Outlander tours

July 4, 2019January 11, 2020

Outlander Lallybroch tours

Lallybroch Castle tours – visit Lallybroch, Fort William and Wentworth prison on our unique Outlander tours – from £150 .

Same day booking – phone before 9 am to book your tour today . Tours start at 10 am daily .

Lallybroch tours – visit Lallybroch, Fort William, Hopetoun House and Wentworth Prison on our unique Outlander tours – from £190 . Outlander season 5 is coming in February .

Lallybroch Castle tours can be booked on +447305-294773

Midhope Castle, a 16th-century tower house, is used as Lallybroch (also known as Broch Tuarach) in Outlander . Left to Jamie by his parents, Brian and Ellen, Lallybroch is also home to Jamie’s sister, Jenny, her husband Ian Murray and their children. With Lallybroch being an important part of the Outlander story, much use is made of Midhope Castle. Phone (+44) 0131-549-9785 for details and bookings .

Toll free number 1-866-233-2644

or online .

We see this iconic location several times. Our introduction to Lallybroch comes in a flashback scene during the second episode of season one , when Jamie attempts to rescue Jenny from the Redcoats, only to end up being whipped and carried off to Fort William. Later in episode twelve , Jamie returns with Claire to take his place and laird of Lallybroch . Then, in season 2 we see Claire and Jamie return home after their time on France.

In season three we find out that the story of Lallybroch is not yet finished. After Culloden, Jamie is returned home, where he hides from the British before eventually surrendering to the army.

Midhope Castle is on the Hopetoun estate. It is every bit as impressive as Lallybroch, with the familiar approach and entrance to the building.

Lallybroch ( Midhope Castle) Outlander tours, Lallybroch , real life Midhope Castle , is the ancestral home of Jamie Fraser , visit the castle on our Outlander tours

If you’re looking for a glimpse of the ancestral home of Jamie Fraser you won’t find the real Lallybroch deep in the Highlands.
Scenes were shot at Midhope Castle on the fringes of the Hopetoun Estate near South Queensferry.
Midhope was built in the 15th Century by John Martyne, laird of Midhope. It was rebuilt in the mid 1600s and remains much the same today.
Visitors are asked to admire Midhope from a distance as the interior remains largely derelict.

Midhope Castle is the external location for fictional Lallybroch, the family home of character Jamie Fraser , and it is located on the Hopetoun Estate . Midhope Castle dates back to the 15th Century and although the exterior is relatively intact the castle is derelict inside.

Lallybroch Castle tours

Midhope Castle dates back to the 15th Century and although the exterior is relatively intact the castle is derelict inside and not open to the public . Book your Outlander tours on 07305-294773 .

In 1740, Jamie Fraser is arrested at Lallybroch while trying to defend Jenny, taken to Fort William and brutally flogged by Jack Randall.

Private tours Edinburgh

For more details about availability phone 0131 549 9785 / 07305-294773 .

Visit the Kelpies gift shop for 50 different photo gifts including t-shirts , throw pillows and prints . Free pickup and dropoff in Edinburgh

This day trip from Edinburgh is ideal for solo travellers and small groups of up to to 4 people .

Day trip from Edinburgh

Your tour guide/ driver is David . Find out more about him on his personal website

Outlander tours

February 19, 2019

What does Broch Tuarach mean?

Named for an old broch on the land, Broch Tuarach means “north-facing tower” in Gaelic. Lallybroch, as the estate is known among those who live there, in turn means “lazy tower”.

Lallybroch is also known as Broch Tuarach .

Jamie Fraser Outlander tours

Looking for Jamie Fraser tours from Edinburgh ? How about taking a unique tour of three key locations in the life of Jamie Fraser – Lallybroch ( Midhope Castle ) , Jamie’s ancestral home , Linlithgow Palace ( Wentworth Prison ) and Blackness Castle ( Fort William ) .

Lallybroch is Midhope Castle , a 16th-century tower house of five storeys and a garret, to which has been added a later and lower wing.

Lallybroch Castle tours can be booked on 07305-294773, toll free number 1-866-233-2644 or online .

Left to Jamie by his parents, Brian and Ellen, Lallybroch is also home to Jamie’s sister, Jenny, her husband Ian Murray and their children. Lallybroch first appears in a flashback scene during the second episode of season 1, when Jamie attempts to rescue Jenny from the Redcoats, only to end up being whipped and carried off to Fort William. Later in episode 12, Jamie returns with Claire where, after an initially unpleasant exchange with Jenny (mainly because Jamie calls her son a bastard, and partly because Claire is English) they settle in for a few episodes, until dealings with ‘The Watch’ causes them to leave.

Private tours Edinburgh – unique tours of Scotland 7 days a week – phone 0131-549-9785

February 18, 2019

Jamie Fraser Outlander tours featuring Lallybroch

Midhope Castle Outlander tours, This one of the best Outlander tours in Scotland — Midhope Castle Outlander tours

Lallybroch is Midhope Castle , a 16th-century tower house of five storeys and a garret, to which has been added a later and lower wing.

