Outlander Trail
4 day tour

  • Falkland
  • Clava Cairns
  • Doune Castle
  • Highland Folk Museum Newtonmore
  • Culross

Go time travelling and follow in the footsteps of Jamie and Claire on our Outlander tour from Edinburgh.

Tour map

Tour Highlights

Literature
Mountains
Film Locations
Prehistoric Sites
Castles
Lochs

Clava Cairns - Travel through winding back roads and discover a 4,000-year-old cemetery.

Doune Castle - One of the most filmed castles in Scotland. It stars as Castle Leoch in Outlander, featured in Monty Python’s ‘Holy Grail’, and the pilot for Game of Thrones.

Loch Ness - Take a chance to go on an optional boat cruise or wander around this alluring and eerie loch.

Glen Affric - Lochs, mountains and pine forests: this is one of Scotland’s most glorious glens. It’s also a great hiding spot for Jamie!

Culloden - A sad place to visit. It’s the location of a tragic Outlander scene and a catastrophic battle between Jacobites and Government troops.

Culross - This town looks like it never left the 16th century. It was also the setting for the fictional Outlander town, Cranesmuir.

Falkland - This quaint town in the Kingdom of Fife, used to portray Inverness, boasts a beautiful palace and a serene setting.

Midhope Castle - Jamie’s family home, Lallybroch, is as lovely as it looks in the show.

Glencoe - Be moved by the sheer beauty and tragic tales of one of Scotland’s most famous landscapes Jamie and Claire travel through

 

Your journey

 

Relive the tragic battles, death-defying escapes, and sentimental moments of Outlander.

You visit towns that are virtually unchanged since the 16th century; wander through ancient battlefields; and visit some of Scotland’s most hidden-away castles. What’s more is that you share this unique experience with Outlander fans from around the world.

Discuss your favourite scenes from the show, enjoy Scotland’s gorgeous landscapes, and follow the epic journey of the time-travelling love affair.

 

Tour Details

Starts
Check-in closes at 08:45 (tour departs at 09:00) - Edinburgh Bus Station Pick Up, Gate J and Gate K, inside Edinburgh Bus Station, St Andrew Square, Edinburgh, EH1 3DQ
Finishes (approx.)
19:00 - Edinburgh Bus Station Drop Off, Gate J and Gate K, Edinburgh Bus Station, St Andrew Square, Edinburgh, EH1 3DQ
Luggage
You're restricted to 14kg (31lbs) of luggage per person. This should be one piece of luggage similar to an airline carry-on bag (approximately 55cm x 45cm x 25cm / 22in x 17in x 10in) and a small bag for onboard personal items.
Discounts

Students and seniors over 60

Important information
  • Unfortunately, we only carry passengers over 18 years old on this tour
  • Pack your waterproof clothing and walking shoes
  • Some attraction tickets can be purchased in advance when you book your tour. You’ll have the option to add at check-out. Other attractions will not be available to book beforehand, instead you can purchase those while on tour.
Tour inclusions
  • Transport in a 16 seat Mercedes mini-coach
  • Air conditioning as standard
  • The stories and services of an English-speaking driver-guide
Tour exclusions
  • Tour accommodation
  • Attraction entry tickets

Itinerary

Day 1

  • Get as close as possible to the 16th century in the town of Culross. Or as it’s known to Outlander fans, Cranesmuir
  • Learn how Highlanders lived at the Newtonmore Highland Folk Museum

We leave Edinburgh and follow the trail of the best-known locations featured in the Outlander TV Series.

Your first stop is the place that needs no introduction: Midhope Castle, known as Jamie’s lovely home Lallybroch. The cosy interior of the house has been re-created in the film studios. In reality, visitors can’t explore the ruins of the castle, instead, you can sit on the iconic steps of Lallybroch and wait for Jamie or Claire to walk through the beautiful archway in the courtyard. 

Heading north, you visit the charming village of Culross. In Outlander, Culross posed as the fictional village of Cranesmuir and the home of Geillis Duncan and her ill-fated husband, Arthur. Exploring the town’s cobbled streets is like taking a step back in time. Look carefully and you may even find Claire’s herb garden behind the impressive, historic Culross Palace.

We continue to the small town of Falkland to relive the first scenes of the show, where Falkland represents 1940s Inverness. See if you can recognize the familiar sights such as Mrs Baird’s Guesthouses (The Covenanter Hotel) and the Bruce Fountain, where Claire’s husband Frank sees the ghost of Jamie.

