Today, we’re stepping away for a moment from our beloved Edinburgh to take you on a short journey through the 15 best Outlander filming locations in Scotland.
For those who haven’t yet discovered the series available on Netflix, based on Diana Gabaldon’s novels by the same name, it’s one of the platform’s most successful shows in recent years. This historical drama follows the adventures of Claire Beauchamp, a World War II nurse who mysteriously travels back in time. Upon her arrival in 1743, she meets a young Scottish man, Jamie Fraser, who is fighting for his clan and to defend the interests of Charles Stuart against the English troops.
Drama, mystery, love and adventure… this series has it all. Among other things, it features stunning settings — the reason behind this Outlander locations tour in Scotland. Don’t miss the final stop — it’s one of the show’s most iconic and beloved spots among fans.
The Castles of Outlander
1. Doune Castle (Season 1)
And of course, the first place we have to mention is Doune Castle, near Stirling, which stands in for Castle Leoch, the home of Jamie’s clan chief, Colum MacKenzie. It’s a former royal castle, open to visitors, and you can find all the information you need on the Historic Environment website.
The characters visit this location in several scenes during their 18th century adventures.
More info: Historic Environment Scotland
2. Aberdour Castle (Season 1)
This castle in Fife is nestled on the coast, quite close to Edinburgh, making it an ideal candidate for a day trip. If you’re planning to venture out of the Scottish capital, we recommend checking out our Edinburgh transport guide, where we explain how to rent a car.
Aberdour Castle dates back to the 12th century and is partially in ruins today, but the well-preserved kitchens and gallery played a role in its selection as the place where Claire and Murtagh decide to take Jamie to recover after rescuing him from prison.
3. Blackness Castle (Seasons 1 and 2)
You can find Blackness Castle very close to Edinburgh and it also sports wonderful views of the Firth of Forth, so we highly recommend visiting if you’re coming to Scotland’s capital. This imposing fortress plays a key role in the series, as it plays the role of Jack Randall’s headquarters and is the place where Jamie is tortured during his time in prison.
For more information about visiting, see: https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/blackness-castle/access/
More info: Visit Blackness Castle.
4. Dean Castle (Season 2)
We travel forward in time and begin arriving at filming locations from Season 2 of Outlander, and for the first time on this Outlander locations route, we enter the Highlands.
This is a very well-preserved castle located in a valley in East Ayrshire. In the series, it appears as the castle of Lord Lovat, whom Claire and Jamie visit to ask for reinforcements in the fight for Bonnie Prince Charlie’s cause.
It is currently closed for restoration, but access to the castle grounds is free all year round.
5. Craigmillar Castle (Season 3)
And finally, we’ve chosen a castle that appears in Season 3 of Outlander and one we’re especially fond of due to its proximity to the capital, where you can visit Edinburgh Castle with us — the medieval Craigmillar Castle.
Its ruins are used to portray the prison where Jamie is held in Season 3 (he’s held in prison a lot!). We highly recommend visiting it — you’ll also enjoy spectacular panoramic views over Edinburgh.
EXTRA: LALLYBROCH CASTLE – MIDHOPE CASTLE
This fortress needs no introduction. Midhope Castle is a 16th-century fortified house that brings Lallybroch to life — the Fraser family home where Jenny and Ian Murray, Jamie’s family, live. Within its walls, Jamie and Claire seek peace during the first two seasons.
Iconic Scottish Palaces in Outlander
Although the collective image of Scotland is often filled with medieval castles and grey stone walls, the country is also home to some striking palaces. So much so that the creators of Outlander chose to use a few of them as settings in their story.
6. Linlithgow Palace (Season 1)
Just like in the first section of this guide, we’ll follow the chronological order of the locations as they appear throughout the seasons.
The first palace we “visit” with you on our Outlander tour of Scotland is Linlithgow Palace, located west of Edinburgh in West Lothian. Although it now stands in ruins, the beauty of this former royal residence of the Stuarts — and the birthplace of the famous Mary, Queen of Scots — still reflects its grandeur and charm.