This one of the best Outlander tours in Scotland . Lallybroch Castle tours can be booked on 07305-294773, toll free number 1-866-233-2644 or online .

Tours start at 10 am . Our private group tours take up to four people to three Jamie Fraser Outlander filming locations. We also offer bespoke private tours with the option of choosing your own itinerary . This tour costs £150 .

Free pickup from your hotel, accommodation or port in Edinburgh .

Normal pickup point is Edinburgh city centre , your hotel or the airport .

Other pickup points can be arranged .

Lallybroch – Midhope Castle, ancestral home of Jamie Fraser
Linlithgow Palace – Wentworth Prison
Blackness Castle – Fort William
half day Outlander tour
Take in unique views of three historic castles featured in Outlander
Small private group tour with up to four people

Itinerary

1 . Lallybroch – Midhope Castle

The first location on this Outlander tour is Lallybroch – Midhope Castle, ancestral home of Jamie Fraser . Outlander scenes were shot at Midhope Castle on the fringes of the Hopetoun Estate near South Queensferry.

Midhope was built in the 15th Century by John Martyne, laird of Medhope. It was rebuilt in the mid 1600s and remains much the same today.

The interior of Midhope is inaccessible .

Midhope Castle, a 16th-century tower house, is used as Lallybroch (also known as Broch Tuarach) in Outlander . Left to Jamie by his parents, Brian and Ellen, Lallybroch is also home to Jamie’s sister, Jenny, her husband Ian Murray and their children. Lallybroch is a crucial part of Jamie Fraser’s life in Outlander .

Jamie Fraser Outlander tours can be booked on +44-7305294773 or toll free number 1-866-233-2644 or online .

The castle was owned by the Martin family in 1478 , but passed it to the Livingstones soon afterwards. James Lindsay, Lord Lindsay, had a ratification of 1592 for the lands of Midhope, with the tower and fortalice thereof. Midhope belonged to the Drummonds of Midhope, who were in possession during part of the 16th and 17th centuries, and Alexander Drummond of Midhope remodelled the tower in 1587 and his initials with those of his wife Marjorie Bruce are on a former lintel now above a gateway. Alexander Drummond of Midhope is on record in the 1640s, then Sir Robert Drummond of Midhope in 1647 and 1661.

Jamie Fraser t-shirts and gifts, Outlander

2 . Blackness Castle

Blackness Castle goes back to 1440 . The castle provides the setting for Fort William, as the original fort no longer exists. Jamie is whipped by Black Jack Randall at Fort William .

Blackness Castle in the Outlander TV series

Jamie Fraser Outlander tours can be booked on 07305-294773 , toll free number 1-866-233-2644 or online .

3 . Linlithgow Palace

This royal palace is where Jamie Fraser was imprisoned and it featured some of the most harrowing scenes of the TV show Outlander . The Palace is also famous as the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots .

Linlithgow Palace and Loch , Wentworth prison in the Outlander TV series

Depicted as Wentworth Prison, the prison corridors and entrance were used in episode 15 of the first series when Jamie Fraser was brutally incarcerated by his adversary, Black Jack Randall.

Built in the 1400s and 1500s, the now-ruined palace is set among the spectacular surrounds of Linlithgow Loch and Peel. Visitors can climb to the top of the palace for a magnificent panoramic view of the Loch and Palace .

Optional extra

The standard tour features a visit to three Outlander locations . We also offer an optional extra of a visit to Hopetoun House . Please ask the driver for more details .

This one of the best Outlander tours in Scotland . Phone 07305-294773 to make a booking .

Jamie Fraser t-shirts and gifts

All pictures are copyright David Rankin/ Private tours Edinburgh 2019

Private tours Edinburgh phone 0131-549-9785

August 20, 2018

Private tour of St Andrews and Fife

This private tour visits the home of golf , St Andrews and historic Fife . Tours start at 10 am .

Tour itinerary

Queensferry Crossing
Anstruther
St Andrews
Falkland Palace

Your journey to Fife takes you over the new Queensferry Crossing with views of the Forth Road Bridge , built in 1964 and the Forth Bridge, a cantilever railway bridge built in the 19th century and UNESCO World Heritage site.

World heritage status is given to sites of “outstanding universal value” with the aim of protecting them for future generations. The distinctive red bridge has carried trains over the Forth since 1890. The award puts it alongside the Pyramids of Egypt, the great Wall of China and the Sydney Opera House in terms of cultural significance.

The bridge, which spans the Firth of Forth between South Queensferry on the outskirts of Edinburgh and North Queensferry in Fife, was opened in 1890 after eight years of construction. Scots call the bridge the eighth wonder of the world .

Anstruther

This village on the Fife coast has a beautiful harbour for leisure and fishing boats .

St Andrews is the home of golf on the coast of Fife . You will be able to see the world famous Old Course and club house . St Andrews is a medieval coastal town with the oldest university in the world with an ancient castle and round abbey .

