9 Day Outlander Self Drive
If you have followed the tv series Outlander, or read the books, you will enjoy this Jamie and Claire inspired self drive itinerary. You will definitely recognnize some of your favorite settings from the show,
Day 1 Edinburgh
While in Edinburgh
Located at the foot of the Royal Mile, the Palace of Holyroodhouse is an elegant royal residence with links to monarchs from throughout the centuries. Today it is the official Scottish residence of Her Majesty The Queen.
Edinburgh's Old Town is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site (together with the New Town on the north side of the city centre) and the buildings you’ll see remain largely unchanged from how they would have looked centuries ago. The Old Town is home to three filming locations from Outlander. Look out for these places as you wander up the Royal Mile:
Bakehouse Close – this filming location is where Claire and Jamie are reunited after 20 years apart.
Tweeddale Court – this historic street becomes the 18th century market where Claire meets Fergus
again.
Signet Library – the interior of this beautiful building doubles as the Governor’s mansion in Jamaica.
Day 2 Inverness
Travel from Edinburgh or Linlithgow to Stirling, stopping at two beautiful stately homes and a fortress castle as you go.
On your way north to Inverness your first visit will be Culross, the fictional village of Cranesmuir and the home of Geillis Duncan and her ill-fated husband Arthur. Exploring the towns charming cobbled streets is like going back in time. Look carefully and you may even find Claire’s herb garden behind the impressive, historic Culross Palace. You continue to the small town of Falkland to revisit one of the first scenes of the show. Falkland substitutes for 1940s Inverness and in the town centre see if you can recognize the familiar sights such as the cozy looking Mrs. Baird’s Guesthouses (The Covenanter Hotel), the Bruce Fountain where Claire sees the ghost of Jamie. Also Campbell’s Coffee Shop or Farrell’s Hardware and Furniture Store (Fayre Earth Gift Shop), where Claire stops to look at the window stocked with authentic period merchandise. Early afternoon you stop at the Newtonmore Highland Folk Museum, which houses replica of 18th century turf-roofed Highland crofts making it a perfect choice for the period scenes. You can see them in scenes filmed in and around the Mackenzie village, as well as the background of the scene where Claire, Jamie and his clansmen shelter in the first episode, and later when Dougal collects the rent. Heading ever further north you will pass Aviemore. Will you be able to recognize the stunning hilly and wooded area of Tulloch Ghru near Aviemore, which appears during the journey Claire takes with Jamie and the Highlanders from Craigh na Dun to Castle Leoch? You may also recognize it from the opening credits. Arriving in Inverness later that afternoon.
Day 3 Inverness
Your day will start with you visiting the beautiful area of Glen Affric, surrounded on all sides by stunning Caledonian pine forest. This is big Scottish countryside, ideal for our Jamie to hide! In the afternoon we visit Culloden, which plays an important role in Scottish history and the Outlander books. It’s not far from the Culloden Battlefield where Claire and Jamie said their tearful goodbyes, before Jamie joined the Jacobite army to fight for the Stuarts. You have the opportunity to explore the visitor centre and site, and pay tribute to those who lost their lives at the last battle fought on British soil.
Day 4 Inverness
Wake up bright and early to get the most of your day in Inverness. Spend the morning exploring the city before heading to Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle. You then take a short drive to the ancient standing stones at Clava Cairns, which could have given the inspiration for Craigh na Dun.
Day 5 Isle of Skye
Skye is a truly magical place. The largest of the Inner Hebrides, it's home to some of
Scotland's most iconic landscapes. Whether you are visiting for a few days whilst on a tour of
Scotland or staying for a longer spell, the island has countless ways to enchant you, with its
mountain ranges, miles of dramatic coastline and captivating history. Bring your sense of
adventure! Sensational landscapes, rare wildlife and imagination-firing history – the Isle of Skye
delivers on every level. This is North Highland scenery on a grand scale! While here, we’ll
discover the island’s unique geology, including the extraordinary Quiraing, Kilt Rock and Old
Man of Storr. On the West side of Trotternish at Balnacnoc (which means - the village or
township in the hills) above Uig, is the Fairy Glen – a Quirang-like landslip in miniature.
Day 6 Isle of Skye
The Fairy Glen | Uig: Skye has a long history involving the Fairies, most of which is related to Dunvegan Castle and their ‘Fairy Flag’. The Fairy Glen (much like the Fairy Pools in Glenbrittle) has no real legends or stories involving fairies that can be traced. The simple fact that the location is unusual so it has been given the nickname the Fairy Glen!
Day 7 Fort William
DRIVING TO FORT WILLIAM: Admire the views of native Caledonian pine forests, glistening lochs and open moorlands as you drive through the Great Glen - Glenfinnan. This is the glen that Claire and Jamie rode through after their wedding in the Outlander novels.
Jacobite connection: Stretch your legs and breathe in fresh Highland air as you visit the Glenfinnan Monument on the banks of Loch Shiel. Bonnie Prince Charlie raised the Jacobite flag here in August 1745 (beginning the final Jacobite Rising), after arriving on the mainland from the Outer Hebrides.
Day 8 Fort William
Climb the monument for views out across Loch Shiel and pop into the visitor centre to learn more about the 1745 Rising. Tip - While you’re here, make sure to take some pictures of the nearby Glenfinnan Viaduct – it’s a famous filming location from the Harry Potter movies.
Day 9 Travel to Glasgow Airport
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