environment Scotland; closed for masonry inspections in 2021 and reopened in stages from 2023; the north range, king's bedchamber and court kitchen are still closed for conservation work. Linlithgow is 20 minutes by train from Edinburgh.

13 tours · from $74.79 →

Hopetoun House at golden hour, the Duke of Sandringham's house in Outlander

George Gastin · CC0

EXT. HOPETOUN HOUSE – SOUTH QUEENSFERRY

Hopetoun House

as The Duke of Sandringham's house, Paris streets, Ellesmere

The grand 18th-century house does several jobs: Sandringham's residence in season one, the streets of Paris in season two (the stable courtyard), and Ellesmere in season three. Midhope is on the same estate.

VISITING

Open early April to late September, Thursday to Monday, admission charged; 20 km from Edinburgh.

13 tours · from $74.79 →

Aberdour Castle in Fife, the French abbey in Outlander

Andy Hawkins · CC BY-SA 2.0

EXT. ABERDOUR CASTLE – ABERDOUR

Aberdour Castle

as The monastery of Sainte Anne de Beaupré

Jamie recovers from Wentworth in the French abbey in the season one finale – filmed in the castle's vaulted rooms.

VISITING

Historic Environment Scotland, closed Thursday and Friday in winter; Aberdour is 35 minutes by train from Edinburgh across the Forth.

Glasgow Cathedral from the Necropolis, its lower church is the Paris hospital in Outlander

Yidan Xue · CC BY-SA 4.0

INT. GLASGOW CATHEDRAL – GLASGOW

Glasgow Cathedral

as L'Hôpital des Anges

The lower church of the medieval cathedral is the Paris hospital where Claire works with Mother Hildegarde in season two. The nearby George Square and Dowanhill are 1940s Inverness and Boston streets.

VISITING

Free, open daily outside services.

NOTEGlasgow also has Pollok Country Park (Castle Leoch grounds) and the University cloisters (Harvard) – a half-day on foot and by bus.

7 tours · from $108.08 →

The Three Sisters of Glen Coe, the landscape of Outlander's title sequence

Richard Haworth · CC BY-SA 2.0

EXT. GLENCOE – GLENCOE

Glencoe

as The title sequence and the Highlands

The opening credits and the establishing shots of the Highlands; Kinloch Rannoch, 60 km east, is the stone circle of Craigh na Dun – the stones were props, nothing stands there.

VISITING

Free, a public road through a glen; the National Trust for Scotland visitor centre charges for parking. Two and a half hours from Edinburgh.

The formal parterre of Drummond Castle Gardens, Versailles in Outlander

Tom Parnell · CC BY-SA 4.0

EXT. DRUMMOND CASTLE GARDENS – CRIEFF

Drummond Castle Gardens

as The gardens of Versailles

The formal parterre garden played Versailles in season two – the scene where Claire meets the king.

VISITING

Gardens only, open daily May to October, admission charged; the castle is private. 30 km north of Stirling.

A steam train at Bo'ness on the Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway, Outlander's 1940s station

Phil Richards from London, UK · CC BY-SA 2.0

EXT. BO'NESS AND KINNEIL RAILWAY – BO'NESS

Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway

as 1940s and 1960s railway scenes

Claire's arrival in Inverness by train and later station scenes were shot at the heritage railway's Bo'ness station.

VISITING

Trains run at weekends and on selected midweek days in season; entry to the railway museum is free.

SC 13 · BOOK THE SCENE

Outlander tours from Edinburgh and Glasgow, with ratings

The day tours cover Doune, Culross, Blackness and Midhope in about ten hours; check which castles include admission – Doune and Blackness charge separately unless the tour says otherwise. Midhope is on private land and is only open when the estate says so, so the tours that promise it come with a caveat.

Free cancellation on most toursReal review counts from the booking partnerSame price as booking direct

Outlander day tours from Edinburgh 13 tours compared →

Nine to ten hours by minibus: usually Doune, Culross, Blackness and Midhope in some order, sometimes Linlithgow or Falkland instead. Read the inclusions line – castle admissions are often extra, and Midhope depends on the estate's open days.