Falkland is transformed into Inverness for Outlander — The Bruce Fountain , Falkland is Inverness for Outlander, Jamie looks up at Claire in the tavern

The final stop is at Falkland, a location used in the TV series Outlander . The Bruce Fountain in the town square is where Jamie looks up at Claire in her hotel , watched by Frank . Falkland was transformed into Inverness for Outlander .

Exclusions

entrance tickets
lunch
refreshments

Tour prices

– private tour for two passengers £220

– private tour for three passengers £230

– private tour for three passengers £240

Phone 07305-294773 for bookings and enquiries or contact us online .

Day trips from Edinburgh contact Private tours Edinburgh +44-131 549 9785 – daily tours of Scotland

January 18, 2018

Tours start at 10 am . Our private group tours take up to four people to three Outlander filming locations. We also offer bespoke private tours with the option of choosing your own itinerary .

Tours start from locations in Edinburgh .
Normal pickup point is Edinburgh city centre from your hotel or accommodation .

Other pickup points can be arranged .

Itinerary

On this tour we visit various locations used for filming the hit series Outlander. Based on the best selling novels by Diana Gabaldon, Outlander is filmed in a number of locations in castles and towns in central Scotland.

The first location on this Outlander tour is the historic town of Falkland. The town is the setting for episode one where Frank and Claire Randall come to Scotland on holiday. Falkland Palace is a historic building and shops and features can be recognised , including the town square fountain where Frank encounters Jamie Fraser ’s ghost watching Claire through the window.

Doune Castle was built in 1400 for the first Duke of Albany and provides the setting for Castle Leoch in Outlander. It was also the set for Winterfell in Game of Thrones and Monty Python’s Holy Grail.

Doune is one of the best preserved medieval castles in Scotland.

Blackness Castle goes back to 1440 . The castle provides the setting for Fort William, as the original fort no longer exists.

The castle is long and narrow because of the shape of the rock on which it is situated and it is sometimes called ‘ the ship that never sailed ‘ . It guards the bay at Blackness and is only a few miles from Linlithgow Palace . The first castle was built in the middle of the 15th century by Sir George Crichton , Earl of Caithness , a member of one of the most powerful families in Scotland . King James II acquired Blackness in 1453 when he annexed the lands of the Crichtons . From then on the castle was mainly used as a prison . In 1543 Cardinal Beaton was held here for a month . Rebuilding started in the 1530s under the direction of Sir James Hamilton of Finnart who also worked at Linlithgow Palace and Stirling Castle . He was instructed to make the castle safe from artillery , and he achieved this by making the south and east walls very thick . A new tower was built at the south end . In the 1560s , in the reign of Mary Queen of Scots , a Spur was built to protect the main gate . In the 1870s the castle was the main ammunition depot for Scotland .The Castle is a popular location for historical re-enactments and has changed little in 600 years . Doune is one of the best preserved medieval castles in Scotland.

Hamlet has scenes filmed at Blackness Castle and Dunnottar Castle.
Director: Franco Zeffirelli
Starring: Mel Gibson, Glenn Close, Paul Scofield, Alan Bates, Ian Holm, Helena Bonham Carter, John McEnery

Filming of the Outlander TV series has taken place in Scotland . One of Outlander’s first scenes was filmed in the picturesque town of Falkland, which stands in for Inverness in the 1940s . The show is based on American author Diana Gabaldon’s series of historical novels, which sees nurse Claire Beauchamp Randell mysteriously swept back from 1945 to 1743 Highland Scotland
. Falkland features some familiar sights from the TV series , including Mrs Baird’s Guesthouses (actually the Covenanter Hotel), the Bruce Fountain where Claire comes across the ghost of Jamie, and the building that doubles as Farrell’s Hardware and Furniture Store.
Most of the filming will take place in Scotland, according to the show’s executive producer Ron Moore .
Scotland’s stunning landscape, with its rolling hills, rugged mountains, picturesque towns and villages, castles and sprawling beaches has provided the perfect backdrop for the world of cinema.
Executive Producer Ron Moore has commented on Scotland : “The landscape itself is a character in the show. There’s a particular quality to the light in Scotland, even to the grass and the trees.”

The tour spends up to an hour at each location .

Travel by saloon car
Small private group tour with a maximum of four people

Tour costs – £200 for up to 4 people .

Lunch , refreshments and entrance tickets are not included in the price.

Outlander set locations tour from Edinburgh £200

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August 7, 2017

Bespoke private tours – design your own tour

Alongside our normal choice of tours , Private Tours Edinburgh also offers bespoke private tours and one day Outlander tours customised to the requirements of each customer . Phone 07305-294773 or contact us online .

You can set your own itinerary and decide exactly where you want to visit . Customers interested should contact us online for a quote

Tours normally start at 10 am .

Normal pickup point is Edinburgh or Glasgow city centre or the airport .

Your tour can feature a visit to

Outlander film locations
the Kelpies
the Falkirk Wheel
Stirling Castle
other visitor attractions / film locations

Stirling Castle is one of the top tourist attractions in central Scotland . The castle features the Royal Palace , the Great Hall and the castle.

