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Historic Scotland sites used in Outlander

A man and a woman stand beside a vintage dark red convertible parked on grass near a stone building. The man wears a brown suit and hat, while the woman in a blue coat turns toward him smiling.

Discover the Historic Scotland sites that you can spot in television's time-travelling epic, Outlander.

We're often asked if any Historic Scotland sites featured in Outlander. The answer is yes!

Fans of the historical drama can use this guide to help incorporate filming locations into their itinerary and follow in the footsteps of Claire Randall and Jamie Fraser. Of course, these sites offer more than just film and TV magic; they are windows into Scotland’s turbulent history and timeless beauty. Pack your camera and let the stories unfold!

The header image shows Tobias Menzies and Caitriona Balfe filming Outlander at Doune Castle (© Sony Pictures Television INC. All rights reserved).

Craigmillar Castle

Just two miles from Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, Craigmillar Castle is a beautifully preserved medieval fortress. It sheltered Mary Queen of Scots in 1566 and was the setting for the infamous plot against her husband, Lord Darnley.

Fans of Outlander will recognize its rugged stone walls as Ardsmuir Prison, where Jamie Fraser was held in Season 3.

Visitors can wander the spiral staircases, battlements and atmospheric courtyard for a true cinematic experience.

Visit Craigmillar Castle

A dramatic scene of soldiers in red coats working outside the walls of an old stone fortress during heavy rainfall or snow. A cannon and scattered wooden structures fill the foreground.
Craigmillar Castle appearing in Outlander (© Sony Pictures Television INC. All rights reserved).
The castle’s stone towers glow in late afternoon light, set against autumn trees and the city skyline.

Blackness Castle

Perched on the Firth of Forth, Blackness Castle’s ship-like silhouette earned it the nickname “the ship that never sailed.” Built in the 15th century, it served as a royal prison and artillery fort.

On screen, it became Fort William in Outlander, the site of Jamie’s brutal flogging.

Its coastal views are as striking as its on screen appearances!

Visit Blackness Castle

Aerial view of Blackness Castle surrounded by water and countryside under clear blue sky.

Linlithgow Palace

This grand Renaissance ruin was once a majestic royal residence of Scottish monarchs, and was the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots.

In Outlander, its shadowy corridors stood in for Wentworth Prison, where Jamie endured harrowing scenes.

Climb to the top for sweeping views over Linlithgow Loch and imagine the royal pageantry that once filled the palace’s halls.

Visit Linlithgow Palace

A grey, moody sky, autumn leaves on trees, and a palace sits atop a hill beside a loch
Linlithgow Palace's north range from inside the courtyard. Some people are chatting on a bench
Ornate fountain in the middle of a palace courtyard

Doune Castle

Doune Castle is a 14th-century stronghold built for the 1st Duke of Albany and Governor of Scotland. The castle has become recognisable around the world as Castle Leoch in Outlander, home to Clan MacKenzie.

Doune is no stranger to the camera and has also featured in Monty Python and the Holy Grail and as Winterfell in the pilot episode of Game of Thrones.

On your visit to the castle, you can pick up an audio guide featuring the voices of Outlander star Sam Heughan and Python Terry Jones.

Visit Doune Castle

Two women in 18th‑century clothing stand in a garden with baskets. One wears a grey cloak and the other a brown dress with a fitted bodice. A castle rises in the background.
Lotte Verbeek and Caitriona Balfe filming at Doune (© Sony Pictures Television INC. All rights reserved).
A large stone castle, with two levels. There are several windows on the castle. There is a path leading out of the front of the castle. It sits on a grassy landscape, and there are trees in the background.

Aberdour Castle

Dating back to the 12th century, Aberdour Castle in Fife is among the oldest masonry castles still standing in Scotland.

Its tranquil gardens and historic interiors made it the perfect stand-in for Sainte Anne de Beaupré’s monastery in Outlander, where Claire helped Jamie recover after Wentworth.

Explore the painted ceilings and walled gardens for a glimpse into medieval elegance.

Visit Aberdour Castle

A historic stone castle, with extensive grounds, and a round stone doocot beside an orchard

Urquhart Castle and Clava Cairns

Urquhart Castle features in the Outlander novels, with Claire and Frank Randall enjoying a day trip to the dramatic ruin on the shores of Loch Ness 

A site with slightly more tenuous connection to the books is Clava Cairns, near Inverness. Many of today’s visitors associate the 4,000 year-old site with “Craigh na Dun”, the fictional stone circle where Claire travels back in time.

While we’re pretty sure you can’t travel through dimensions at Clava Cairns, they remain a very special place, built by our ancient ancestors to host spiritual rituals or as resting places for important individuals.

Visit Urquhart Castle

Visit Clava Cairns

Visitors to a castle walk along a path to a tower, which they will be able to climb
Blue sky, green trees and grass, and a cairn, centre, with standing stones around it

Balvaird Castle

Whilst not used in Outlander, this well-preserved tower house in Fife does appear in the prequal series, Blood of My Blood.

The castle works well as a filming location given that it is remarkably complete. Most tower houses from this period now stand alone, without the other buildings and gardens which would have once surrounded them. Balvaird is rare because the visitor can still see it in a fuller context.

Visit Balvaird Castle

Lee Howard

More stars of the screen

Discover more of the films and TV shows that have featured Historic Scotland sites.

Filmed at our sites
A man in 19th‑century clothing, lit with dramatic stage lighting, holds a glass vial aloft while speaking passionately to an audience seated in wooden gallery benches. Two young adults sitting outdoors on a hill with a city and water in the background. They smile toward the camera; the man has messy hair and sunglasses on his head, and the woman wears a yellow sleeveless top. An elderly nun clutches a tall stone pillar outdoors, looking emotional as wind and rain sweep across a bleak, rocky landscape.