• Callendar House Falkirk

Inspired by Outlander - Day Tour

Before starting this itinerary, please check the COVID-19 Information page for the latest information on closures.

This one day tour will show you the key outdoor filming locations used within Outlander. You can complete the tour at your own pace in any order, but if you follow the route below you'll save on travel time.

Starting at Blackness, you'll see the the 'ship that never sailed' - a 15th century castle on the banks of the Firth of Forth before heading to Midhope Castle and Hopetoun House, both on the Hopetoun Estate - you'll soon recognise the famous archway. 

Afterwards, head to Linlithgow Palace and Town to see the Birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots. Linlithgow is the ideal place to stop for a bite to eat or drink in one of the town's many historic Pubs, Restaurants and Cafes. The traditional High Street, with its independent shops and heritage sites, is also home to the newly opened "Linlithgow Museum" to discover more about the town. 

You'll then end the Itinerary in Falkirk at Callendar House, which featured in Outlander as the Duke of Sandringham’s kitchen. To end the day, why not stay the night in one of Falkirk's affordable Hotels or B&Bs?  

For a longer stay, check out our Three Day Inspired by Outlander tour.

Look out for the Good to Go logo on the individual attractions below to see which are part of the scheme. You can find out more here

What you can expect

  • Easy terrain for all abilities
  • The key sites from the area which featured within Outlander
  • Most locations are outdoors to allow for social distancing
  • Locations are a short distance between each other to reduce travel time

 

  • Blackness Castle

    Blackness Adult: £6.00 / Child £3.60

    Shaped like a ship and situated on a promontory which juts out into the Firth of Forth, this 15th century castle is known as 'the ship that never sailed', due to its shape.

    Built by one of Scotland’s most powerful families, the Crichtons, Blackness was never destined as a peaceful lordly residence; its enduring roles were those of garrison fortress and state prison.

    It has spectacular views across to the Fife coast and the Forth Bridges and sits on the John Muir Way, with scenic walks towards Bo’ness in the West and through the Hopetoun Estate on the East. Check out their website for their events programme and opening times.

    As featured in …

    It is one of the iconic locations from the Outlander TV series, where it stands in for Fort William, and the headquarters of the infamous Black Jack Randall. It features in Season 1 and in Season 2.

    Blackness Castle is becoming something of a film star, in its own right, featuring most recently in the feature film Mary Queen of Scots, and in the Netflix film about Robert the Bruce, Outlaw King.

  • Getting There

    Getting to Midhope Castle

    • Midhope Castle is a short drive from Blackness Castle (roughly 15 minutes). Leave Blackness Village and return to the A904, turn left towards South Queensferry. From here, follow signage for "Midhope" and continue along the small road until you reach a car park just before Midhope Castle
    • Roughly 21 Minutes – Leave Blackness using St Ninian’s Way until Abercorn Church. Leaving the church, head West and follow signage for Midhope
    • n/a
  • Midhope Castle

    Midhope Castle

    Midhope, Near Linlithgow £4.00 per person / various offers for coaches

    Nestled in a quiet corner of The Hopetoun Estate, Midhope Castle is a derelict 16th-century tower house, once home to The Livingston family and Drummond families. A stone inscribed "AD 1582 MB" commemorates Alexander Drummond and his wife Marjory Bruce. Now the property on the Earl of Hopetoun, the building has been out of use for quite some time, and had very little interest, until Outlander came along. Midhope is at the top of every Outlander fans must see list. It was chosen as the setting for Lallybroch, the Fraser family home and where Jamie’s sister Jenny and her family now live.

    Everyone wants that iconic photograph sitting on the steps of Lallybroch waiting for Jamie to walk through the archway. You can only visit the exterior of the building. Inside is derelict and dangerous. All internal Lallybroch scenes are shot in the Outlander Studios in Cumbernauld.

    While you are visiting Midhope, take some time to check out the magnificent Doocot (dove/pigeon house) which was also used in Season 3 of Outlander. And in the woods near the parking area, is where they filmed Jamie living in his cave.