Stirling Castle has been named Scotland’s best visitor attraction at the inaugural 2016 Scottish and Outdoor Leisure Awards. The castle, which attracts about 460,000 visitors per year, beat competitors including Edinburgh Zoo and Dynamic Earth.

If you go into the Great Hall in the castle you can take a seat at the top table and picture yourself as the King or Queen of Scotland .

‘ So let us pass … to the ports of Sterling ; where stands a beautiful and embellished Castle, elevated on the precipice of an impregnable rock , that commands the vallies ( as well as the town ) and all those habitable parts about it … ‘- Richard Franck , Northern Memoirs , 1656

Stirling Castle is built on the volcanic rock high above the town. From the castle you can see Stirling Bridge and the Wallace Monument.

Bespoke tour prices begin at £250 per day for one person to £350 for four people.

Exclusive private tours for up to four people
Bespoke itinerary based on your interests
Beginning in Edinburgh or Glasgow . Other pickup points are available

Day trips from Edinburgh contact Private tours Edinburgh +44-131 549 9785 – daily tours of Scotland

July 4, 2017

Outlander tour of 5 Scottish castles

The Outlander TV series continues to be a smash hit in the UK and America. Outlander season 4 is out now on Amazon Prime . Five Scottish castles in particular feature heavily in the Outlander season 4 story lines – Midhope Castle ( Lallybroch ) , Doune Castle ( Castle Leoch ) , Linlithgow Palace (Wentworth Prison ) , Aberdour Castle ( Sainte Anne de Beaupré’s monastery ) and Blackness Castle ( Fort William army headquarters ) .

1 Midhope Castle – Lallybroch
Those seeking a glimpse of the ancestral home of Jamie Fraser won’t find the real Lallybroch deep in the Highlands.
Scenes were shot at Midhope Castle on the fringes of the Hopetoun Estate near South Queensferry.
Midhope was built in the 15th Century and was built by John Martyne, laird of Medhope. It was rebuilt in the mid 1600s and remains much the same today.
Visitors are asked to admire Midhope from a distance as the interior remains largely derelict.

Midhope Castle is the external location for fictional Lallybroch, the family home of character Jamie Fraser , and it is located on the Hopetoun Estate . Midhope Castle dates back to the 15th Century and although the exterior is relatively intact the castle is derelict inside

2
Doune Castle – Castle Leoch

Originally dating to the 13th Century, Doune Castle near Stirling plays Castle Leoch, home to Colum MacKenzie and his clan.
It also features in the 20th century episode when Claire and Frank Randall visit the castle on a day trip.
Once a Royal residence, Doune Castle was rebuilt by Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany in the late 14th Century.
Doune has appeared several times on screen and was widely used in Monty Python and the Holy Grail. It also represented the castle Winterfell in Game of Thrones.

3
Linlithgow Palace – Wentworth Prison

This royal pleasure palace and birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots became the backdrop for some of the most harrowing scenes of the show.
Depicted as Wentworth Prison, the prison corridors and entrance were used in episode 15 of the first series when Jamie Fraser was brutally incarcerated by his adversary, Black Jack Randall.
Built in the 1400s and 1500s, the now-ruined palace is set among the spectacular surrounds of Linlithgow Loch and Peel.

4 Aberdour Castle – Sainte Anne de Beaupré’s monastery

The Kingdom of Fife posed as the north of France in Season One when Aberdour – possibly Scotland’s oldest standing castle, was depicted as The Abbey of Ste. Anne de Beaupré.
The fictional Benedictine monastery is where Jamie Fraser was taken to recover from his ordeal at Wentworth Prison. Happily, one of his six uncles was an abbot there.
The Old Kitchen and Long Gallery at Aberdour, in the village of Easter Aberdour, feature in the show.
The original hall house of Aberdour was built around 1200 by Alan de Mortimer with the castle largely the creation of the Douglas Earls of Morton, who held Aberdour from the 14th century.

5
Blackness Castle – Fort William army headquarters

One of Scotland’s most impressive strongholds, Blackness Castle near Linlithgow was used as the Fort William headquarters of Black Jack Randall.
The 15th-century ex-artillery fortress overlooks the Firth of Forth and is known as “the ship that never sailed” due to its unusual shape.
It was built in the 15th century by one of Scotland’s most powerful families, the Crichtons.

Outlander tour of five Scottish castles – two to four passengers.
Prices from £180.00 . For bookings phone 07305-294773 or contact us online .

Outlander tours – Outlander photo gifts

December 5, 2019December 16, 2019

Outlander star Jamie Fraser, Scottish actor Sam Heughan

Outlander tours, Lallybroch ( Midhope Castle) Outlander tours

Outlander star Jamie Fraser, Scottish actor Sam Heughan is quickly building up his resume as a film star . Outlander news from Outlander tours.

Last year, Heughan starred in the comedy The Spy Who Dumped Me alongside Kate McKinnon and Mila Kunis, and he is slated to appear in the forthcoming superhero film Bloodshot and the action thriller SAS: Red Notice, both of which will premiere next year.

