Castles in Outlander: The Real Locations
Outlander is a production design triumph — the castles and historic buildings used as filming locations bring authentic period atmosphere to the drama. Several of Scotland's finest historic structures feature in the series. Here is a guide to the main ones, with visitor information.
Castle Leoch = Doune Castle, Stirlingshire
The most prominent castle in Outlander is Castle Leoch — the fortress of Clan MacKenzie, where Jamie Fraser takes Claire after her time-travel arrival in 18th-century Scotland. The imposing courtyard, the great hall, and the distinctive gatehouse tower are all immediately recognisable to fans of the show.
The real location is Doune Castle, in Stirlingshire, approximately 8 miles north-west of Stirling. Doune is a 14th-century tower house constructed primarily for Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany, regent of Scotland, between approximately 1380 and 1420. It represents a high point of Scottish medieval castle design: the great gatehouse tower (with the duke's hall above and kitchens below), the courtyard, and the lord's tower at the rear all survive in excellent condition.
Before it was famous as Castle Leoch, Doune Castle was famous as a filming location for Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975), which filmed extensively in the courtyard and castle. The audio guide for Doune Castle (narrated by Terry Jones of Monty Python) is one of the more entertaining castle audio guides in Scotland.
Visiting Doune Castle:
- Managed by Historic Environment Scotland
- Location: Doune, Stirlingshire, FK16 6EA
- Open seasonally (check HES website for hours)
- Admission fee applies; HES members free
- Approximately 30 minutes from Glasgow or Edinburgh by car
- Parking available adjacent to the castle
Wentworth Prison = Blackness Castle, West Lothian
In Outlander, Wentworth Prison is the brutal fortress where the character Jamie Fraser is imprisoned and tortured by the fictional Black Jack Randall. The exterior of Wentworth — bleak, massive, jutting into the water — was filmed at Blackness Castle on the southern shore of the Firth of Forth in West Lothian.
Blackness Castle is a 15th-century castle built on a promontory extending into the Firth of Forth. Its unusual ship-like shape (with a prow tower, main tower amidships, and stern tower) is distinctive and gives it an imposing appearance from the water and land alike. It served as a significant state prison in Scottish history, making the Wentworth Prison connection historically resonant.
See our full Blackness Castle guide for detailed visiting information and history.
Lallybroch = Midhope Castle (Midhope Tower), West Lothian
Lallybroch — the Fraser family home, Jamie's ancestral seat — is one of the most beloved locations in Outlander. The tower house with its traditional peel tower design, seen in exterior shots across multiple seasons, is Midhope Castle (also called Midhope Tower) on the Hopetoun Estate in West Lothian.
Midhope is a 16th-century tower house, now roofless and ruinous. It stands in a beautiful parkland setting on the Hopetoun Estate, the property of the Marquess of Linlithgow.
Important for visitors: Midhope Castle is NOT open to the public as a visitor attraction. It is on private land within the Hopetoun Estate. The exterior of the building has been glimpsed by visitors who have toured the Estate's accessible areas, but there is no formal Outlander visitor access. Turning up and expecting to walk to the castle is not recommended — respect the private nature of the property.
Hopetoun House (the main stately home on the Hopetoun Estate) is open to the public seasonally and is worth visiting in its own right — it is a magnificent 17th/18th-century stately home. It is not an Outlander filming location but is a significant historic property.
Linlithgow Palace — The French Court
Linlithgow Palace in West Lothian (birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots) was used in Outlander Season 2 for scenes depicting the French royal court at Versailles — an unusual piece of casting for a Scottish ruin as a French palace. The palace's roofless but otherwise well-preserved great hall and courtyard provided a suitably grand backdrop.
Linlithgow Palace is managed by Historic Environment Scotland and is open to visitors. The palace is a magnificent ruin on the shores of Linlithgow Loch, and the combination of the palace and the loch makes for one of the finest heritage visits in central Scotland.
Culross — The 18th-Century Village
The historic burgh of Culross (pronounced 'Coorous') in Fife has been used extensively as a period location in Outlander — standing in for 18th-century village scenes. Culross is one of the best-preserved small towns in Scotland, with a remarkable collection of 16th and 17th-century merchants' houses still intact.
The distinctive white-harled buildings with their red pantile roofs create a perfectly preserved early modern streetscape. The National Trust for Scotland owns and manages many of the buildings.
Culross is on the north shore of the Firth of Forth, approximately 30 minutes from Edinburgh or Glasgow. It is a fascinating visit independent of any Outlander connection.
Preston Mill, East Lothian
Preston Mill near East Linton in East Lothian is a working 18th-century grain mill, now owned by the National Trust for Scotland. It appeared in Outlander as a period location. The mill is the oldest surviving water-powered mill in Scotland in working condition.
Visiting Preston Mill and the adjacent Phantassie Doocot makes for a pleasant half-day in East Lothian, which is also close to Tantallon Castle and the Bass Rock gannet colony.