Outlander Locations in the Highlands

When you think of Outlander, you can’t help but think of standing stones. The stones are a key plot device in this saga that spans decades and centuries all in one. Unfortunately, Craigh Na Dun is not a real Outlander location that you can visit. Yet, if you really want to visit some standing stones in Scotland here are three destinations to consider.

The Inspiration – Clava Cairns

Clava Cairns, Photo Credit: VisitScotland

The Clava Cairns has often been hailed as the inspiration for Outlander’s Craigh Na Dun. True or not, these stones share the fictitious stones’ location closely. You can find the Clava Cairns near Inverness, and although not perched on a hill, they are surrounded by trees and fields. The stones and cairns date back 4,000 years to the Bronze Age and were used for burials and religious ceremonies.

Filming Location – Kinloch Rannoch

The fake stones used in the TV series are on top of a small hill in Kinloch Rannoch. Even without the stones, the setting and the views are breathtaking. Signposted by the same marker used in the TV series, the site is relatively easy to find. Be mindful that the filming location is on private land, and going to see it is not always possible depending on the landowner’s schedule.

Next Best Thing – The Callanish Stones

The Callanish Stones, Photo Credit: Tim Francis

For any Outlander fans, we recommend a visit to the Callanish Stones on the Isle of Lewis. These remarkable standing stones closely resemble the stones featured in Outlander, and breathtaking vistas surrounding them. Aside from being in the Outer Hebrides, the Callanish Stones are actually very easy to access; with a parking lot, good path and an excellent visitor centre.

Said to be around 5,000 years old, the purpose of the stones is not exactly known. Presumably, it was an area of prehistoric religious activity.

There is excellent hiking in the Outer Hebrides, and much history to get absorbed in. For those more interested in the Jacobite rebellion, there are various notable sites related to Bonnie Prince Charlie nearby.

Tulloch Ghru, Photo Credit: David Russell

Tulloch Ghru in the Cairngorms National Park is the heavily wooded area where Claire meets the clansmen for the first time. The woods provide the scenic backdrop for Claire and Jamie’s intimate ride to Castle Leoch. At Wilderness Scotland, we are very familiar with this particular Outlander location. Our previous office was on the same estate as Tulloch Ghru, and we even had a staff member get married here!

The Highland Folk Museum, Photo Credit: VisitScotland

This is another filming location familiar to the Wilderness Scotland team. The Mackenzie village scenes were filmed at the Highland Folk Museum located near Newtonmore. It’s here that Dougal and his party visit to collect rent. Moreover, this is also where Claire participated in ‘waulking’ with the local female village folk. Fun fact – one of the village women in the waulking scene is actually a member of our finance team! She won a prime spot at the waulking table by responding to the local casting call for extras.

Visitors to the Highland Folk Museum get to enjoy what life was like in the Highlands between the 1700s and the 1900s. It’s an open-air museum, with live animals and costumed staff to make it as realistic as possible. A trip to the folk museum can get combined with multiple Highland activities like climbing a nearby Monadhliadth or Cairngorm peaks, forest walks, foraging, sporting, and excellent canoeing.

Ruthven Barracks

The Ruthven Barracks are a destination for the dedicated Outlander fans who are really into the historical side of the story. It also combines well with a trip to the Highland Folk Museum. Built by the government, the Ruthven Barracks are a result of the 1715 Jacobite uprising. The barracks gave the government a solid base in the Highlands. Subsequently, the barracks got taken over the Jacobites in 1746 and then burnt down.

The Ruthven Barracks are not featured in the storyline but are essential to real Jacobite history. Told to regroup, the survivors of the Battle of Culloden gathered at the remains of Ruthven Barracks. With Bonnie Prince Charlie already on the run, the remaining troops disbanded.

Culloden Moor is the site of the infamous Battle of Culloden in 1746. Culloden was the last battle in the Jacobite rising and it had long-lasting consequences on Scotland and Highland culture.

The battle features heavily in Outlander. The Jacobite rebellion plays a large part in the storyline in series 1 and 2, climaxing with the battle itself in the season 2 finale and the first episode of season 3.

Therefore, for any Outlander fan interested in history, the Culloden Visitor Centre is an excellent destination to include in a Highland itinerary. Leanach cottage is part of the remains of the Leanach farmstead. Referred to in the books, the farmhouse is the hiding place for the Jacobite survivors of the battle, before the execution.

Want to learn more? Read What Really Happened at the Battle of Culloden?

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Culloden House (@cullodenhouse.uk) on Jul 22, 2019 at 7:52am PDT

The City of Inverness, Photo Credit: VisitScotland

We’re quick to admit that no filming took place in Inverness, but it’s a key location in the books and the TV series. Inverness is the destination of Claire and Frank’s second honeymoon. Similarly, as it was for Claire and Frank, Inverness is a great base from which to explore the rest of the Highlands.

Glencoe, Photo Credit: Mike Brian

Glencoe is a bit of cheat Outlander destination as it only features in the opening credits in the first seasons, but is consequently iconic to any Outlander fan. This atmospheric glen is hard to exclude from a Highland tour. Combine a visit to Glencoe with other Highland Outlander locations like Fort William and the Glenfinnan Monument.

So go the lyrics to the Skye Boat Song which plays over the opening credits. Neither in the book nor in the series do the main characters actually ever travel to Skye. Due to this singular line, referring to Bonnie Prince Charlie’s escape to Skye after Culloden, the Isle of Skye has become a destination associated with Outlander. There are a couple of ways to go over to the sea to Skye. The easiest method (short of crossing a bridge) is the turntable ferry at Glenelg which takes a limited amount of vehicles to Kylerhea on Skye. There is also a ferry from Mallaig to Armadale on Skye, which takes about 30 minutes.

Faskally Woods, Photo Credit: VisitScotland

Sitting on the edge of the Cairngorms National Park you’ll find Faskally Woods. This is where the Mohawk village scenes were filmed in the forest. The studio built a whole native American village for shooting, with First Nation actors flown in from Canada. Even without the village, the woods are a beautiful hiking destination.

Travellers can easily take in more of “North America” in this bit of Scotland. The scenes, where Claire and Jamie build their new home in North Carolina, were filmed at a nearby estate close to Dunkeld. As much as possible was filmed in Scotland, and Highland Perthshire has stood in fabulously for the New World.