Now, it seems he might also have a part in a biopic about children’s author Roald Dahl and his wife, Academy Award-winner actress Patricia Neal, which is based on Stephen Michael Shearer’s book about Neal called An Unquiet Life.

Heughan’s casting hasn’t officially been announced, but he was tagged in an Instagram post by Michael Gallivan, a director who appears to be working on the film.

“When I first read the script I was full with emotions! It’s beautifully written and it looks absolutely stunning! With a stellar cast #hughbonneville #samheughan #keeleyhawes,” Gallivan wrote in the caption of the post.

While the post doesn’t include a photo of Heughan on set, his handle was tagged in the picture of a small house.

We don’t know much about Heughan’s involvement in the movie, but we do know that he won’t be playing Dahl; that role went to Downton Abbey star Hugh Bonneville (who is perhaps better known as Lord Grantham). According to the Hollywood Reporter, the film is being “billed as a bittersweet, comedic and heart-warming story” of Dahl’s marriage to Neal.

More specifically the story will be set in London, New York, and L.A. during the 1960s, “as the writer struggles over some of his most famous works, and his wife returns to acting with Hud.”

It’s possible that Heughan could play American actor Paul Newman, who starred with Neal in Hud and will play a role in the biopic,but for now, nothing’s be announced.

October 16, 2019

Celebrate Halloween in your own coffin !

Halloween is fast-approaching and if you’re after some terrifying plans, we’ve just found the sleepover of your dreams (or in this case, nightmares!).

Edinburgh Dungeon has revealed it will be launching a ‘Séance Sleepover‘ for Halloween, where guests can get in touch with the underworld with a spooky séance… and then spend the night sleeping in a coffin in the Dungeon’s notorious Torture Chamber. If this doesn’t float your boat , why not try one of our tours of Scotland ?

Basically, it’s not one for the faint-hearted (and unsurprisingly, it’s only open for those aged 18 or over).

The thrilling attraction has teamed up with Booking.com to offer the spooky stay, and if you’re obsessed with all things ghoulish then it needs to be on your radar.

Guests will be treated to a complimentary dinner at the Hard Rock Café, before joining the last Dungeons tour of the day.

When the last of the visitors have left, you’ll be joined by a professional medium, and use a Ouija board to attempt to summon whatever spirits may lurk in the depths of the dungeons.

It’s not a night out for the faint-hearted

All of the excitement getting a bit too much? Then you can go and lie down to get some rest for the night… in a custom made coffin bed.

Oh, and we’re also loving the extra touches such as the free skeleton pyjamas and slippers for guests!

The stay kicks off with the last Dungeon tour of the day including a spooky Halloween show

For those who can’t get to sleep, the Black Jester will be on hand to come and share one of his favourite bedtime stories – and provide a much needed dram of whiskey before midnight.

From then on, you’re on your own…

Conjure spirits with the Ouija board seance

The Séance Sleepover is available for up to two guests, and will only be running on Halloween (the 31st October).

It can be booked exclusively on Booking.com on the listing here from 10am on Friday 25th October so you’ll want to get in quick to bag the stay.

The offer also includes a complimentary breakfast at the nearby Motel One Hotel the next morning.

October 7, 2019

Edinburgh travel tips

Edinburgh travel tips

Edinburgh welcomes millions of travellers every year eager to enjoy the sights of an amazing city .Here are my two top travel tips for anyone visiting the capital for the first time .

1 Castle explorer pass

Scotland has over a thousand castles . Whether you are an Outlander or a Game of Thrones fan or just fascinated with history , Scotland is the best place in the world to explore castles . Edinburgh Castle is probably the most famous castle in the UK. If you want to visit a few castles during your stay I recommend an Explorer Pass , available from Historic Environment Scotland . The pass allows you skip the line entry to all of the castle and country houses run by HES , including Edinburgh Castle, Stirling , Doune and Blackness Castle , Linlithgow Palace and many more places. Castle tours are available from Private tours Edinburgh .

Phone 0131 549 9785 for details of our daily tours from Edinburgh

2 UK SIM card

For most of us internet access on our phone is essential to keep up with email and social media. Most phone , electrical shops and supermarkets in Edinburgh can supply a UK SIM card for your phone with special deals on data for a month for up to £10.

July 25, 2019

Is Broch Tuarach a real place?

Broch Tuarach is a real place – Lallybroch / Midhope Castle, a 16th-century tower house in Outlander.

Have the unique Outlander experience

– See Jamie Fraser’s ancestral home Lallybroch.

– Hear Jamie as he guides you around Castle Leoch ( Doune Castle ) on our Jamie Fraser Outlander tour

Free pickup from your hotel/ Airbnb/ port in Edinburgh .

Left to Jamie by his parents, Brian and Ellen, Lallybroch is also home to Jamie’s sister, Jenny, her husband Ian Murray and their children. With Lallybroch being an important part of the Outlander story, much use is made of Midhope Castle. Phone (+44) 0131-549-9785 for details and bookings .

Lallybroch Castle tours can be booked on +447305-294773

Toll free number 1-866-233-2644 or online .