Its hallways and entrance can be seen in Season 1, when Jamie is imprisoned at Wentworth Prison. You can relive these scenes and walk through the palace even today (once the restoration works are complete): https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/linlithgow-palace/access/
More info: Explore Linlithgow Palace.
7. Gosford House (Season 2)
If you enjoyed our tour of Edinburgh’s New Town and Dean Village, this palace is without a doubt a historic landmark to add to your bucket list during your trip to Scotland.
The gardens and grounds surrounding this neoclassical palace were transformed on screen into the Gardens of Versailles for the purposes of Season 2.
If you’re interested in visiting, we recommend checking the opening days on their website https://www.gosfordhouse.co.uk/ as it hosts events and corporate dinners and is not open every day of the year.
8. Newhailes House (Season 4)
For those of you reading who haven’t seen the series, the storyline takes the main characters not only through time but also across continents. That’s how Claire and Jamie end up travelling across the Atlantic, specifically to North Carolina.
Newhailes House, located very close to Scotland’s capital, stands in for the governor’s mansion where they negotiate for land in exchange for serving the British Crown.
9. Hopetoun House (Seasons 1, 2, and 3)
Located near Edinburgh, Hopetoun House serves multiple roles in Outlander. For example, it serves as the residence of the Duke of Sandringham in Season 1, was also used as a set when Jamie and Claire are in Paris, and its stables — Helwater Stables — were used to represent the home of Lord and Lady Dunsany in Season 3. Visit their official website for details.
Towns and Villages in Outlander
If you’re reading these lines, there’s a good chance you already know that here at Clan Pascual Tours we have a special love for Edinburgh — it’s where we run our free tours, and we’ll be talking again about the filming locations that are right on our doorstep.
But for now, we want to introduce you to the places from the series that were filmed in Scotland’s second most famous (and yet much bigger) city: Glasgow.
10. Glasgow
If you’re not yet familiar with this corner of the world, we highly recommend adding it to your list of must-see places during your trip to Scotland. We’ve even got a Glasgow travel guide ready for you.
GEORGE SQUARE, SEASON 1
But for the purpose of this guide, the first spot we visit with you is Glasgow’s main plaza — George Square. Designed and built in the 18th century, it’s home to many of the city’s most important statues and monuments.
It’s one of the first locations viewers see in Season 1, set in Claire’s original timeline — the 1940s–1950s — and it’s in this iconic square where Frank proposes to her.
GLASGOW CATHEDRAL, SEASON 2
Glasgow Cathedral appears in Season 2 when Claire is working at the Hôpital des Anges in Paris. The scenes were filmed in the church’s crypt.
This monument dates back to the medieval period, specifically the 12th century, and is well known for its post-war stained glass windows. We invite you to come and learn about the story of the Miracle of Saint Mungo of Glasgow.
UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW, SEASONS 3 & 4
Another iconic location in the city was used in Seasons 3 and 4 of the series — the University of Glasgow. It stands in for Harvard University during the scenes where an older Frank works as a professor and welcomes his daughter into his office.
11. OUTLANDER FILMING LOCATIONS IN EDINBURGH
Now it’s time to highlight the spots in our city, Edinburgh, that appeared in this fantastic historical adventure series.
BAKEHOUSE CLOSE, SEASON 3
The first location on this list of Outlander filming sites in Scotland is Bakehouse Close. This alleyway, located just off Edinburgh’s Royal Mile — where you can find us running our full Edinburgh tour every day of the year — is a spot we’re especially fond of. It’s where the scenes of Jamie’s print shop were filmed and where he and Claire are reunited after years apart.
TWEEDDALE COURT, SEASON 3
Tweeddale Court is one of the oldest courtyards in Edinburgh. This historic square has changed very little over the years and was used to film the scene where Claire is reunited with Fergus in the marketplace.
SIGNET LIBRARY, SEASON 3
The interior of the Signet Library in Edinburgh is one of the most beautiful Outlander locations in Scotland. In the series, it appears as the Governor’s mansion in Jamaica during Season 3.
