Outlander Filming Locations – A Tour of Scotland
Outlander was filmed almost entirely on location in Scotland. In our ongoing series we share blogs and videos sharing experiences of visiting these various filming locations.
Outlander is a historical drama and romance television series based on the book series by Diana Gabaldon.
It premiered in 2014 on Starz and has garnered a global fanbase for its compelling storytelling, rich historical context, and vibrant depiction of Scottish culture.
The series blends elements of romance, adventure, time travel, and historical fiction.
The story follows Claire Randall, a World War II nurse who, in 1945, is mysteriously transported back to 1743 Scotland while on a second honeymoon with her husband, Frank, in the Scottish Highlands.
In the 18th century, Claire becomes entangled with Highland clans, particularly the dashing Jamie Fraser, a Scottish warrior. The series follows her struggles to navigate the dangers of the Jacobite Rising, her growing love for Jamie, and her attempts to reconcile her life across two time periods.
As the series progresses, it explores later historical events, including the American Revolution, while maintaining its focus on Claire and Jamie’s enduring relationship.
A Love Letter in Both Directions
Diana Gabaldon herself fell in love with Scotland on research trips in the late 1980s and has said the country is as much a character in the books as Jamie or Claire. The television adaptation has simply made that love affair reciprocal: millions of viewers who may never have considered visiting Scotland now dream of standing stones, misty glens, and men in kilts.
In an era when many countries pay millions for destination marketing, Scotland found itself with one of the most effective (and attractive) tourism campaigns imaginable – completely free, wrapped in a kilt, and speaking with a Highland burr.For anyone who has watched Claire step through the stones at Craigh na Dun (actually a composite of several real stone circles), the real magic might not be time travel at all.
It’s the fact that, thanks to Outlander, you can now stand in the exact spots where history and fiction blur – and feel, for a moment, that the 18th century is only one deep breath away.
Scotland – Outlander Filming Locations
Outlander was filmed almost entirely on location in Scotland (with occasional sets in a studio near Glasgow), and the production team has made a conscious effort to use authentic historic sites rather than building fake castles on soundstages.
In our ongoing series we share blogs and videos sharing experiences of visiting these various filming locations.
