Outlander Tour
- Bring Outlander to life, on a road trip discovering its most famous locations
- Doune Castle (or Castle Leoch!), once home to Bonnie Prince Charlie, the rebel prince
- The historic village of Culross, immortalised as Cranesmuir in Outlander
- Culloden Moor, site of the tragic and harrowing 1746 Battle of Culloden
- Experience the magical landscapes of Glen Coe, featured in the Outlander credits
Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1 Explore Edinburgh and Historic FifeArrive in Edinburgh today and explore the charming Old Town, used for several filming locations. It's cobbled streets and ramshackle buildings will immediately have you feeling like you have stepped back in time and you can begin to immerse yourself in Outlander's main characters, Jamie and Claire. If you have the time, we do highly recommend booking some extra nights here to properly explore.
From Edinburgh, we recommend exploring the nearby Kingdom of Fife, home to the pretty 17th century Royal Burgh town of Culross and setting for the fictional town of Cranesmuir with its cobbled streets. And then there is the picturesque town of Falkand (1940's Inverness in the TV series), with its elegant 16th-century palace, former home to Mary Queen of Scots.
In the evening, put yourself in the shoes of Jamie and Claire and enjoy a drink in the famous World's End Pub on the Royal Mile - the perfect way to end your first day!
Driving Time: Approx 2.5 hours
The Lairg provides charming Georgian townhouse accommodation and friendly service. The Guest House is surrounded by Haymarket’s welcoming bars and restaurant as well as Haymarket Rail Station. The spacious bedrooms each have private bathroom facilities.
This charming B&B is located in the heart of Edinburgh, just a short walk from Waverley Train Station. The various rooms have been thoughtfully decorated and equipped with modern facilities. With its welcoming hosts and delicious breakfast options, this is the perfect base from which to explore the city.
The St. Valery Guest House is a chic Victorian Town House situated in the heart of Edinburgh's West End. It is within walking distance of Princes Street, Edinburgh Castle and all the main shopping and sight-seeing areas, including the Royal Mile.
Continue your journey through the landscapes of Outlander, as you travel towards historic Stirling. Visit Hopetoun House, an elegant 17th century stately home, instantly recognisable as the fictional residence of the Duke of Sandringham, Blackness Castle, the headquarters of the dastardly Black Jack Randall, and Doune Castle, a striking medieval fortress which doubles up as the famous Castle Leoch.
Driving Time: Approx 2 hours
Ravenswood Guest House offers comfortable accommodation and is conveniently located close to the train station and city centre. The premise was built in 1890 as a family home and has been converted into a guesthouse with four ensuite bedrooms offering bed and breakfast.
In the heart of historic Stirling, the Golden Lion Hotel has for more than two centuries welcomed guests including royalty and even the national bard, Rabbie Burns. Now the family-owned Golden Lion provides traditional Scottish hospitality in modern style. From the excellent breakfast to the contemporary comforts of the rooms, this is a hotel with character.
Located in the heart of Stirling, The Allan Park offers refurbished accommodation in a historic property with a bar, restaurant and coffee house.
After a hearty breakfast, look forward to seeing the landscapes change today as you head north through the rolling hills of Highland Perthshire and the rugged peaks of the Cairngorms to Inverness. A must-see stop en route is the Highland Folk Museum, where you can see replicas of 18th-century croft houses, a fascinating place to visit and a setting used in the first series. Continue to the wild Culloden Moor, the location of the bloody 1746 Battle of Culloden, where Bonnie Prince Charlie himself fought, as well as Jamie in the Outlander novels.
Driving Time: Approx 3 hours
Ballifeary Guest House is an impressive Victorian Villa with many original features. It has a large private car park for guests use and a secured shed for those with bikes. It is ideally located only a matter of yards from Eden Court theatre and a short walk from the River Ness where many restaurants, the Cathedral and Castle can be found. The rooms have been recently refurbished to a high standard offering every comfort you would expect.
Glencairn and Ardross Guest House is a family run guesthouse. The building is an elegant detached listed Victorian building situated in a quiet street close to the scenic River Ness. Room are comfortable and tastefully furnished and have all the amenities you require.
