Magical Outlander filming locations in Scotland

Long before it came to our shores, Outlander was incredibly popular in the States. So, it was no surprise when it quickly became a hit with the UK audience. The period fantasy show, based on Diana Gabaldon’s series of novels, features Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe as protagonists Jamie Fraser and Claire Randall in a tale of passion, time travel, mystery and pain.

Set in 18th-century Scotland, the series showcases a stunning array of filming locations across the country, from Falkland in Fife to Rannoch Moor in Perthshire. We’ve put together a comprehensive guide of the most northerly Outlander filming locations, where fans can take in gorgeous landscapes and relive scenes from the impressive TV series. 

There are many ways to experience Scotland, and seeking out the beauty spots and buildings where your favourite films and TV shows were shot gives your holiday a great narrative.

If you are planning a holiday in Scotland to track down some of the beautiful Outlander filming sites that have been lensed for this series, then click the button below to browse our collection. 

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For more epic filming locations in Scotland visit our inspiring blog.

Skip to your favourite season of Outlander:

• Outlander locations in Edinburgh
• Outlander locations in Glasgow
• Season one's filming locations
• Season two's filming locations
• Season three's filming locations
• Season four's filming locations
• Season five's filming locations

Outlander locations in Edinburgh

In the aftermath of Culloden, Jamie opens a print shop business in Carfax Close under the pseudonym of Alexander Malcolm. The location for this print shop was the Old Town Bakehouse Close, a gorgeous old stone building. Only the exterior of the property was used during filming, but this is where Claire and Jamie were finally reunited after years of separation, making it a must-see for any fan.

Also in series three, Craigmillar Castle was used to film Ardsmuir Prison run by Lord John Grey. This was where Jamie and other Jacobites were imprisoned. In real life, this majestic castle is most famous for having hidden Mary Queen of Scots in 1566. It’s a great castle in Scotland for exploring, so it’s no surprise it was chosen as a location for the show.

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Edinburgh cottages

Outlander locations in Glasgow

The incredible architecture and golden Glasgow stone make this a special and romantic spot. It was picked to be the setting where Frank proposed to Claire out of the blue. Glasgow is a city full of maritime, mercantile and cultural history, and is great for an amazing city break in Scotland. Many other films have been shot in Glasgow too.

The inside of Glasgow Cathedral was used for filming Mother Hildegarde and the nuns of the Couvent des Ange, replicating the L’Hopital des Anges in season two as well. The wonderful Kelvingrove Park in Glasgow was the backdrop for Claire in episode two of season three when she was pushing Bree’s pram. It’s a popular place and is located in the west of Glasgow.

In season five, the interior and exterior of the magnificent Thomas Coats Memorial Church in Paisley, West Glasgow were used during scenes set in the sixties, featuring Caitriona Balfe.

This beautiful 18th-century church in Glasgow was transformed into a theatre in Willington by the Outlander team when Claire and Jamie attended a play, and Claire had to perform an emergency medical procedure. 

Filming at St. Andrews in the Square took place in March 2018 for season four.

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Glasgow cottages

Outlander - season one's filming locations

Much of the first series was filmed in the glorious landscape of Scotland, so there are plenty of fantastic locations for you and your fellow fans to visit. Read on to discover the location of these Outlander shooting sites. 

Falkland, Fife

Representing 1940s Inverness, the picturesque town of Falkland in the borough of Fife features early on in the first show. At the Bruce Fountain, keep an eye out for Jamie’s ghost which was seen by Claire, and visit the remarkable Covenanter Hotel which is just as cosy as its on-screen alibi Mrs Baird’s Guesthouses. You may also recognise Campbell’s Coffee Shop and Farrell’s Hardware and Furniture Store from when Claire was window shopping.

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Falkland cottages

Tulloch Ghru, near Aviemore

Outlander filming locations close to Aviemore in the Cairngorms National Park, include the stunning scenery of Tulloch Ghru that features within the opening credits and provides the atmospheric backdrop for Claire and Jamie’s ride with the Highlanders from Craigh na Dun to Castle Leoch.

