Outlander is a popular show based upon the history of the Jacobite era in Scotland in the 18th century, featuring battles, romance and spectacular scenery. This article dives into the series, discovering the most popular characters, historical accuracy, filming locations and more, providing you with everything you need to know about the highly regarded show.

The term ‘Outlander’ is searched on google 2.63 million times per month with 803,000 of those searches coming from the US alone. This highlights the popularity of the show as compared to the similar show ‘The Last Kingdom’ which is only searched 1.8 million times per month. The Jacobite focussed series is rated highly on IMDB with a rating of 8.4 out of 10 which identifies the reasoning behind the large search volumes and popularity.

The effect that Netflix has had on the series is substantial, as the second most searched for Outlander based term is ‘outlander netflix’ with 52,900 monthly searches.

Outlander is only available on the American version of Netflix where UK based viewers have access to the series through Amazon Prime.

Outlander vs Game of Thrones: How Popular is Outlander When Compared to Similar Shows?

Based on both search volumes and instagram hashtag usage, Outlander is the second most popular series that we examined, just behind Game of Thrones.

However, when comparing the UK fans and the US fans, the show is vastly more popular in the US, with 803,000 searches a month in the compared to 118,000 in the UK.

In comparison, Game of Thrones achieves 286,000 searches per month in the UK which is more than double that of Outlander.

Outlander Reception: What Did Viewers Think of the Show? 

So now we know what the critics thought of the show, but what did most people think of the series Outlander? To find out we surveyed 1,000 UK adults asking whether or not they’ve seen Outlander and what they thought of the show. 

As you can see from the pie chart, the survey found that of those who have seen the show (155 out of the 1,000 surveyed):

• 58% enjoyed watching Outlander

• 26.5% were indifferent 

• 15.5% didn’t enjoy it 

The survey also found that: 

• Slightly more men than women have watched the series Outlander 

• The show unsurprisingly seems to be most popular in Scotland, as 90% of Scots said they’d at least heard of the Outlander series

• Outlander also seems to be popular in Ireland, with 87.5% of respondents in Ireland saying they’ve heard of the series. 

• In England 76.5% and in Wales 71.5% of people have heard of the show. 

Things Outlander Got Factually Correct

• The Battle of Culloden was factually accurate. 

• Jamie Fraser’s character was based on a real-life Jacobite soldier who survived the Battle Of Culloden.

• In Scotland, women were viewed as men’s property both in the show and in real-life.

• Lord Lovat was a real person in historical Scotland.

• Scottish people in the time were very superstitious as is depicted in Outlander.

• Before the availability of modern medicine, there were healers who used herbal remedies to treat patients, just like depicted in Outlander.

• The Jacobites defeated the British at Prestonpans as shown in the show.

• Highlander scots were mainly lower class in 1743, as depicted in the series.

• Womens costumes in Outlander were historically accurate for the time period.

What Did Outlander Portray that was Historically Inaccurate?

• The Witch Trial which took place would have been illegal at the time that Outlander is set.

• Jamie's tartans are the wrong colour in the show. The Fraser of Lovat’s tartans were actually bold red and green in the clan’s kilts, but on Outlander, they instead wear grey and blue tartans.

• In the show, not many Jacobites carried Targes (shields) which is historically inaccurate. Many Jacobites opted to carry both offensive and defensive weapons when going into battle.

• A farmer’s son didn’t give the Jacobites their strategy at Prestonpans, it was an army general that grew up in the area of the battle and had prior knowledge of the marshlands. 

• It wasn’t purely England Vs. Scotland in the 18th century, some Scots chose the English side and not that of the Jacobites. 

• Paris would have had more modern medicine treatments than what Claire used as a healer in the show.

The series has resulted in a drastic increase in tourism to some locations in Scotland, with attractions such as Doune Castle experiencing a 200% increase in visitors rising from 38,000 a year to 142,000. 

Outlander's scenes show off a whole host of beautiful Scottish landscapes, but where exactly were the key scenes filmed? In this section we uncover the most recognisable set locations on the show which will be recognisable to Outlanders strong fanbase, from where the opening sequence is filmed to where Jamie and Claire got married. 

Scottish Filming Locations From Key Scenes in Outlander

Glencoe - Opening sequence for each episode.

Kinloch Rannoch - The scene in which Claire travels back in time to the year 1743. Filmed at Rannoch Moor in the village of Kinloch Rannoch in Perth and Kinross - Scottish highlands.

Drummond Castle - The Palace of Versailles gardens during an episode of the show.

Doune Castle - Castle Leoch, the home of Jamie's uncle and the Mackenzie clan.

Clava Cairn - The inspiration behind Craigh na Dun. (East of Inverness)

Calanais - Also inspired Craigh na Dun. (isle of Lewis)

Where in Edinburgh was Outlander Filmed? 

Blackness Castle - Used as the filming location for Fort William. Unfortunately, the real Fort William no longer exists. (Jamie received a whipping by Tobias Menzies' character, Black Jack Randall in a memorable scene at this location.)

Glencorse Old Kirk - The location in the show where Jamie and Claire got married.

Midhope Castle - Lallybroch, the home of Jamie Fraser.

Newhailes House - It appeared in season four of Outlander, notable especially in the first episode of the series. Governor Tyron's mansion in North Carolina in the United States.

Tweeddale Court - It's seen in the show as an 18th century Edinburgh street.

World’s End Pub - Jamie helps Mr Willoughby get out of a tricky situation with a sex worker at this location. The inside of the pub was filmed in a studio but the outside can be visited by tourists.

Bakehouse Close - The 'print shop' scene was filmed here which is an important location for Jamie and Claire's romance. They reunite, after years apart, in season three.

Palace of Holyrood - home of Prince Charlie.

Linlithgow Palace - Wentworth Prison.

Craigmillar Castle - Ardsmuir Prison.

Outlander Filming Locations in Glasgow

Glasgow Cathedral - In season two, the lower section of the cathedral was transformed into L'Hôpital des Anges in Paris, France.

George square - proposal scenes between Claire and Frank in season one.

Kelvingrove Park - In season three, Claire passes over the park's Kelvin Bridge with a buggy.

Glasgow University - Harvard University in later seasons of the show.

Outlander Filming Locations in Fife

Falkland - Scenes set in Inverness, where Claire and Frank visit on their second honeymoon.

The B&B they stay in is called the Covenanter Hotel. In season two, several streets were used in filming Inverness in the 1740s. 

Dysart Harbour - Claire arrives in Le Havre, France with Jamie and Murtagh.

Culross - Cranesmuir, the village (and church) where plenty of early action takes place in the series.

Aberdour Castle - The monastery, Abbey of Ste. Anne de Beaupré, which appears in season one.

Below is an interactive map with all the above locations listed, allowing you to explore which scenes were filmed in which areas of Scotland.