July 22, 2019

Tours of Scotland – two castles and a distillery

Looking for things to do in Edinburgh ? How about taking a tour from Edinburgh of two amazing castles and a whisky distillery ?

Two ancient Scottish castles and a distillery feature in this tour –

Stirling Castle
Doune Castle
Deanston Highland Malt Distillery
Callander
Balquhidder Church

Doune Castle featured in Monty Python and the Holy Grail , Game of Thrones and the Outlander TV series.

Stirling Castle is one of Scotland’s most impressive castles due to its imposing position and amazing architecture.

Deanston Distillery makes award-winning Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky. The Standard Tour finishes off with a tasting of Deanston 12 year old whisky .

Toll free number 1-866-233-2644

Phone 07305-294773 for bookings or contact us online . Shore excursions – all of our tours are available as shore excursions from the Edinburgh ports South Queensferry, Newhaven and Rosyth .

11 Stirling Castle

Stirling Castle is one of Scotland’s most impressive castles due to its imposing position and impressive architecture. Visitors to the castle can enjoy stunning 360 degree views of the Forth Valley and the Wallace Monument . Your ticket into the castle includes a dedicated castle guide (tours leave in the castle at regular times and are provided directly by the castle).

Stirling castle tours

From Stirling Castle’s ramparts, visitors can take in views of the Forth Valley and Ben Lomond , as well as two of Scotland’s most important battle sites – Stirling Bridge (1297) and Bannockburn (1314). The castle is at the head of Stirling’s historic old town.Like Edinburgh Castle , Stirling sits on a volcanic rock dominating the city skyline .

Stirling Castle is not only one of Scotland’s grandest and most imposing castles, it was also a real favourite with Scotland’s kings and queens. And their investment in it demonstrated just how much they loved to use it, as well as their desire to ensure it both impressed all who visited it, and represented a statement of their power and wealth. James IV created the Great Hall, the largest medieval banqueting hall ever built in Scotland, and James V’s Royal Palace, with its lavishly decorated Renaissance façades, was a masterpiece of the period.

Major conservation work has been carried out at Stirling Castle over many years to preserve the attraction as a major national and international monument. The refurbishment of the Great Hall was completed a couple of years ago . A particular feature of the Great Hall is stained glass windows featuring clan crests . A number of banquets and concerts are held in the Hall throughout the year .

Phone 07305-294773 for bookings or contact us online .

Duration: 1 hour

12.20 Doune Castle

Doune has appeared several times on screen and was widely used in Monty Python and the Holy Grail. It also represented the castle Winterfell in Game of Thrones.

Your guide will give details of the history of the castle , information about the Game of Thrones filming plus all the other films made at Doune Castle including Monty Python and the Holy Grail .

Behind the scenes access

Visitors to the castle can get details about Game of Thrones filming in the Great Hall and courtyard of the castle .

Insider access

Take the audio tour of the castle narrated by Monty Python’s Terry Jones and Outlander’s Jamie Fraser ( Sam Heughan ) .

Game of Thrones t-shirts

Originally dating to the 13th Century, Doune Castle near Stirling plays Castle Leoch, home to Colum MacKenzie and his clan in Outlander TV series .

It also features in the 20th century episode when Claire and Frank Randall visit the castle on a day trip.

Once a Royal residence, Doune Castle was rebuilt by Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany in the late 14th Century.

Phone 07305-294773 for bookings or contact us online .

Duration: 45 minutes

1.20 Callander ,

the old gateway to the Highlands and explore the streets, this is also a great place to pick up a snack or lunch.

Duration: 30 minutes

2.30 Balquhidder Church Ruins,

the old church remains of Balquhidder and the resting place of one of Scotlands greatest folk legends, the outlaw Rob Roy MacGregor.

Duration: 30 minutes

3.45 Deanston Distillery

In 1974 Deanston produced the very first bottle of Deanston Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

The standard tour at Deanston costs £9 per person ( not included on tour price )

Each tour warmly welcomes you into the heart of the distillery, where Deanston makes award-winning Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky. Here you will see a traditional open top mash tun, gleaming copper stills and a must-see vaulted maturation Warehouse 2B. Join the experienced tour guides on a journey through time, taking you back to the past as a cotton mill and through the evolution of Deanston Distillery . The Standard Tour finishes off with a tasting of Deanston 12 year old whisky .

Guided tour of the distillery Includes a tasting of Deanston 12 year old , £5 voucher towards the purchase of any bottle of Deanston 70cl single malt whisky in the distillery shop Duration: 50 minutes

Every drop of Highland Single Malt is a marriage of the finest local ingredients and the skill of the craft to create the wonderful, fresh, honeyed sweetness that Deanston is known for. The Distillery has a commitment to using a traditional, hand crafted approach to our whisky embodies the honesty of our community. Our adherence to traditional methods combined with the skills and experience of our distillery team makes Deanston the unique single malt it is today.

Phone 07305-294773 for bookings or contact us online .

Duration: 1 hour

Private Tour – price £300 for groups of up to 4 people.

