Explore the Scottish Highlands on an Outlander Day Tour from Inverness. Visit iconic sites, hear captivating stories, and immerse in history.
Explore the Scottish Highlands on an Outlander Day Tour from Inverness. Visit iconic sites, hear captivating stories, and immerse in history.
- Abertarff House - Believed to be the Town House of Lord Lovat, also known as Simon the Fox, this house was constructed in 1593 and is the oldest in Inverness. In the context of “Outlander,” Simon would have been Jamie’s grandfather. Historically, Lovat was a fascinating and vibrant figure, featured in the book “The Last Highlander.”
- **Old High St…
- Abertarff House - Believed to be the Town House of Lord Lovat, also known as Simon the Fox, this house was constructed in 1593 and is the oldest in Inverness. In the context of “Outlander,” Simon would have been Jamie’s grandfather. Historically, Lovat was a fascinating and vibrant figure, featured in the book “The Last Highlander.”
- Old High St Stephen’s Church - After the Battle of Culloden, Jacobite prisoners were detained in the church tower. Blindfolded, they were executed one by one. Given that this was a civil war, it is plausible that wounded prisoners at Balnain House across the river witnessed their relatives being shot. Musket ball marks are still visible on the tower wall, a testament to the brutality of the time.
- Culloden Battlefield - Jamie Fraser, the protagonist of Diana Gabaldon’s books and the film series, fought with Bonnie Prince Charlie’s Jacobite Army and was left for dead here. The Fraser stone, marking where his clan fell, is near the central monument and often adorned with flowers. The award-winning Visitor Centre is worth exploring. Culloden was the last pitched battle on British soil, and the defeat marked the end of the Highland way of life. Following Culloden, an Act of Proscription banned tartan, arms, Gaelic, and bagpipes for 40 years, leading to virtual ethnic cleansing by William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, known as Butcher Cumberland.
- Culloden Moor - At Kings House Stables, Jacobite officers, including Jamie Fraser, were imprisoned overnight and executed the next morning.
- Clava Cairns - Admission Required. This 4,000-year-old burial site also served as a communal meeting place for the Pictish community, possibly an early parliament. The three cairns are surrounded by standing stones, believed to inspire Creag Na Dun in “Outlander.” The site is built on ley lines, with energy conduits thought to connect the stones to the cairns. Two stones, the tallest at cairn one and the butterfly stone at cairn three, attract fans and resemble stones from the series. This spiritual place likely hosted many lost ceremonies and profoundly affects some visitors.
- Wardlaw Mausoleum - Originally built in 1634 at the end of the Parish Church, this mausoleum is the burial site for the Lovat Frasers. Notably, it houses the reputed coffin of Simon, Lord Lovat, Jamie Fraser’s grandfather in “Outlander.” A recent forensic investigation by Dame Sue Black suggests the remains are of a headless woman around 30 years old. Simon and two other rebel Earls were executed in London, with authorities claiming they were buried in the Tower’s wall. The Wardlaw custodian seeks permission to exhume the remains. This visit requires respect for the Fraser family and mausoleum custodians.
- Castle Leod - This 12th-century castle, home to the Earl of Cromartie, chief of Clan MacKenzie, has a rich history. “Outlander” was filmed at Doune Castle, named Castle Leoch, as a homage to the real-life home of Jamie Fraser’s guardians. Special arrangements allow for photo opportunities with the castle. On select days, visitors can meet the Chief and Lady MacKenzie. The grounds feature a woodland walk with notable trees, including one planted by Diana Gabaldon, a patron and friend of the estate.
- Beauly Priory - Founded in 1230 by monks from Dijon, France, and local landowner John Byset, the Abbey was visited by Mary Queen of Scots, who may have named the town “Beau Lieu” (Beautiful Place). Many Fraser and MacKenzie chiefs are buried here. In “Outlander,” Claire receives advice from a Gaelic Seer while Jamie is wounded in the rear chapel. This was also the site where they left Scotland for France. Oliver Cromwell sacked the Priory, using its stones to build his Citadel in Inverness.
- Fort George - Built after the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion, this fortress symbolizes the British Government’s resolve to prevent another Highland uprising. Constructed at a cost of £240,000, it remains home to the Black Watch Regiment. It replaced three fortresses destroyed by the Jacobite Army and is akin to Fort William in “Outlander,” where Jamie was tortured by Captain Jack.
- Private tour exclusive to your group
- Knowledgeable driver/guide at your service
- Live commentary for an engaging experience
- Convenient hotel/port pickup and drop-off included
- Comfortable transport in a private vehicle
- Private tour exclusive to your group
- Knowledgeable driver/guide at your service
- Live commentary for an engaging experience
- Convenient hotel/port pickup and drop-off included
- Comfortable transport in a private vehicle
- Gratuities
- Gratuities
Depending on the size of your party you will either be in a luxury saloon or a high-end luxury tourer for a larger party. Your party will be able to customize their tour and your guide will discuss the best options for the day depending on your preferences.
The success of Diana Gabaldon’s “Outlander” novels, and the resultant TV series, has been…
Depending on the size of your party you will either be in a luxury saloon or a high-end luxury tourer for a larger party. Your party will be able to customize their tour and your guide will discuss the best options for the day depending on your preferences.
The success of Diana Gabaldon’s “Outlander” novels, and the resultant TV series, has been something of a phenomenon and has brought a new focus and a virtual explosion of interest to many of the historic sites throughout Scotland. The Highlands is the centre stage of the unfolding story both in fact and the tapestry of fictional story.
You will visit the following places in the company of our driver/guide whose commentary will bring alive the relevance of these visits.
- Driver will pick up from your location and drop off at your required final destination.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.