Then, it’s time to leave the castles and villages behind and discover the beauty of the Highlands. In the afternoon, we travel through lush Perthshire and stop at the Newtonmore Highland Folk Museum. The site houses replicas of 18th-century turf-roofed Highland crofts and gives you a glimpse into past Highland life. You’ll remember this place as one of the MacKenzie clan villages where Claire and the MacKenzie party stop to collect the rent.

Venturing further north, we pass Aviemore and continue to Inverness, where we arrive in the early evening.

 

Day 2

  • Listen to the echo of the past at an ancient site of Clava Cairn
  • Learn about the last battle fought on British soil at Culloden

You start your day by visiting the mysterious site of Clava Cairns near Inverness. This well-preserved complex of ring cairns and standing stones is as ancient as it is beautiful. And it’s also said to be the inspiration for the standing stones of Craigh na Dun.

Your driver-guide can’t promise any time travel here but exploring this 4,000-year-old site feels like stepping back in time.

The next stop evokes a lot of emotions; it’s the forbidding Culloden Battlefield. This site plays a crucial role in Scottish history and the Outlander books.

It’s not far from the battlefield where the couple said their tearful goodbyes before Jamie joined the Jacobite army to fight for the Stuarts. And it’s where the final Jacobite Raising came to a harrowing end, bringing on the persecution of the Highland way of life. You can explore the visitor centre and the site and pay tribute to those who lost their lives at the last battle fought on British soil.

We continue our journey to the heart of Clan Fraser lands. Here you can pay your respects at the tomb of Lord Lovat, the ‘Old Fox’ of the Jacobite Rebellion, who’s Jamie’s manipulative grandfather in the saga.

After seeing some of the most important sites from the Outlander universe, we return to Inverness with time to explore the city for another evening.

Day 3

  • Wander through the ancient indigenous forests of Glen Affric
  • See where the Jacobite supporters pleaded their loyalty to Bonnie Prince Charlie

Your day starts with a visit to the majestic Glen Affric. Lochs, mountains, and pine forests: this is one of Scotland’s most glorious glens. It’s also an ideal spot for Jamie to hide.

Next, we leave the ancient forests behind and continue along Loch Ness to stop at Urquhart Castle. Standing on the banks of Loch Ness for 1,000 turbulent years, this castle offers a taste of the Highlands at their most dramatic. You can choose to explore this majestic ruin and discover its secrets. And while you’re there, be on the lookout for Nessie.

The journey takes you through the Great Glen before heading to Glenfinnan. The monument here commemorates the meeting of Bonnie Prince Charlie with his loyal supporters and marks the beginning of the doomed Jacobite Rising. The column stands framed by Loch Shiel and a well-known section of the Jacobite Steam Train railway line, famously used as the Hogwarts Express in Harry Potter.

Moved by the history and beauty of this site, you travel to your overnight stop in Fort William, underneath the shadow of Britain’s tallest mountain, Ben Nevis.

Day 4

  • Be moved by the sheer beauty of Glencoe
  • See two of Scotland’s quintessential castles, Doune Castle and Blackness Castle

You start the day with a magnificent drive through Glencoe and cross the rugged Trossachs area onto Doune Castle. The Castle is an extensive ruin that represents Castle Leoch in the TV programme, home to Colum MacKenzie and his clan in the 18th-century episodes.

Later, we stop for a quick photo of the ruins of Linlithgow Palace. It's a favourite of ours because of its connections to Mary, Queen of Scots. It also starred as Wentworth Prison and is known for one of the most intense scenes in the Outlander series.

The last highlight of the day is Blackness Castle. This tough-looking fortress looks like it could fend off an entire empire. And in Outlander, it represents Fort William. You can choose to walk along the ramparts and explore the fictional headquarters of Jack Randall.

After having been immersed in the history and landscapes that inspired Outlander, we return to Edinburgh in the early evening.

Attractions

Tour Attractions

You are able to pre-purchase entrance tickets to the following attractions at the time of booking:

  • Blackness Castle
  • Doune Castle
  • Urquhart Castle
  • Culloden VC, Museum & Battlefield

Other attractions may be booked and paid locally during the tour.

Accommodation

Where does this tour stay overnight?

You stay two nights in Inverness and one night in Fort William*.

*  Please note there are limited hotel options in this area.

How can I book accommodation?

Accommodation is not included in the price of your tour. To book accommodation, there are two options: either Rabbie’s Tours can book it for you, or you can book your own. For information on how to do this, please see the ‘Accommodation’ tab on FAQ page HERE.

