Step into the world of Outlander around Queensferry – where centuries-old Scottish locales became the backdrop to Claire and Jamie’s saga. From cobbled village streets to mighty castle walls, this is your guide to the real-life Outlander experience near Edinburgh.
Outlander Locations near South Queensferry (West Lothian)
“In the shadow of the Forth Bridges and along the shores of the Forth, Outlander’s production found ideal historic settings. Within a few miles of South Queensferry are estates and fortresses that played starring roles on screen. Here are three locations – Hopetoun House, Midhope Castle and Blackness Castle.
Hopetoun House – The Duke’s Palace and More
Hopetoun House – a 17th-century stately home just outside Queensferry – starred in Outlander as the aristocratic seat of the Duke of Sandringham and more. Its ornate rooms and rolling grounds have hosted duels and dances on screen. In reality, you’ll find a tranquil estate with deer, gardens, and sweeping Forth views – a quiet grandeur that transports you centuries back.
Midhope Castle (“Lallybroch”) – “Jamie Fraser’s Ancestral Home”
Midhope Castle – better known to Outlander fans as Lallybroch, Jamie Fraser’s beloved home – stands quiet on a back road of the Hopetoun Estate. This 16th-century tower house is a pilgrimage site for fans; you can’t enter the ruin, but its weathered courtyard and walls speak volumes. It’s a short country lane away from Queensferry, and though access requires a pass, just gazing up at Lallybroch’s worn stone evokes the show’s heart.
Blackness Castle (“Fort William”) – “The Ship that Never Sailed”
“Blackness Castle, a brooding 15th-century fortress on the Forth, doubled as the notorious Fort William in Outlander. Its stone walls witnessed some of the show’s darkest moments (Jamie’s brutal whipping, Claire’s imprisonment). In person, Blackness is nicknamed ‘the ship that never sailed’ for its boat-like shape – walk its ramparts with salt wind in your face, and you’ll feel history (and the show) come alive.
Outlander Location in Fife – Culross, the 17th-Century Village
Culross – the National Trust preserved village that became the fictional Cranesmuir – is a highlight for any Outlander fan. With its mustard-yellow palace and cobbled streets, Culross effortlessly posed as Geillis Duncan’s 18th-century town. Stroll the Mercat Cross and you’ll recognise filming spots at every turn. Beyond the show, Culross offers genuine Scottish history: quaint tea rooms, Fife coastal views, and an authentic sense of stepping back in time.
Culross Palace & Ochre Walls
The ochre façade of Culross Palace stops most visitors in their tracks. It played Claire’s herb garden scenes in Outlander, but its real history is even deeper — royal burgh, salt port, and now a perfectly preserved window into the 17th century.
Mercat Cross & Village Square
This cobbled square was Cranesmuir on screen — where whispers turned into trials. In real life, it’s the quiet centre of Culross, still edged with crow-stepped gables and local life. You’ll recognise it before you know why.
Backstreets of Cranesmuir
Walk uphill from the square and the rows turn tighter, steeper, more lived-in. These lanes were Claire and Geillis’s daily route — still exactly as filmed, minus the gallows. Outlander fans will spot scenes with every corner turned.
Outlander Filming Locations in Edinburgh
You don’t need to leave the capital to find yourself in the thick of Outlander’s story. Tucked behind closes, above closes, and beyond the crowds, Edinburgh hides filming sites that fans walk past without knowing. From Jamie’s print shop to prison walls and palace gates, the show’s Edinburgh is layered — and it’s all within a short walk or bus from the Royal Mile.
Bakehouse Close – Jamie’s Print Shop
Tucked off the Royal Mile, this shadowed lane became Outlander’s Edinburgh print shop. Jamie worked here under the name Alexander Malcolm — and fans still make the pilgrimage to stand at that worn stone stair.
Craigmillar Castle – Ardsmuir Prison
This crumbling fortress played Ardsmuir Prison, where Jamie was held after Culloden. It’s one of Edinburgh’s best-kept secrets x no crowds, just silence and stone. You’ll hear the footsteps echo.
Holyrood Palace – Royal Court Scenes
The Palace of Holyroodhouse stood in for royal interiors and Parisian court scenes. It’s still an active royal residence — but the Outlander story lingers in the tapestries and echoing halls.
Picture: Culross Mercat Cross Phillip Capper, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Picture: Culross street Kenneth Barker, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Bakehouse Close Enric, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Craigmillar Castle: Ad Meskens, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Holyroodhouse Palace: 瑞丽江的河水, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
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