    Important Note

    While every effort is made to have Midhope available to the public, especially throughout the busy tourist season, do please check the Hopetoun House website before visiting, as sometimes there are closures, for events, pheasant shooting (in the winter) and of course ongoing Outlander filming.

  • Getting There

    Getting to Linlithgow Palace and Town

    • Roughly 10 minutes. Leave Bo’ness using “Linlithgow Road” until you reach High Street (A803). Turn left and follow signage for Linlithgow Palace
    • Follow the same on-road route as above until opposite Mill Lane where there is a cycle/footpath around the Loch. The Palace will be visible from here
    • n/a

  • Linlithgow Palace and Town

    Queensferry Adult: £7.20 Child: £4.30*

    Please note Linlithgow Palace is currently closed to allow for a safety inspection to take place. Alternative nearby sites include Beecraigs Country Park and Hopetoun House.

    GoodtoGo Logo

    Birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots, the historic Royal Burgh of Linlithgow is well worth spending a morning.  The magnificent ruins of Linlithgow Palace sit in beautiful parkland, by Linlithgow Loch, right in the centre of the town. Wander through The Palace and hear the tales of the Stuart Kings and Queens through the ages (new for 2020- audio guide).

    Sitting next to The Palace is the beautiful St Michael’s Parish church, built at the same time as the Palace, one of the largest Parish churches in Scotland, and still a very active Parish church today.

     As featured in ….

    Outlander fans will recognise the entrance to The Palace as the entrance to Wentworth Prison, and some filming took place in the corridors inside too as Claire and Murtagh searched for Jamie.

    The Palace and surroundings feature in the Outlaw King, as Perth Castle and the setting for the crowning of Robert the Bruce which was filmed on a glorious September evening making for a beautiful shot.

    St Michael’s Church had all its pews stripped out for the setting for Robert The Bruce’s wedding and his father’s funeral, go inside and see the stunning stained glass windows. Leaving The Palace, walk down the hill to the traditional market cross. The period legal drama Garrow’s Law was filmed here.

    Take time for a wander along the traditional High Street, with its independent shops and heritage sites and pop into the local museum. Have some lunch before heading off to your afternoon sites.

  • Getting There

    Getting to Callendar House

    • 20 Minute Drive - Leave Linlithgow and follow signs for Falkirk. Look out for brown signage for Callendar House
    • Leave Linlithgow using the Union Canal Towpath. Leave the Towpath when you see Tesco on the right, and head North West in the direction of Falkirk Town Centre
    • 35 Minutes using the First Bus X38 - running every 15 minutes. Alight at "Callendar Business Park"
  • Callendar House Falkirk

    Callendar House

    Falkirk Free

    Over the years, Callendar House has hosted illustrious visitors such as Mary Queen of Scots, Oliver Cromwell and Queen Victoria. Callendar House is a 5 star visitor attraction, a stunning 14th century, French chateau styled house                                                         

    Free to access, visit the permanent exhibition telling ‘The Story of Callendar House’ from the 11th to the 19th century to find out more about the house, its owners and their guests. Other exhibitions include ‘The Antonine Wall, Rome's Northern Frontier’, and ‘Falkirk: Crucible of Revolution 1750-1850’, which tells how the local area was transformed in the industrial era. There’s also a working Georgian kitchen offering visitors samples of early 19th-century food, the Park Gallery art exhibition space, a gift shop and Callendar House Tea Room serving hot drinks and refreshments.

    Set in beautiful gardens the nationally important historic landscape of Callendar Park contains a section of the Roman Antonine Wall, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

    As Featured in…

    Callendar House was the location for one of the most memorable scenes in Outlander. Dare if you will to enter the Duke of Sandringham’s kitchen, fans will remember that a bloody encounter took place here!

Explore our tours

Use our interactive map to explore itineraries and locations

Looking for the perfect picture?

Check out our recommended shareable spots you'll see on this Itinerary and share your own images with us using #FilmOnForth

Looking to extend your trip?

Don't miss the other famous sites in the area, such as the Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway and Hopetoun House. Have a look at our longer three day tours to extend your stay where you'll be able to see these, and plenty more.

3 Day Inspired by Outlander

Our Partners

Share this page: