13 Unmissable Outlander Filming Locations To Visit In Scotland

Picture credit: Wikimedia

The 15th-century Blackness Castle stands in as the notorious Fort William in the first and second seasons of Outlander.

Set right on the rocks of the bay on the Firth of Forth coastline, Blackness Castle is frequently referred to as the ‘ship that never sailed’.

Viewed from the sea, the Castle looks much like a ship that has run aground.

Blackness was built in the 1440s. The castle was built on the site of an earlier medieval fortress but was intended as a private residence.

In 1452, Blackness was seized by Jacobite King James II. It served as a military fort and prison for more than 400 years.

If iconic locations are your trip's priority, Blackness Castle should be high on your list. The spectacular castle is the site of 5 scenes from the popular TV series.

For Outlander filming, the modernised areas of the castle had to be changed to remain true to the period. Metal handrails were replaced with traditional wooden fences, and a pillory was constructed in the middle of the rocky courtyard.

Outlander followers were first introduced to Fort William in the stomach-churning scenes of Jamie being flogged by Black Jack Randall. The Castle courtyard is the area where Highlanders were forced to watch Jamie receive the lashes and where Jamie's father dies in shock from the sight.

The castle's entrance gate takes you through a tunnel archway where you will find stairs on your right. This is where Jamie and Murtagh capture a Redcoat after breaking into Fort William to rescue Claire.

Jamie and Claire’s daring escape from Fort William is also filmed at Blackness, where they run along the fortification walls and jump into the sea.

Blackness Castle, an integral filming location for the Jacobite Outlander storyline, is located in South Queensferry, only a 40-minute drive from Edinburgh.

Blackness Castle is open to visitors throughout the year but times can change depending on the season.

10. The Culloden Battlefield

Picture credit: Wikimedia

The Battle of Culloden and the Jacobite rebellion play an integral role in the Outlander story.

The 1746 battle culminated in the Jacobite Rising and the last battle ever on British soil. British forces defeated the Jacobite army under Bonnie Prince Charlie with a great loss of life on the Jacobite side.

The Culloden Battlefield, just outside Inverness, is a historical monument. British soldiers buried Culloden’s fallen in wide but shallow graves, and the site is dotted with memorial headstones. These mark the graves of hundreds of clansmen who lost their lives.

Outlander filmed the battle scene at Cumbernauld Glen, situated between Glasgow and Falkirk. The Glen is an ancient woodland now used by walkers, cyclists, and horse riders.

The filming location for the battle was not the actual battlefield. However, we see Claire visit the Clan Fraser memorial stone at Culloden Battlefield in 1960s Scotland.

There is a visitor centre located near the battle site that features artefacts from both sides of the battle. These include Jacobite weapons. There are also richly researched displays that you can use to find out more about the battle.

11. Craigmillar Castle

Picture credit: Wikimedia

Outlander buffs will recognise the medieval Craigmillar Castle as the fictional Ardsmuir prison. Here, Jamie was imprisoned after the Jacobite rising and the Battle of Culloden.

Unlike the famous Edinburgh Castle, Craigmillar is a lesser-known, quieter tourist attraction. You can get your Outlander fix at this location without the crowd chaos that the better-known sites attract.

Be sure to leave enough time to explore Craigmillar. While much of the castle is ruined, the main structure is still obvious! There are also many entranceways, stairways, nooks, and crannies to explore.

The building of Craigmillar Castle began in the late 1400s and continued through the 15th and 16th centuries. In 1660, Sir John Gillmor, a Scottish judge and politician, took ownership of the castle and updated the interior. Gillmor left the castle in the early 18th century, and it fell into ruin shortly after.

Craigmillar Castle is best known as a haven for Mary Queen of Scots. She arrived there in 1566 after the birth of her son, the future James VI. If you’re interested in the royal bloodlines, read this article on the Jacobite succession.

Here, a pact known as the Craigmillar Bond was made to murder Mary’s husband - Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley. While it was never proved, Mary was the prime suspect. After all, she had plenty of motives.

Several spots in Craigmillar Castle were used as Ardsmuir Prison in Outlander - including the castle exteriors, courtyard, and stairways. Almost no modifications were made to the building for filming.

