Follow in the footsteps of Claire and Jamie and see the sights of Outlander.
You may well have heard of the ‘Outlander Effect’. But the extent to which it is making a deep impression on Scotland’s tourism industry is staggering.
Since it first aired nearly 10 years ago, Outlander has introduced Scotland to a whole new audience.
Perhaps then, it is time to look up an enjoy what is right here on our own doorstep and see Scotland through the eyes of Outlanders who cannot get enough of the standing stones, castles, glens and lochs that form the backdrop to the hit show and indeed to our lives.
Glen Coe, Highlands
Where best to begin than with the series one opening credits of Outlander, featuring the dramatic majesty of Glen Cow which sets the scene for the Highland adventures to come. The spectacular valley of the glen is so stunning you could easily believe it was a product of Hollywood special effects.
But Glen Coe has, of course, a haunting history and an atmosphere all of its own.
Pollok Country Park, Glasgow
Pollok Country Park is the only country park within the city, with extensive woodlands and gardens set over 146 hectares that provide a quiet sanctuary for wildlife and visitors alike.
On-screen in Outlander, this beautiful city spot doubled as the grounds surrounding the fictional Castle Leoch in the first series.
Doune Castle, Stirling
This fortification became the fictional Castle Leoch, the seat of Clan MacKenzie, Doune – which also featured in the pilot episode and episode one of Game of Thrones – was the seat of Robert Stewart, 1st Duke of Albany and Governor of Scotland in the Fourteenth Century.
Dunure, South Ayrshire
The picturesque village of Dunure in South Ayrshire, about five miles from Ayr, is a historic fishing community, dating back to the early 19th century. At the heart of the village is its ancient ruined castle, standing on a rock promontory on the Carrick coast, overlooking the harbour and out across the Firth of Clyde. Dunure has featured in Outlander on a number of occasions, perhaps best known to fans as the port where Jamie and Claire set sail for Jamaica.
Calanais Standing Stones, Isle of Lewis
The standing stones of ‘Craigh na Dun’ are pivotal in Outlander, with Claire finding herself suddenly transported into the 1740s, where she meets her love Jamie, by touching them. Craigh na Dun is in fact a fictional spot and the stones in the programme are fictional too. They are, however, based on the iconic standing stones of Calanais.
Finnich Glen, Stirlingshire
The Scots gorge, 70ft deep, features a circular rock, the Devil’s Pulpit, and a steep staircase known as the Devil’s Steps, and was always a draw for visitors, but never more so since it was used in Outlander to depict St Ninian’s Spring.