Alternatively, please email us your questions at tours@rabbies.com or call us on +44(0)131 226 3133.

Information you can find on the FAQ page, under the ‘Accommodation’ tab: types of accommodation, room types, the booking process, getting to and from your accommodation, and cancellation terms.

How much will the accommodation cost?

We book accommodation with third-party providers on your behalf and each property sets their own rates. Rates vary considerably depending on the accommodation standard, facilities, location, and local demand. We therefore can’t tell you exactly how much your accommodation will cost until your request has been allocated to a specific property.

As a guide, you can expect to pay the following prices, per person per night:

 

Approximate prices, per person per night

Overnight Location

 

Sole Occupancy

Multiple Occupancy

 

(1 person per room)

(2+ people per room)

B&B Standard

£80 - £120

£60 - £80

UK & Northern Ireland

€80 - €120

€60 - €80

Ireland

B&B En-suite

£100 - £145

£55 - £95

UK & Northern Ireland

€100 - €145

€55 - €100

Ireland

Hotel

£110 - £190

£75 - £145

UK & Northern Ireland

€130 - €235

€75 - €150

Ireland

NOTE: Prices quoted are for guidance only and may be higher on some occasions, especially for last-minute bookings and when demand is high (E.g. peak season, weekends, holidays, special events etc)

Breakfast will be included unless otherwise noted. The type of breakfast provided will vary from place to place so you may receive either a full cooked breakfast, a continental style breakfast (E.g., toast, fruit, cereal), or a packed breakfast bag or tray (E.g., porridge pot, fruit, granola bar).

FAQs

Do you offer hotel pickups in the departure cities?

The UK and Ireland's historic city centres are full of narrow streets and winding roads. So, to speed up your departure, we only pick up from our central meeting points. What's more is leaving the city using the most direct route also reduces the carbon footprint of our tours.

Is there parking close to the departure point?

We don't recommend bringing your car into the centre of our departure cities. It can be hard to find parking, and there are excellent public transportation services.

When should I get to the departure point?

Arrive 15 minutes before your departure time. Due to waiting restrictions, we can't wait for you if you're late.

What happens if I'm late or miss the tour?

If you're late for your tour, our cancellation policy applies. 100% charges are applicable, and you will not be entitled to a refund or alternative.

What are your cancellation policies?

We have a cancellation period of 48 hours for our one day tours, 15 days for two to nine day tours, and 21 days for 10+ day tours. If cancelled outside this period, we'll give you a full refund minus a 10% admin charge. If you cancel inside this period, refunds are at our discretion. Click here to view full terms and conditions.

Can Itineraries change?

Your tour will always follow the itinerary as closely as possible. Your driver-guide will keep you up to date on the road, and we'll try to get in touch about any large changes prior to your departure.

Can I pre-book a specific seat?

Due to logistical reasons, we're unable to let you pre-book a seat on the bus. But our comfortable 16-seat mini-coaches have huge windows. So, you'll always get a good view.

Are there toilets on the bus?

Unfortunately, we have no on-board toilet facilities, but you'll have regular comfort breaks.

How do you cater for people with accessibility needs?

We aim to accommodate everyone. To read more information on how we do this, click here to go to our accessibility guide.

Do you take children on your tours?

We regret we don't carry children under the age of five on our scheduled tours.

You can ask us about the tours we recommend for younger children. And if your child is less than 1.35m tall, you should let us know, so we can provide them with a suitable booster seat.

How much time do I get off the bus?

We want you to enjoy Britain and Ireland. And we believe the best way to do this is to get you off the mini-coach and out exploring. So, we give you plenty of time to take photos, go walking, and explore ancient ruins.

Why do you exclude visitor attractions?

We exclude visitor attractions in your tour price because it lets you travel your way. It means you can pamper yourself with a luxury lunch or skip an attraction whenever you feel like it.

Do we need to bring our own lunch?

You don't need to. We stop in small towns, villages, and rural eateries where you can choose whatever meal pleases both your taste buds and your budget.

Should I tip the driver-guide?

Let's be honest, our driver-guides would never refuse a cheeky bonus. But it's up to you, and the amount is entirely at your discretion.

What about travel insurance?

We advise you take out travel insurance.

What is ABTOT?

You're protected by ABTOT when you chose to let us reserve your accommodation on a multi-day tour. This means you can claim back anything you've paid us if we become bankrupt. Read our terms and conditions for more information.

I have more questions, who can help me?

If you have any more questions, call us on +44(0)131 226 3133, email tours@rabbies.com , or check out our full FAQs .


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