You can visit this landmark virtually on the Signet Library website. You can also book a special moment and enjoy afternoon tea in the stunning Colonnades room.
12. SPECTACULAR FILMING LOCATIONS IN FIFE
Beyond Scotland’s most famous cities, we also want to introduce you to one of the regions richest in stunning locations — so impressive that the creators of Outlander chose it as a setting for the series. We’re talking about Fife, home to several key filming spots.
CULROSS, SEASONS 1, 2 & 4
The town of Culross was used for scenes set in the village where Geillis lives — Claire’s first friend in the past, who shares her love for plants and remedies.
This beautiful town features the medieval market and the palace garden, which was used as Claire’s herb garden. Several other parts of the village appear throughout multiple seasons of Outlander, and you can find more details on the series’ official wiki.
FALKLAND, SEASONS 1, 2 & 4
We continue our journey through Fife with Falkland, a small town known for its architecture and palace.
The very first scenes of the series were filmed here, as this is where Claire finds herself in post-war Scotland. Falkland also stands in for Inverness in Seasons 2 and 4, set in the 1960s.
You’ll find the hotel that served as the guesthouse, along with several shops that brought this drama to life.
DYSART HARBOUR, SEASON 2
If you’ve watched the series, you’ll surely remember the couple’s “adventures” in France and their arrival at the port of Le Havre. The real 21st-century port is highly industrial and didn’t suit the historical setting of the show.
That’s why the scenes of Jamie and Claire disembarking and the warehouse of St. Germain were filmed at this picturesque harbour on the coast of Fife, near Kirkcaldy.
If you’re interested in exploring one of the most beautiful coastlines in Scotland, we invite you to discover the Fife Coastal Path:
https://tmbtent.com/fife-coastal-path-map/#interactive
SCOTTISH LANDSCAPES AND PARKS FEATURED IN OUTLANDER
To wrap up this tour of the best Outlander filming locations across Scotland, we couldn’t leave out a section dedicated to the breathtaking landscapes and natural parks of this country.
12. GLEN COE IN THE HIGHLANDS – WHERE THE SERIES BEGINS
The Highlands are without a doubt Scotland’s most iconic region. That’s why this list wouldn’t be complete without Glen Coe — the most legendary mountains in the Highlands.
It’s one of the country’s most famous spots, thanks to its stunning valley, towering peaks, and cascading rivers. This striking landscape appears in the opening credits of the series.
13. KINLOCH RANNOCH, SEASON 1
Kinloch Rannoch in Perthshire is a beautiful location by the edge of a loch. It’s the place where Claire and Frank choose to spend their second honeymoon at the start of the series.
14. POLLOK COUNTRY PARK IN GLASGOW, SEASONS 1 & 2
As you’ve seen, Outlander used a wide range of diverse locations across Scotland. Not far from Edinburgh, to the south of Glasgow, you’ll find Pollok Country Park.
It was used to represent the surroundings of Castle Leoch in Season 1 and also served as the rural setting for Le Havre and Paris in Season 2.
15. JAMIE’S MILL – PRESTON MILL
If you’ve made it this far, you’re clearly a fan of the series — and you were probably waiting eagerly for this 15th spot, as we all remember this scene:
Preston Mill is the East Lothian location that brings Jamie’s mill to life. It’s one of the oldest working watermills in Scotland and is located very close to Edinburgh. It was also used as a backdrop for scenes related to the Jacobite uprising.
And now we’ve reached the end. We hope you’ve enjoyed this overview of the 15 best Outlander filming locations in Scotland and that it’s inspired you to come and explore our beautiful home.
If you’d like to visit these sites on a private Outlander tour, we’d love for you to come with us — and if you want a group experience with other Outlander fans, we can set it up for you here: “Outlander tour from Edinburgh“.
If you want to get to know Edinburgh up close and personal, either for a whole day or just a few hours, join us at Edinburgh Walking Tours.