Built in 1842, your accommodation is a well-appointed Victorian villa with stunning views over the River Ness and Cavell Gardens. All rooms have TV, hospitality tray, hairdryers and free wireless Internet. They also have available on request bathrobes, slippers, toothbrushes and toothpaste, iron and ironing board and DVD player.
You have a full day today to explore the historic Highland city which Claire and Jamie chose for their honeymoon in the novels. Nearby is the Clava Cairns, a bronze age burial site with standing stones, said to be the inspiration for Craigh na Dun standing stones in the TV series. Urquhart Castle, on the shores of Loch Ness, whilst not used as a filming location is another fantastic place to visit, a beautiful 13th-century castle, which has lain in ruins since the Jacobite rising in 1692.
Or perhaps you may prefer to take it easy and take the opportunity to relax on a cruise of the majestic Loch Ness, and of course, keeping an eye out for Nessie herself!
Ballifeary Guest House is an impressive Victorian Villa with many original features. It has a large private car park for guests use and a secured shed for those with bikes. It is ideally located only a matter of yards from Eden Court theatre and a short walk from the River Ness where many restaurants, the Cathedral and Castle can be found. The rooms have been recently refurbished to a high standard offering every comfort you would expect.
Glencairn and Ardross Guest House is a family run guesthouse. The building is an elegant detached listed Victorian building situated in a quiet street close to the scenic River Ness. Room are comfortable and tastefully furnished and have all the amenities you require.
Built in 1842, your accommodation is a well-appointed Victorian villa with stunning views over the River Ness and Cavell Gardens. All rooms have TV, hospitality tray, hairdryers and free wireless Internet. They also have available on request bathrobes, slippers, toothbrushes and toothpaste, iron and ironing board and DVD player.
Today is filled with incredible views as you drive down the Great Glen to Fort William. Soak up the amazing Highland scenery, dotted with Caledonian pine forests and the glistening Loch Ness as you make your way to the Glenfinnan monument, which was erected in 1815 as a tribute to Jacobite clansmen. Another famous Jacobean connection well worth a visit nearby is the Glenfinnan Viaduct, where you can spot the famous Jacobite steam train - otherwise known as the "Harry Potter" train passing over! Overnight in Fort William, in its fantastic location at the foot of the mighty Ben Nevis.
Driving Time: Approx 2.5 hours
Dora welcomes you with open arms to her beautiful guest house - Myrtle Bank. Overlooking Loch Linnie and just a short stroll from the town centre Myrtle Bank is a wonderful place to relax at the end of the West Highland Way.
Located in a prime residential area overlooking Loch Linnhe, the guest house is only 5 minutes walk from the shops and restaurants in Fort William town centre. You are assured a warm welcome at this splendid property and all rooms are en-suite with central heating, flat screen televisions and tea/coffee making facilities. There is free WiFi.
Ardblair is in a stunning location overlooking Loch Linnhe and the attention to detail throughout the house is what gives this Fort William B&B its edge. All rooms are en-suite and have all the amenities you require for a comfortable night’s stay. There is WiFi access in all the rooms.
The final day on your Outlander journey will be a memorable one, as you head south to Glasgow via the wonderfully atmospheric valley of Glen Coe. Driving through here, you will immediately be transported to the opening scenes of Outlander. Soak up the views of this beautiful place with its own tragic history and perhaps enjoy a stopover at the visitor centre to learn more about its past, before heading to Glasgow. Glasgow also has its own Outlander filming locations including the 12th-century Gothic cathedral and George Square, where Frank proposed to Claire. We highly recommend booking some additional nights in Glasgow if you have time, or if you would prefer to finish in Edinburgh, just let us know and we can arrange that for you.
Driving Time: Approx 2.5 hours
Other Information
Is it for me?Watched the dramatic TV series Outlander or read the novels, and been left feeling inspired by the romantic landscapes and fascinated by the tumultuous Jacobite revolution? This is the trip for you! Our carefully designed itinerary will lead you round the most well-known filming locations of the series as well as other historical sites with Jacobean connections, whilst overnighting in characterful guesthouses and hotels.
