Inspired by Outlander - 3 Days

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

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

Approximately 5 minutes: Leave Midhope Castle, turn left at the end of the road and follow signage for Abercorn.
A short cycle following the same route you used to arrive.
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Abercorn Church

Abercorn, Near Linlithgow

Just a short drive along the road from Midhope, you can visit the beautiful and historic Abercorn church. The kirk probably occupies the site of a 7th-century monastery founded by Lindisfarne Priory. The building dates from 11th century and has a fine 12th-century south door. The Duddingston burial aisle 1603, Binns aisle 1618, Philipstoun burial enclosure 1723 and Hopetoun aisle 1707 have fine mural monuments. Interior remodelled by Peter MacGregor Chalmers 1893, except for the splendid Hopetoun Loft of 1707 designed by William Bruce with carving by William Eizat and a heraldic ceiling by Richard Waitt.

As featured in…

Outlander Season 4, for Brianna visiting Frank’s graveside.

By now you will be ready for some lunch and you can enjoy options close by such as The Fat Pheasant- traditional Scottish pub, serving local produce, or Mannerstons award winning café and excellent home-made ice-cream. Or you can continue to the next destination, Hopetoun House, and enjoy lunch in the unique setting of The Stables tearoom.

Getting There

Getting to Hopetoun House

Either remain parked in Abercorn and walk roughly 20 minutes by Cornie Burn, past Midlodge Cottage to Hopetoun House. Alternatively, drive 17 minutes via the A904 to South Queensferry and follow brown signage to Hopetoun House
A short cycle using the walking route above
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Hopetoun House

South Queensferry £5.50 Grounds / £11.50 House & Grounds

Hopetoun House, arguably Scotland’s premier Stately Home, and home to the same family, since it was first built in 1699, needs ample time to be savoured. The Earl of Hopetoun and his family still live in the house and it has a warm family feel throughout.

You will enjoy the stunning vista of the Adam building exterior, as you approach and can walk throughout the extensive grounds. Once inside you will appreciate the contrast between the original Bruce house and the grand Adam additions.

As featured in…

The grounds and house have been used extensively in Outlander. It is the home of the Duke of Sandringham in Season 1, and in Season 2 it stood in for several French locations. In Season 3 the back alleyway and several areas in the grounds were used for the stables at Helwater, where Jamie has been indentured following his release from Ardsmuir Prison. The magnificent front vista of Hopetoun House also appears as the outside of the home of the Earl of Ellesmere.

The House has also been used for filming in several period pieces most recently Mr Jones (2020), which is described as a “gripping Stalin-era thriller” starring James Norton as Welsh journalist Gareth Jones. Mr Jones risks his life to expose the truth about the devastating famine in the Soviet Union in the early 1930s.

It will also be seen in the upcoming TV series Belgravia, written by Jullian Fellowes who was the creator and producer of Downton Abbey. Belgravia is a story of secrets and dishonour amongst the “upper echelon” of London society in the 19th Century Society.

Return to nearby Linlithgow or Falkirk to spend the evening

Linlithgow and Falkirk are home to a wide range of affordable hotels, B&B's and self catering - each with a bustling nightlife, they're the ideal place to base yourself after a day exploring

Leave Hopetoun following and return using the A904 for a short (15 minute) drive.
A short cycle using the route above
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End of Day 1

Spend the night in one of the areas historic towns

A wide variety of affordable accommodation is available throughout the Falkirk and West Lothian areas. You can find out more by looking at the map on the homepage to see where is nearest, or visit the Visit Falkirk or Visit West Lothian websites.

Bo’ness and Kinneil Railway and the Museum of Scottish Railways

Bo'ness Prices vary, check website for details

Soak up the atmosphere of this heritage railway, take a step back in time and travel by steam train or enjoy afternoon tea on board. After you trip take time to explore Scotland's largest railway museum full of wonders – Become a signalman and pull the levers on the authentic signal lever frame and challenge your friends to work out how to operate the points. Get an insight into life aboard a travelling Post Office Coach by sorting the letters yourself and don’t miss the famous video of the Night Mail.

