With Outlander heading into its final season, now is the perfect time to visit the real-life places where the story comes to life. I sailed the British Isles cruise in 2023 on the Regal Princess, and the cruise mentioned here follows the same itinerary as mine.
While in Scotland, we booked an excursion with Serca—an Outlander tour—and our guide was fantastic. He took us to the castles used for Fort William (Blackness Castle) and Castle Leoch (Doune Castle). Doune Castle is also famous as a filming location for Monty Python.
Driving down the road to Fort William, I could practically picture that episode where Claire rushes down it to save Jamie. We were scheduled to visit Lallybroch (Midhope Castle), but they were filming an episode there—so instead, our guide took us to see the studio where filming happens when the show isn’t on location.
Along the way, we stopped at a roadside café where we grabbed a bite to eat (my husband had to try the haggis) and got to pet the hairy coos. We also sampled Scottish whisky and tried the national soft drink.
Next up was Glasgow Cathedral, where the scene of Faith’s birth was filmed. One of my favorite stops, though, was Cupar—a small town used for the ghost scene. The town was dressed to look like Inverness for the show, and we even saw photos from a shop owner showing how their store was transformed to look older. I was so excited to stand where Jamie’s ghost stood when he saw Claire in the window.
We also took another tour that brought us to Culloden Battlefield. It’s an incredible place to visit and honestly reminded me of my trip to Gettysburg. Seeing the markers for each clan lost in battle—just names lined along the path—was truly somber. Of course, the one I wanted to find most was Clan Fraser, and I think just about everyone was looking for it too.
Don’t get me wrong—Outlander sites aren’t the only reason to visit Scotland. There’s so much to see, plus breathtaking landscapes everywhere you look. But now, when I rewatch the series, I can say, “I was there.”
Want more information about this British Isles cruise itinerary or the Scotland excursions? Send me an email and I’ll be happy to help.