Shore excursions – all of our tours are available as shore excursions from the Edinburgh ports South Queensferry, Newhaven and Rosyth . Private tours Edinburgh phone 0131-549-9785

July 11, 2019

Seven unique experiences you can only have in Scotland

As far as underrated holiday destinations go, Scotland is on the list. It’s known around the world for its whisky, tartan and bagpipes but often overlooked by British travellers who opt for the sun-kissed sands of Spain or otherworldly scenery of Iceland.

Thankfully, we’re here to show you just how wonderful this UK beauty spot really is by bringing you the amazing things and unique experiences you can only have in Scotland…

1. Take a tour of the Outlander film locations

Unique Outlander tour

– see Lallybroch , ancestral home of Jamie Fraser ( Midhope Castle)

– hear Jamie Fraser guide you around Castle Leoch ( Doune Castle )

Outlander has been filmed exclusively in Scotland and there are a growing number of film locations. Number one on the list has got to be Lallybroch ( Midhope Castle ) , ancestral home of Jamie Fraser . Design your own Outlander tour – phone 0131 549 9785 for more details or contact us online . Take the Jamie Fraser Outlander tour to visit Lallybroch, Fort William and Wentworth Prison . Tours are run daily and prices start at just £150 per tour .

2. Take a tour of the Highlands

The scenery of the Highlands is amazing and a must see for any visitor to Scotland . Our Highlands tour features a visit to Glencoe, Buachaille Etive Mor, Black Mount and Rannoch Moor. This private tour of the Highlands features a drive through the beautiful scenery of Loch Lomond National park , passing Loch Lubhair and Loch Lubnaig and going through Crianlarich and Tyndrum .Phone 0131 549 9785 for more details or contact us online . Tours are run daily and prices start at just £250 per tour .

Scotland tours , Eilean Donan Castle, the Highlands , Scotland , The castle sits on an island in the middle of three lochs

3. Ride the Glenfinnan Viaduct like Harry Potter

Florida and Hertfordshire have the fancy studio tours and rides but Scotland has the real-life Hogwarts Express in the form of the Jacobite Steam Train, one of the greatest railway journeys in the world.

The train, which you can experience during a four-day tour this summer, runs from Fort William to Mallaig, crossing the 21-arched Glenfinnan Viaduct and running through rugged mountains and past stunning lochs.

4. Land on the beach at Barra

The world’s only scheduled beach landing is located right here on this Outer Hebrides island, where you’ll get to tick an incredible flight landing off your bucket list. You’ll land between tides on the beautifully white, sandy beach Traigh Mhor, a runway like no other.

When a take-off or landing isn’t expected, you can stroll this unique airport runway to admire Barra’s Caribbean-esque sands – but be sure to check that the airport sock isn’t flying as this is when public access isn’t permitted.

3. Meet Highland cows

These icons of Scotland are cute, photogenic and very hairy. Highland cows, or coos, are often seen lazing and grazing all over the country.

You’ll spot them in picturesque locations like the Cairngorms National Park, Stirling Castle or during a rail trip through the Highlands. On our Highlands tour we stop outside Callendar to see a couple of huge Highland cows.

4. Spot marine life on the UK’s first whale trail

Scotland’s newly launched Hebridean Whale Trail is a must for wildlife fans, with its 30 unique sites across the west coast where you can look out across the sea and watch for whales and dolphins.

The wildlife spotting trail includes lighthouses in the Isle of Lewis, Isle of Scalpay and the mainland, as well as beaches in the Highlands, the Isle of Harris and Ullapool.

5. Take off from the water with the UK’s only seaplane airline

Now this is one way to see Scotland! Seaplanes might be common in the Maldives but you don’t have to venture to the Indian Ocean to experience one for yourself, as there’s a seaplane airline operating in Loch Lomond.

Loch Lomond Seaplanes will pick you up from the shores of the loch for a tour of the breathtaking national park as you take in the famous mountains, glens and lochs.

Tours of Scotland – Seven unique experiences you can only have in Scotland . Phone 0131 549 9785 for more details or contact us online . Tours are run daily and prices start at just £150 per tour .

Private tours Edinburgh phone 0131-549-9785

July 8, 2019

Outlander success makes film locations upgrade their facilities

The Outlander effect has been well documented in the last few years. The most popular film locations are now looking to upgrade their facilities to cope with the demand .

Outlander news from Private tours Edinburgh . Phone Edinburgh +44-131 549 9785 for information about Outlander tours and bookings .

Outlander could become “a victim of its own success” due to the huge numbers of fans flocking to historic sites linked to the show.

Research published in March revealed that attractions such as Lallybroch ( Midhope Castle ) and Doune Castle ( Castle Leoch ) in Outlander, which has turned lead actors Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe into huge stars, saw visitor numbers soar by an average of 67 per cent since it went into production in 2013.

Jamie Fraser Outlander tours

However VisitScotland said it was now trying to ensure that sites were not “over-promoted” and was encouraging Outlander’s fans to be “respecting” of the nation’s heritage and culture.

The tourism agency said it was aware of fans having to be rescued from “dangerous” Outlander locations which had not appeared in official maps. It revealed it is also working with Transport Scotland and travel companies to try to ensure services are better linked up and reduce the risk of fans being left stranded.