As featured in…

Season 1 of Outlander, we saw Claire and Frank say their goodbyes on the platform of Boness and Kinneil railway which was transformed into a war-time railway station.
The Railway has been used as a film location in a number of films and TV series including "The Railway Man", "39 Steps", and many more productions.

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 Lade where there is a cycle/footpath around the Loch. The Palace will be visible from this.
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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.

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 Beecraigs Country Park

A short drive from Linlithgow, leave the palace by turning right and follow signage for Beecraigs Country Park. The turning is on the left.
Follow the above route.
You can use the West Lothian taxi-bus your taxibus service from Linlithgow to Beecraigs if you’d rather leave the car at home. Taxibus 7 runs hourly on-demand and must be pre-booked – call All the Fours on 01506 44 44 44.

Beecraigs Country Park

Linlithgow, West Lothian Free

Beecraigs is 370 hectares of exciting and beautiful Country Park. You’ll find it nestled high in the Bathgate Hills near the historic town of Linlithgow. The park offers miles of woodland paths and trails to explore by foot, bike or horse as well as a super playground and café.

As featured in…

Season 1, the final episode and Season 4, episode 3 of Outlander where Claire gets lost in the woods during a storm.

Getting There

Getting to Callendar House

Leave Beecraigs and use the A803 in the direction of Falkirk. Briefly join the M9 Westbound, and then continue to follow brown signage for Callendar House. Roughly a 20-minute drive.
Leave Beecraigs in the direction of Lilithgow.Join the Union Canal towards westwards, following the route over the Avon Aqueduct and past Bridge 19:40 Café. Beside the Tesco in Falkirk, leave the canal and turn right, and then left onto Jarvie Road following this until New Hallglen Rd. After which follow signage for Callendar Park.
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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!

End of Day 2

Return to Falkirk or Linlithgow

Leave Callendar House and either return to Falkirk or Linlithgow an evening’s accommodation.
As above.
Callendar House is easily accessible by public transport to either Falkirk or Linlithgow.

End of Day 2

Spend the night in one of the areas historic towns

A wide variety of affordable accommodation is available throughout the Falkirk and West Lothian areas. You can find out more by looking at the map on the homepage to see where is nearest, or visit the Visit Falkirk or Visit West Lothian websites.

Getting There

Culross takes 30/45 minutes to reach by road from Falkirk / West Lothian.

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Culross

Culross, Fife Adult £10.50 / Family £24.50

If you have one further day, why not venture across The Forth taking the longer route via the Clackmannanshire Bridge as seen in the science fiction film Cloud Atlas to the picturesque, historic Burgh of Culross. Along the way take a detour to see The Dunmore Pineapple “ranked as the most bizarre building in Scotland”. Behind this amazing building you can see the rooftops of the ruins of Dunmore House which was used as the WW2 hospital where Claire was working. It is no longer safe to access the house, so you will have to use your imagination to remember back to the scenes of Claire in a very blood stained apron and a bottle of wine!

Arriving into Culross you will see a perfectly preserved example of a 17th century town, where you can picture Jamie & Claire wandering around the cobbled streets.

This is the setting for the fictional town of Cranesmuir, where Geillis Duncan lives. Many of the buildings feature in the show including the Mercat Cross and Claire’s herb garden is the beautiful stepped garden behind Culross Palace. The Season 2 episode “Vengeance is mine” was largely shot in Culross, and in Season 4 scenes featuring Laoghaire’s house were filmed here too.

You can have a leisurely lunch in the historic Red Lion Inn or one of the cafes in the town.

If you would like some fresh air, you can enjoy a walk on the Fife Coastal Path, or a more energetic hike up to the West Kirk (takes around 20mins), used as The Black Kirk in Outlander.