Discovery | Think of it as a ‘local’s guide’ to the best of the region. It includes a combination of activity and transportation to give you the freedom to explore and cover more ground at your own pace. We do all the research and organisation for you. All you have to do is turn up and enjoy!
Self Drive | Take the wheel and explore an area at your own pace taking in places and highlights that our travel experts recommend.
Solo Travellers
As a guide, we would suggest that the minimum age of traveler this tour would be suitable for is: 5 Years
You will stay overnight in hand-picked small hotels, B&B's and guesthouses, all of which have been chosen to ensure you experience warm Scottish hospitality at its best! We regularly use the below properties but may accommodate you elsewhere if these are unavailable.
Single Rooms
This holiday is available to solo travellers but as all our tours are priced per person based on two sharing there is a single supplement payable to cover the additional costs. If you require single rooms within your party we will, of course, try to accommodate your request subject to availability.
Meals
Breakfast is included each morning and normally consists of a continental buffet with tea and coffee, fresh fruits, yoghurt, cereals, eggs and bread with jams. Often also on the menu are cooked options like freshly made porridge, a traditional cooked Scottish breakfast and smoked fish with scrambled eggs.
We don't include lunch and dinner so you are free to choose from the available options. Your information pack includes details and recommendations of convenient lunch stops, cosy cafes and restaurants along the way. A couple of decades ago the food scene in Scotland was somewhat lacking, but now you'll find a range of high quality, varied options with everything from award-winning fish and chips to intimate Michelin-listed dining experiences, and casual restaurant menus showcasing delicious locally-sourced produce.
Additional Nights
You can add on additional nights wherever you please on the route. And of course, we highly recommend additional nights in the cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow at the start/end of your trip!
Your information pack will include a day-by-day itinerary, with recommended driving routes between overnight stops, as well as recommended detours and must-see sights and attractions. You can use Google maps to navigate the route on your phone, or your car's sat-nav. If you are hiring a car we recommend adding on a sat-nav as internet signal in the Highlands isn't always reliable.
- Overnight in 3 and 4* B&B's, guesthouses and small hotels
- Breakfasts
- Detailed information pack brimming with our local knowledge
- Our daily recommendations for places to see and visit
- Our daily recommendations for top places to eat and drink
- 24/7 emergency support from our UK office
- Car hire (available as an optional extra)
- Lunches, dinners, snacks and drinks
- Travel Insurance
- Personal equipment
- Entrance Fees
- Car Hire
- Additional Nights
You can start this tour on any day of the week from March to October, subject to availability. The busiest times of the year are around Easter and May when accommodations fill up quickly, so book as early as possible if you are planning to travel then. If you travel before Easter, and after mid-October it is worth noting that some attractions may either be closed, have limited access (i.e. castle interiors may be closed but the gardens open), or may open later and close a little earlier in the day. We always recommend checking the links in our information pack for up-to-date opening times to avoid disappointment.
During the shoulder season - March to early April and after mid-October - the Scottish weather tends to be more unpredictable and is often colder and rainier. It is worth keeping in mind that the driving conditions, particularly in the far north of Scotland, will also be more challenging at this time. However, attractions and popular viewpoints will generally be quieter.
Your trip begins in the well-connected city of Edinburgh. If traveling in your own car from across the UK, or western Europe via the Channel Tunnel, you'll find the city is easily accessible and well-connected by the M8, M77, M74 and M6 motorways. If you are driving or traveling from further afield we recommend and extra night in Edinburgh at the start of your trip so you can make the most of your first day of sight-seeing.
By Road: Edinburgh is served by an excellent motorway network. It's a 1h 15m drive from Glasgow to Edinburgh on the M8 motorway. Newcastle is approximately a 2.5 hour drive from Edinburgh, and Manchester and Birmingham, 4 and 6 hours respectively. London is 7.5 hr (via the M1 and A1), and if arriving in Folkestone from France (via the Channel Tunnel) it's an 8-8.5 hour drive via the M20, M11, and A1 roads.
