Edinburgh: Outlander Tour with Midhope Castle & Linlithgow
See the Actual Castles Where Outlander Was Filmed
You visit five Outlander filming locations in one day — Falkland, Culross, Doune Castle, Linlithgow Palace and Midhope Castle — with a trained guide who explains the history and the show's connection to each site. Hotel pickup from central Edinburgh and return drop-off are included, along with the flexibility to grab lunch in Linlithgow. The tour runs March through December, with Midhope Castle available during those months.
Step-by-step itinerary
Visit Outlander filming locations
- Visit Falkland, Inverness stand-in
- Explore Culross village scenes
- Optional visit to Doune Castle
- Tour Linlithgow Palace ruins
- Photo stop at Midhope Castle
- Return to Edinburgh via Forth Bridges
The Experience
What if the places you've watched on screen for hours are still standing, unchanged, a few miles outside Edinburgh? That's the thing about this Outlander tour — you're not visiting a theme park or a recreation. You're standing in front of the real 16th-century tower house that plays Lallybroch, Jamie Fraser's home, or walking through Linlithgow Palace, the 12th-century ruin that became Wentworth Prison in the series. The day starts with a pickup from central Edinburgh and moves through four main stops, each one a location that shaped a season of the show.
Falkland comes first, the village that stands in for Inverness and where Claire and Frank honeymoon at the start. It's small, genuinely old, and the kind of place where you can see why the production chose it — the streets haven't changed much since the 1700s, which is exactly the point. Then you move to Culross, where the Mercat Cross marks the center of Cranesmuir from season one. This is where Geillis Duncan's house was filmed, where Jamie frees the pinned thief, where the witchcraft scenes happen. Your guide will walk you through the actual locations and explain what you're looking at, which matters because the show used real architecture, not sets. Culross Palace is nearby too, used for interior shots of Laoghaire's home in later seasons.
Doune Castle is the optional extra stop — it's the one that played Castle Leoch, but it's also been used in Game of Thrones and Monty Python, so it's a castle that's worked a lot. Linlithgow Palace is the centerpiece, though. Those massive stone ruins date back to the 12th century and were the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots. In Outlander, it's Wentworth Prison, the place where the most brutal scenes happen. Standing in front of it, knowing what you've watched there, hits different. The town of Linlithgow has restaurants and cafes if you want to grab lunch during the tour. The day finishes at Midhope Castle — the real Lallybroch — where you get a photo at the archway entrance that every fan recognizes. You can't go inside, but that's not really the point. You're there.
The tour runs March through December, with Midhope Castle available those months (a few December dates happen, but it's not guaranteed). On rare occasions Blackness Castle substitutes for Doune if there's a scheduling conflict. Your guide is experienced and trained, and the whole thing ends with a drop-off back in central Edinburgh, so you don't have to figure out transport or timing yourself. It's a full day, but it moves at a pace that lets you actually see and absorb each place instead of rushing through a checklist.
What’s included
- Your day includes central Edinburgh city centre pickup and drop-off, a guided tour with a fully trained and experienced driver-guide, and visits to Falkland, Culross, Doune Castle, Linlithgow Palace and Midhope Castle.
- Entry fees to the castles are included.
- You'll have time to explore each location and grab lunch in Linlithgow if you wish, though meals are not provided.
Operated by Gray Line Scotland
Is this one for you?Book this if you've watched Outlander and want to see the actual locations without arranging your own transport or figuring out which sites are open when — the guide handles the logistics and the history, so you just show up and see the places you recognize.
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Can you go inside Midhope Castle?
No, visitors can only photograph the exterior and the archway entrance. It remains a private residence.
Is lunch included in the tour?
No, but the tour stops in Linlithgow where there are restaurants and cafes nearby. You have time to eat during the day.
What happens if Doune Castle is closed?
On rare occasions, Blackness Castle is substituted for Doune Castle due to scheduling conflicts.
When is Midhope Castle available?
Midhope Castle is available March through December, with occasional dates in December depending on the year.
How long is the full tour?
It's a full-day experience covering five locations. The exact duration depends on stops and lunch time.
Do I need to be fit for this tour?
The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. Most time is spent at outdoor locations and in the vehicle.
Where does the tour pick up and drop off?
Pickup and drop-off are in central Edinburgh city centre.
Is the guide knowledgeable about both Outlander and Scottish history?
Yes, the guide is fully trained and experienced, covering both the show's filming locations and the historical significance of each site.
Edinburgh: Outlander Tour with Midhope Castle & Linlithgow
8h · EN
from £ 59 per person
★★★★★★★★★★4.83695 reviews














