Multi-day Outlander tours from Edinburgh go beyond the single-day filming-location dashes. With two or four days you can reach the real castles, standing stones and battlefields that stand in for Jamie and Claire’s Scotland, at a pace that leaves time to actually walk around them.
We’ve had the Harry Potter tours and the whisky tours; what are we missing?
Outlander!
This series has made more areas of Scotland than just the usual tourist routes.
The following two tours allow you to visit some of the places Outlander is filmed, and your guide will walk you through the countryside’s history.
The 2-Day Outlander Experience
A visit to Edinburgh wouldn’t be complete without this two-day tour.
It is ideal for those who want to enjoy Scottish Highland tours from Edinburgh as their base but don’t have the time to put it together.
Day One – Blackness Castle, Doune Castle & Loch Ness
On the first day, your guide will take you to Blackness Castle overlooking the Firth of Forth.
The castle was the backdrop to Fort William and other places in the television series.
Doune Castle, which was used as Castle Leoch, is next, and once you have had a chance to walk a little, you are then on to Deanston Distillery for lunch and a wee dram.
Up through Glen Coe, you have a quick stop at Loch Ness, and then you will arrive at Inverness, where you will stay the night.
Day Two – Craig na Dun, Culloden Battlefield & Midhope Castle
Day two sees you exploring the ruins of Clava Cairns or, for the Outlander fans, Craig na Dun.
Will you be transported back to where Claire was when you touched the stones?
Culloden Battlefield is next, and here you can see where the last battle took place on British soil.
As the day progresses, you will visit the Highland Folk Museum, where you can taste Scotland through the ages.
Returning to Edinburgh, your last stop is Falkland Village, where the scenes for Inverness were shot.
Your final stop and chance to walk in the footsteps of Claire and Jamie is Midhope Castle.
This castle is the setting for Lallybroch.
This short Outlander tour is the perfect experience for those diehard Outlander fans!
The 4-Day Outlander Trail
For a more leisurely tour and a bigger Outlander experience, we suggest the four-day tour.
Ensure you have your camera and a spare battery pack with you.
This will be a spectacular tour!
Day One – Cute Culross & The Highland Folk Museum
Beginning in Fife with the small village of Culross, you will start to see the magic of the small villages used as filming locations.
Stopping here for a photo opportunity, you next move on to the charming village of Falkland.
The scenes for Inverness were shot here.
From here, you move to Newtonmore and the Highland Folk Museum.
You can visit the 18th-century turf-roofed Highland crofts used as a setting in the show’s first episode.
As you drive to Inverness, where you will spend the next two nights, you pass by Aviemore and the setting for Tulloch Ghru.
Day Two – Culloden Battlefield, Clava Cairns (Craig na Dun) & Castle Leod
Your guide will now visit Culloden Battlefield, where Claire and Jamie said their tearful goodbyes before Jamie joined the Jacobite army to fight for the Stuarts.
You can spend time at the visitors centre and see where so many lost their lives at the last fought battle on British soil.
Your next stop is the ruins of Clava Cairns or, for you, Outlander fans, Craig na Dun.
Will you be transported back in time to where Claire was when you touched the stones?
After lunch, you can explore Castle Leod, the home of Clan MacKenzie in the series, before moving on to the heart of the Fraser lands.
A stop at a distillery will allow you to sample the ‘water of life’ before heading back to Inverness for your overnight stay.
Day Three – Glen Affric & Fort William With Ben Nevis Views
Today, you embark on an exploration journey through Glen Affric, one of the most majestic glens in Scotland.
As you go to Fort William, it is a chance to soak in the extraordinary Scottish Highland scenery and see a few of the over 30,000 lochs Scotland boasts.
Your overnight stay is in this lovely Highland town, where you will find much to explore.
Make the most of any free time here as you will discover just how welcoming this town is in the shadow of Ben Nevis.
Final Day – Magical Glen Coe, Doune Castle & Blackness Castle
As you make your way home towards Edinburgh, you will be taken through the most famous glens, Glen Coe.
As you drive through the valley, the rugged, towering mountains stand majestically over you.
Look out for the most photographed mountain, the Buachaillie Etive Mor.
Your next Outlander spot is Doune Castle, which was used as Castle Leoch.
Blackness Castle rounds off this memorable trip.
After these four days exploring the Outlander trail, you will be completely in love with Scotland and running home to rewatch the Outlander series.
If you’d like to discover more options, read this guide to Outlander Tours in Scotland.
Filming Locations You Will Recognise
Across both itineraries the headline sites repeat: Doune Castle as Castle Leoch, Midhope Castle as Lallybroch, Blackness Castle as Fort William, Culloden Battlefield and the nearby Clava Cairns that inspired Craigh na Dun. The 4-day trail simply adds depth, reaching Culross, the Highland Folk Museum and Glen Affric that the 2-day version has no room for.
2-Day vs 4-Day: Which to Choose
The 2-day tour is the efficient choice if you want the icons, Lallybroch, Castle Leoch and Culloden, without a big time commitment. The 4-day trail is for committed fans who want the fuller story and the quieter locations, plus more Highland scenery between stops. If even two days is too much, our single-day Outlander tour hits the closest sites to Edinburgh in an afternoon.
Practical Tips
- Midhope Castle (Lallybroch) sits on the Hopetoun Estate and charges a small access fee, usually collected on site.
- Doune Castle is popular with several franchises, so mornings are quieter than afternoons.
- Culloden is a war grave, keep noise down and stay on marked paths out of respect.
- Rewatch key episodes before you travel; recognising a location in person is far more rewarding.
- Highland weather is changeable, bring waterproofs even for a two-day summer trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the 2-day and 4-day Outlander tours?
The 2-day tour covers the famous locations near Edinburgh and the central belt. The 4-day trail adds Highland sites like Culross, the Highland Folk Museum and Glen Affric, with more scenery and slower days.
Can I visit Lallybroch and Castle Leoch on these tours?
Yes. Midhope Castle stands in for Lallybroch and Doune Castle for Castle Leoch, and both feature on the multi-day itineraries. A small access fee applies at Midhope.
Do I need to have watched Outlander to enjoy the tour?
It helps a lot. The locations are more meaningful if you recognise them, though the castles and battlefields are worth seeing on their own historical merit.