The front of the castle, with the coat of arms over the doorway, is immediately recognisable as the outside of Ardsmuir Prison.

But the scene that best defines Craigmillar as Ardmuir is the prison courtyard, with the pair of ancient yew trees at the castle's entrance. The yew trees were planted as a feature of the castle entrance, but it’s believed that they provided wood for bows and arrows.

If you missed the trees at the beginning of the episode, they are sure to catch your eye in the scene when Lord John Grey asks Jamie to translate what Duncan Kerr says about the gold.

Craigmillar is one of the best-preserved medieval castles in Scotland. The Historic Environments Scotland owns the castle and is open daily to the public. Opening times vary depending on the season.

12. Bakehouse Close

Picture credit: Wikimedia

A. Malcolm Print Shop in Carfax Close is a must-visit Outlander location!

This is the location of Jamie and Claire’s reunion after twenty years, and two centuries, apart.

In one of the most iconic scenes in season 3, Claire asks a young baker boy if there is a print shop in the area. He directs her to Carfax Close. When she walks through the arch, she sees the print shop sign and walks up the exterior stairs.

The film crew transformed the exterior with barrels, ropes and carts to make it look like 18th-century Edinburgh. However, when you step up to the location, you’ll recognise it as the filming location immediately!

Carfax Close does not exist. The real name of the location is Bakehouse Close. It’s one of the best preserved historic closes off the Royal Mile in Edinburgh.

Bakehouse Close is one of 80 closes or alleyways running off The Royal Mile in the Scottish capital. The area is well preserved, so it’s not hard to feel immersed in the 18th century.

Alleyways were traditionally named after a prosperous person or a trade relating to that particular passage. Bakehouse Close takes its name from the Bakers of the Canongate, who owned property on the west side of the close.

The house was built in 1633 for Archibald Acheson in what was, at the time, a desirable area. The family crest showed a cockerel over a trumpet and was carved into a stone tablet above the door.

Toward the end of the 1700s, the area became somewhat seedy. Bakehouse Close was home to a Victorian brothel. When the building became a brothel, it was named ‘Cock and Strumpet’ as a lewd twist on the Acheson family crest above the door.

The house was saved from demolition in 1935 when the Marquess of Bute purchased it. Today, it is the home of Edinburgh World Heritage. You can still see the Acheson family crest above the doorway as it was centuries ago.

13. Preston Mill

Picture credit: Wikimedia

Preston Mill is the location of the tense scene where Jamie learns that the Lallybroch Mill is not working.

While he is trying to fix the wheel, a band of redcoats arrives. Jamie is hiding under the water when one of the redcoats tries to fix the mill.

Preston Mill is one of the best Outlander filming locations to visit, and you’ll recognise it quickly!

This location is well worth a visit. The site lends itself to some great photo opportunities. The Dutch Canonical-styled mill is the last 18th-century watermill in East Linton.

The mill gets its name from the nearby Preston Hamlet. It has been in this location since at least the 16th century. In 1948, the buildings were flooded. In 1950, The National Trust of Scotland took over the mill. It was renovated and operated again until 1959.

Today, the River Tyne still drives the water wheel, and visitors who take part in the guided tour can see the machinery at work. Visitors can also learn about the gruelling nature of the miller’s work.

Preston Mill was also used for Claire and Geillis Duncan’s witch trial. The museum exhibition room you can visit at the mill was the location of the court ante-room.

Preston Mill is 25 miles from Edinburgh, in the wider county of East Lothian. The mill is closed for the winter months and has varying opening times.

If you want to take the tour, check the opening days and times before planning your visit.

Conclusion

If you’re on the lookout for some unmissable Outlander filming locations - this list will guide you through many adventures!

The Outlander TV Series has significantly boosted Scotland's tourism industry. Many of the names and places in the series are fictional, but the filming locations are real, and plenty are easy to access!

While Outlander filming locations in Scotland offer something for everyone, it’s hard to know where to begin. Planning your itinerary ahead of time is essential, especially if your time is limited.

Whether you’re looking to explore some of the Outlander castles, other filming locations, or simply beautiful scenery - Scotland has it all! You might want to book one of the best Outlander tours of Scotland if you’re not sure where to start.