Alternatively, if arriving in Edinburgh by public transport and renting a car please see the excellent Traveline Scotland website for timetables and fares and more information regarding public transport in Scotland. Edinburgh is well-linked across the UK, Europe and beyond by flying into either Glasgow or Edinburgh international airports. Glasgow and Edinburgh are just over an hour apart by road and it doesn't take much longer to travel between the two by an express bus or train service.
By Air: Located 8 miles east of the city of Edinburgh, the international airport is served by routes from around the UK and the world. There are regular shuttle bus and tram services running from the airport into the city centre, with a journey time of around 30 minutes. There's also a taxi rank outside the airport to take people into the city centre.
By Rail: Edinburgh is also connected to central Scotland and England by good rail links. See the Scot Rail website for Scottish locations and National Rail for UK-wide locations.
By Bus: Services from UK destinations are operated by National Express. Services from Scottish destinations are operated by Scottish Citylink.
Car Rental
We don't include car rental in the cost of our discovery tours to keep things flexible as we realise many people may wish to use their own car. If you decide to arrange car rental through us, we have a partnership with Europcar and can arrange this easily for you. As standard we would book an Economy category car (suitable for up to 4 people) with included comprehensive insurance and sat-nav. Prices are on a request basis, so please just add this on as an option if you would like to book car hire, and we will confirm the cost.
Getting from Glasgow
By Road: Glasgow is served by an excellent motorway network. It's a 1hr 15 min drive from Glasgow to Edinburgh on the east coast. Manchester is approx a 3.5 hour drive or Newcastle on the east coast is approx 3 hours.
If dropping off a rental car and continuing your onward journey by public transport we recommend breaking the journey by adding an extra night in Glasgow or Edinburgh. For specific information regarding public transport in Scotland, please see the excellent Traveline Scotland website for timetables and fares.
By Air: Located 8 miles west of Glasgow, the international airport is served by routes from around Britain and the world. A regular shuttle bus service runs from the city centre to the airport. Or if you wish to drop your car off in Glasgow and enjoy some time there before heading back to Edinburgh, regular bus and train services link the two cities, taking approx 1 hour.
For further information regarding public transport in Scotland, please see the excellent Traveline Scotland website for timetables and fares.
By Rail: Glasgow is also connected to central Scotland and England by good rail links. See the Scot Rail website for Scottish locations and National Rail for UK-wide locations.
By Bus: Services from UK destinations are operated by National Express. Services from Scottish destinations are operated by Scottish Citylink.
On confirmation of your booking, you will receive a personalised itinerary and comprehensive information pack. This carefully curated pack, designed with our own local knowledge and expertise, will include recommended driving routes, the must-see places and attractions to stop at en route, and our suggestions for the best places to eat and drink.
Car Rental
We don't include car rental in the cost of our discovery tours to keep things flexible as we realise many people may wish to use their own car. If you decide to arrange car rental through us, we have a partnership with Europcar and can arrange this easily for you. As standard we book an Economy category car (suitable for up to 4 people) with included comprehensive insurance, prices are on a request basis. Please just let us know if you would like to upgrade your car.
It is a requirement of booking this tour with Macs Adventure that you have suitable travel insurance which covers you for the activity and emergency evacuation and hospital care.
Your information pack will include a day-by-day itinerary, with recommended driving routes between overnight stops, as well as recommended detours and must-see sights and attractions. You can use Google maps to navigate the route on your phone, or your car's sat-nav. If you are hiring a car we recommend adding on a sat-nav as the internet signal in the Highlands isn't always reliable.
Why Macs
The biggest choice
Around since 2003
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Positive impact
At Macs, we don’t do tour buses, groups, or guides. Instead, we give you the freedom and confidence to have your own self-guided hiking or biking adventure
It's active travel, led by you.
You choose your departure date and who you travel with, we do the rest.
We sort accommodation and luggage transfers and provide your route in an easy-to-use app.
We give you everything you need to travel independently but we're here 24/7 if you need us.
Getting from A to B under your own steam is intensely rewarding. With Macs, you'll see the world, and yourself, differently.
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