Most booked

From Edinburgh: The Outlander Experience Guided Tour

★ 4.6 · 2,339 reviews10 hoursvia GetYourGuide

from$74.79Check availability

Outlander Film Locations Day Trip from Edinburgh

★ 4.9 · 2,128 reviewsvia Viator

from$92.40Check availability

From Edinburgh: "Outlander" Filming Locations Explorer Tour

★ 4.7 · 1,580 reviews9 hoursvia GetYourGuide

from$89.40Check availability

Show all 13 offers

From Edinburgh: Outlander Adventure Day Tour with Entry

★ 4.8 · 1,480 reviews8 hoursvia GetYourGuide

from$121.42Check

Outlander Locations Tour Including Admissions from Edinburgh

★ 4.8 · 1,260 reviewsvia Viator

from$127.04Check

From Edinburgh: Outlander, Palaces, and Jacobites Day Trip

★ 4.7 · 1,119 reviews9 hoursvia GetYourGuide

from$82.73Check

Edinburgh: The Outlander, Palaces & Jacobites Tour

★ 4.8 · 523 reviewsvia Viator

from$84.25Check

From Edinburgh: Outlander Full-Day Tour in Spanish

★ 4.7 · 472 reviews9h 30mvia GetYourGuide

from$72.05Check

From Edinburgh: Outlander Experience 2-Day Tour

★ 4.8 · 178 reviews33 hoursvia GetYourGuide

from$306.89Check

Outlander Filming Locations Day Tour from Edinburgh

★ 4.8 · 58 reviewsvia Viator

from$92.40Check

From Edinburgh: 1-Day Outlander Experience with Attractions

★ 4.7 · 57 reviews9 hoursvia GetYourGuide

from$93.40Check

Edinburgh: Outlander and Castles Filming Locations Day Tour

★ 4.9 · 27 reviews7 hoursvia GetYourGuide

from$109.41Check

Edinburgh: Movie & TV Locations Tour - Avengers to Outlander

★ 5.0 · 1 reviews1h 30mvia GetYourGuide

from$20.42Check

Outlander tours from Glasgow 7 tours compared →

The same castles from the other side, plus the Glasgow city locations on foot.

Most booked

From Glasgow: Outlander Adventure Tour with Tickets

★ 4.8 · 524 reviews9 hoursvia GetYourGuide

from$108.08Check availability

Outlander Adventure Day Tour from Glasgow Including Admissions

★ 4.9 · 368 reviewsvia Viator

from$113.09Check availability

From Glasgow: Stirling Castle, Outlander and Loch Lomond

★ 4.9 · 205 reviewsvia Viator

from$68.49Check availability

Show all 7 offers

From Glasgow: Castles, Lochs & Outlander Day Tour

★ 4.6 · 118 reviews8h 30mvia GetYourGuide

from$58.84Check

From Glasgow: Stirling Castle, Outlander & Loch Lomond

★ 4.7 · 63 reviews8h 30mvia GetYourGuide

from$58.84Check

Glasgow City Centre Outlander Walking Tour

★ 5.0 · 7 reviewsvia Viator

from$6.79Check

Castles, Lochs and Outlander Day Tour From Glasgow

★ 5.0 · 6 reviewsvia Viator

from$68.49Check

Doune Castle tickets

Most booked

From Edinburgh: West Highland Doune Lochs and Castles 1 Day

★ 4.6 · 659 reviews10 hours

from$77.39Check availability

Booked through GetYourGuide, Viator or Tiqets (affiliate links, advertising). Most tours can be cancelled free of charge up to 24 hours ahead. Prices in US dollars as of 23 September 2026; the checkout shows your currency.

LOCATION MANAGER'S NOTES

Tips before you go

An Explorer Pass from Historic Environment Scotland covers Doune, Blackness, Linlithgow and Aberdour in summer (the winter pass excludes Doune) – it pays off on the second castle.
Midhope is the one that catches people out: check the Hopetoun estate's closure dates and buy the per-person ticket online before you go.
Doune, Culross and Blackness make a comfortable self-drive day from Edinburgh; add Falkland if you start early.
Craigh na Dun does not exist – the stones were fibreglass and the hill at Kinloch Rannoch is just a hill.
Filming continues: locations close at short notice when the crew is in. The operators' sites announce it; the tour companies reroute.
Glasgow's locations are urban and walkable; Edinburgh's are all outside the city.

CONTINUITY ERRORS

What the internet gets wrong

~~Lallybroch is open to the public~~Actually

Midhope is on a private estate and open for exterior viewing only, on a per-person ticket, and closed on listed dates for filming and estate work. Many blogs say 'just drive up'; the gate will be locked.

~~You can visit Craigh na Dun~~Actually

The standing stones were props. The site near Kinloch Rannoch is an unmarked hillside.

~~Castle Leoch is in the Highlands~~Actually

Doune Castle is 15 km from Stirling in the Central Belt, an hour from Edinburgh. Nothing central to the story was shot north of Perth except the landscape shots.

~~Fort William was filmed in Fort William~~Actually

The Fort William of the series is Blackness Castle on the Forth. The real town has no surviving fort.

PRODUCTION LOG

Production notes

2013: Production sets up at Wardpark Studios in Cumbernauld; filming starts in September at Doune and other locations.
2014: The series premieres on Starz in August.
2015–2016: Season two uses Hopetoun, Drummond Castle and Glasgow Cathedral for Paris and Versailles.
2017–2022: Seasons three to seven; Scotland keeps standing in for Jamaica, Boston and North Carolina.
2024: Filming of the final season and of the prequel Blood of My Blood.
2026: Season eight airs; the prequel's second season follows.