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Aviemore cottages

Highland Folk Museum, near Newtonmore

The 18th-century Highland Croft replicas within the Highland Folk Museum, near Newtonmore in the Cairngorms, were used for Mackenzie village scenes and in the very first episode when Claire, Jamie and the clansmen were sheltering. It also took on the role of Leoch village later in the series.

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Newtonmore cottages

Finnich Glen, near Stirling

This Outlander filming site, near Stirling, is well-worth seeking out. An 80-foot-deep gorge cut through a quarter of a mile of sandstone, Finnich Glen provides the magical backdrop for the scene in which Claire’s honesty is tested by Dougal at the fictional St. Ninian’s Spring.

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Stirling cottages

Doune Castle, near Dunblane

Another castle playing a prominent role in the series is Doune Castle, near Dunblane, which represents the fictional Castle Loch where Colum MacKenzie and his clan reside. You can follow in the footsteps of Claire and Frank’s visit to the ruins by taking a tour to learn more about its true history.

Aberdour Castle, near Dunfermline

The romantic ruins of what was once an opulent home, Aberdour Castle in Aberdour near Dunfermline, doubles as St Anne de Beaupré’s monastery in France to where Jamie escapes, as his Uncle is Abbot there.

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Dunfermline cottages

Culross, Fife

Set on the River Forth and like a scene straight out of the 16th century, it’s not difficult to see why Culross’ Mercat Cross area was picked to represent the fictional town of Cranesmuir. Walking its narrow, cobbled alleyways, you really feel as though you’ve been taken back in time. The garden of the palace is where Claire tends to the herbs in Outlander, within the grounds of the fictional Castle Leoch.

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Culross cottages

Preston Mill and Phantassie Doocot, near North Berwick

It's no surprise that this picturesque mill and doocot (that used to house 500 pigeons) were chosen as a backdrop for the Outlander series. Preston Mill and Phantassie Doocot near North Berwick were featured as an atmospheric backdrop for some of the 1940s scenes.

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North Berwick cottages

Bo’ness and Kinneil Railway, near Falkirk

Not only is a trip on the Bo’ness and Kinneil Steam Railway, in Bo'ness near Falkirk, a thrilling experience for all the family, but the station is also where Claire and Frank bid their emotional goodbyes. In the series, it represents the 1940’s London station where Claire heads off to war.

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Falkirk cottages

Blackness Castle, West Lothian

Commanding incredible views out over the Firth of Forth and beyond to Fife, Blackness Castle near Edinburgh features as the home of the formidable Black Jack Randall where Jamie was hurt and imprisoned. It's quite the landmark and is one of the best Outlander filming locations to visit in West Lothian.

Linlithgow Palace, Linlithgow

Playing a fleeting role, Linlithgow Palace in Linlithgow is where the prison corridors and entrances were filmed in episode 15 of Outlander. In ‘real life’ it was the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots and acted as a mid-point for the royals when they were travelling between Edinburgh Castle and Stirling Castle.

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Linlithgow cottages

Troon, Ayrshire

Scenes from the end of the first series were shot in the spectacular seaside town of Troon in beautiful Ayrshire. While there, the cast were filmed onboard a 17th-century ship.

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Troon cottages

Outlander - season two's filming locations

In the second series, Outlander took to Europe and commenced filming in Prague and France. However, no country could compare to the incredible Scottish backdrop, meaning lots of filming still took place in the north.

Clava Cairns, near Culloden

One of the most significant places in the series is the Standing Stones, the mystical spot where Claire was first brought back in time. Many Outlander fans will know that it was filmed at Clava Cairns, a burial site built in the Bronze Age, situated near Culloden. It’s an incredible place to watch the sun set and during the winter solstice, two of the cairns align with the sun, making it a magical place to visit.

