Where Was Outlander Filmed?

Location 01

Doune Castle

Stirling, Doune Ticketed

Filmed here: Castle Leoch exteriors and courtyard (Colum MacKenzie's seat)

Doune Castle, near Stirling, stands in for Castle Leoch, seat of Colum MacKenzie, and appears across Seasons 1 to 8. The courtyard and exterior walls are instantly recognisable from the show. It is a Historic Environment Scotland site, open daily with entry fees, and Sam Heughan recorded a bespoke Outlander audio guide for visitors, which many fans consider the highlight of a visit.

Location 02

Midhope Castle

West Lothian, Abercorn Outside only

Filmed here: Lallybroch exteriors (Jamie Fraser's ancestral home)

Midhope Castle on the Hopetoun Estate in West Lothian is Lallybroch, the Fraser ancestral home, seen in Seasons 1, 2 and 4 through 8. Only the exterior was used and only the exterior can be visited: the interior is a ruined, unsafe shell. Access requires permission or estate access, so most people arrive on an organised tour that includes it in the itinerary.

Location 03

Culross

Fife, Culross Free to see

Filmed here: Cranesmuir village and Culross Palace interiors (witch trial scenes, herb garden)

The preserved 17th-century village of Culross in Fife became Cranesmuir, home of the witch trial scenes, with Culross Palace interiors and its herb garden also used. Village streets are free to wander, while the palace itself is ticketed through the National Trust for Scotland. It appears in Seasons 1 and 2 and is one of the easiest locations to explore independently.

Location 04

Blackness Castle

Falkirk, Blackness Ticketed

Filmed here: Fort William exteriors (Black Jack Randall's headquarters and prison)

Blackness Castle, a coastal fortress near Falkirk, served as Fort William, Black Jack Randall's headquarters and prison, in Seasons 1 and 2. The setting on the Firth of Forth gives striking views that photograph as well on a grey day as on a bright one. It is a ticketed Historic Environment Scotland site, and its Outlander fame drove a 363% surge in visitors.

Location 05

Falkland

Fife, Falkland Free to see

Filmed here: 1940s Inverness (Claire and Frank's honeymoon scenes, village square)

Falkland in Fife stood in for 1940s Inverness, where Claire and Frank honeymooned in Season 1. The village square and surrounding streets are free to walk, and the preserved 17th-century architecture means little has changed since filming. Visitors can wander at their own pace around the village and palace area without tickets or prior arrangement.

Location 06

Craigmillar Castle

Edinburgh Ticketed

Filmed here: Ardsmuir Prison exteriors (Jamie’s post-Culloden imprisonment)

Craigmillar Castle, just outside Edinburgh, appears in Season 3 as Ardsmuir Prison, where Jamie is held after Culloden. The atmospheric medieval fortress suits the grim storyline well. It is a ticketed Historic Environment Scotland site and, being close to the capital, works either as a standalone half-day trip or as part of an Outlander tour built around Edinburgh.

Location 07

Linlithgow Palace

West Lothian, Linlithgow Ticketed

Filmed here: Wentworth Prison interiors/exteriors

Linlithgow Palace in West Lothian doubled as Wentworth Prison, the setting of Season 1's darkest scenes, with both interiors and exteriors used. The grand ruin is a ticketed Historic Environment Scotland site and the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots, giving it a history that reaches well beyond the show. Its proximity to Edinburgh makes it an easy add-on.

Location 08

Culloden Battlefield

Highlands, Inverness Ticketed

Filmed here: Battle of Culloden and clan memorial scenes

Culloden Battlefield, near Inverness, is where the series depicted the Battle of Culloden and clan memorial scenes in Seasons 2 and 3. The National Trust for Scotland runs a ticketed visitor centre, while the battlefield itself is free to walk. It is a burial ground, and visitors are asked to treat it with respect, which gives the site a weight beyond its screen history.