Doune Castle, Linlithgow Palace, Blackness Castle and Craigmillar Castle are among the attractions Historic Environment Scotland (HES) has allowed Outlanderto use. The agency revealed the success of the show had inspired it to “pro-actively” seek new film and TV productions to work with. But it also admitted it was more difficult to close down Outlander locations for other productions because of the risk of having to turn away huge numbers disappointed fans. It has also reported growing problems at sites which have not been used as locations, but have close links to the show, including the Callanish Stones on the Isle of Lewis, the Ring of Brodgar in Orkney, and Clava Cairns near Inverness.

Speaking at XpoNorth, the annual creative industries conference in the Highlands, Audrey Jones, head of filming at HES, said: “We’re having issues with sites that are just so popular now. We’re looking at timed tickets, capacity management and investing in infrastructure to make it more pleasurable for people. If you had come to Doune Castle five years ago there would probably have been hardly anyone else there. You don’t want to be rammed in with a thousand other people. It’s not a nice experience.

“There are obviously people who have never heard of Outlander and don’t understand why this beautiful castle that they came to five years ago is suddenly mobbed. It’s about making sure that they also have a good experience.

“Conservation is our raison d’être. We’re trying to make sure that people don’t trample over sites like Clava Cairns, the Ring of Brodgar and the Callanish Stones.

“We now have rangers and conservation teams going around our sites checking on them and speaking to people, particularly at remote sites, which were always unmanned and where people could wander about at will. There’s now a degree of herding and trampling going on now. We’re having to police it a lot more.

Jones added: “We’ve now started to have drones everywhere. People flying them across properties where Outlander has been filmed to get aerial shots has become a major issue for us. We’ve had to increase our presence at previously unstaffed sites to cope with that and protect them.

“In some ways, Outlander has been a victim of its own success. It now costs us more to close a property down as we have more visitors. It’s a commercial challenge which we obviously try to overcome as we don’t want to be seen as the bad guys.

“It’s also become more and more challenging to afford privacy during filming. When Outlander began filming no-one had really heard about it or knew the actors. Now we have to close sites down because screaming fans are everywhere if they know filming is going on.”

VisitScotland film manager Jenni Steele said: “Moving people around sites and sustainable tourism is really important to us. We want to make sure we’re looking after our heritage and our tourism sites for the future. It’s about making sure everyone is respecting of our culture and heritage, and also making sure there’s a balance between promoting sites without over-promoting them.”

Outlander tours

Private tours Edinburgh – unique tours of Scotland 7 days a week – phone 0131-549-9785

July 4, 2019

Jamie Fraser is now Dr Fraser

Outlander star Sam Heughan – Jamie Fraser in Outlander – has been awarded an honorary degree from the University of Glasgow .
Outlander news from Outlander tours Edinburgh . Phone 07305-294773 for details of our Outlander tours.

His doctorate is in honour of the actor’s artistic success, as well as his charity work.
It is, however, a return to home turf for Heughan, who grew up there before moving to Edinburgh aged 12. The Outlander fan favourite graduated from Glasgow’s Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama – RSAMD, now the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland – in 2003.

June 19, 2019

Outlander fans help to restore Preston Mill’s wheel

Preston Mill stood in for Lallybroch , the Highland home of Jamie Fraser when the Redcoats came calling during the first season of the hit drama Outlander.

The appearance of 200-year-old Preston Mill on TV networks around the world has helped ensure its wheel will keep turning for a few more years at least.

Outlander news from Private tours Edinburgh . Book your Outlander tours to the original film locations , including Lallybroch on +447305294773 .

A crowdfunding appeal sent out by the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) after the iconic building’s waterwheel ground to a halt has been a raging success with donors digging deep to help pay for repairs, which have now got it moving again.

And it was the Outlander connection which help the fundraising effort smash through its £12,000 target, with an American fan of the show matching donations made by others.

A working mill until 1959, the historic Preston Mill in East Linton, East Linton, has a curious Dutch-style, red-tiled conical roof and is an architectural oddity which attracts thousands of tourists each year.

The engineer and millwright Andrew Meikle, who invented the threshing machine, was once a tenant and until September last year its machinery – powered by the River Tyne – was still turning.

It is now used to give tour groups an insight into the gruelling life of a 18th century miller, and is also beloved by painters because of its unusual design.

The mill stood in for a part of Lallybroch Castle in Outlander, in a scene where star Sam Heughan was fixing its wheel when Government troops came looking for Jacobites.

He plunged under the water to hide while time-travelling heroine Claire Fraser, played by Catriona Balfe, talked her way out of trouble.

Other scenes at ‘Lallybroch’, which the series places in Inverness-shire, were actually filmed at Midhope Castle, located between South Queensferry and Linlithgow on the edges of the private Hopetoun Estate.

But real life imitated art when the wheel stopped working last year, with the NTS appealing for help getting it moving again.

Book your Outlander tours to the original film locations , including Lallybroch on +447305294773 .