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Culloden cottages

Drummond Castle Gardens, near Perth

Claire and James spend much of series two in Versailles, but did you know part of it was filmed in Scotland? In fact, Versailles was replicated by the spectacular Drummond Castle Gardens, near Perth. Take a look and imagine you are wandering the gardens of a French palace.

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Perth cottages

Cumbernauld Glen, near Glasgow

The Battle of Culloden becomes a huge hurdle to Claire in series two as she tries to help Jamie. The scenes were not filmed on site due to their significant historical importance but instead were filmed in Cumbernauld Glen, near Glasgow and they are returning to this magnificent spot for the filming of series four.

For insight into that period of history, Drummossie Moor where the Battle of Culloden took place is still worthy of your attention.

Outlander - season three's filming locations

The third series of Outlander saw filming all the way out in South Africa, but again the team always return to glorious Scotland for spectacular landscapes and fantastic architecture.

Dunure, near Ayr

A quaint village on the west coast of Scotland, Dunure, near Ayr, has a fishing harbour and incredible cliff views that were often used as a backdrop throughout series three.

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Ayr cottages

Outlander - season four's filming locations

In series four, the Outlander characters spend a lot of time in North Carolina, yet much of the filming still takes place in beautiful Scotland. With such a remarkable variety of landscapes in the north, why would you ever film anywhere else? 

Beecraigs Country Park, near Linlithgow

Another impressive forest used in Outlander season four filming, Beecraigs Country Park near Linlithgow first appears in episode three, ‘The False Bride’, when Claire gets lost while horse riding during stormy weather. It appears again in episode four ‘Common Ground’ when Jamie meets with Quincy Meyers.

Abercorn Church, near Edinburgh

Abercorn Church’s graveyard near Edinburgh is the stunning setting for an emotional moment as we see Bree standing over Frank’s grave wondering if he’d still be alive had she stayed with him. The church itself is a charming building with Romanesque architecture set in the quiet hamlet of Abercorn.

Hill of Row, near Stirling

Up on the Hill of Row near the David Stirling Memorial in Doune, Claire and Jamie’s picturesque Carolina log cabin sits hidden among the forest. It’s a truly iconic location during series four.  

Outlander - season five's filming locations

Season five sees Claire, Jamie, Brianna and Roger still living in North Carolina, so it’s no surprise they continued their work in Scotland which was so wonderful as a stand-in for the American landscape during series four. 

Tyninghame Beach (Ravensheugh Sands), near Dunbar

Back in September 2019, the Outlander team were spotted filming in this stunning Scottish location. Scotland has many magnificent beaches but Tyninghame Beach, near Dunbar, can be considered one of the finest, with a flat expanse of golden sand backed by dunes, and pine forest at either end of the beach. Bass Rock sits around a mile offshore with its own lighthouse and breaks up the horizon view from the shore, making this place an incredible setting for filming.

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Dunbar cottages

The Hermitage, near Dunkeld

A protected site in Dunkeld cared for by the National Trust for Scotland, The Hermitage Woodland Park is home to Black Linn Falls - one of the most dazzling waterfalls in Scotland - along with a folly and towering Douglas fir trees. The Outlander crew were spotted filming here back in October 2019.

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Dunkeld cottages

Stay in a self-catering holiday cottage in Scotland

If you want to visit any of these gorgeous filming locations, you had better act quick. The archaic Victorian Infirmary in Glasgow that was used to replicate the fictional Boston Hospital where Claire worked as a surgeon in series three has since been torn down, so make sure you go and see all there is to see before it’s too late!

For even more ways to see famous film locations in the UK read our collection of interesting blogs about Harry Potter, James Bond, and Marvel (MCU) filming sites in England, Scotland, and Wales.

Tempted to follow in the footsteps of the stars and visit these stunning locations yourself? Book a stay in one of our beautiful Scotland holiday cottages and set out to explore - take care when walking around those stone circles mind!

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