Inverness Outlander Historical Sites Tour

Depending on the size of your party you will either be in a luxury saloon or a high-end luxury tourer for a larger party. Your party will be able to customize their tour and your guide will discuss the best options for the day depending on your preferences.
The success of Diana Gabaldon’s “Outlander” novels, and the resultant TV series, has been something of a phenomenon and has brought a new focus and a virtual explosion of interest to many of the historic sites throughout Scotland.  The Highlands is the centre stage of the unfolding story both in fact and the tapestry of fictional story.

You will visit the following places in the company of our driver/guide whose commentary will bring alive the relevance of these visits. 

What's included:

• Private tour
• Driver/guide
• Live commentary on board
• Hotel/port pickup and drop-off
• Transport by private vehicle

What to expect:

Duration: 8 hours

Abertarff House

Abertarff House 71 Church Street, Inverness, IV1 1EU

Thought to be the Town House of Lord Lovat, (Simon the Fox) the house was built in 1593, and is the oldest house in Inverness. Simon, in the context of "Outlander," would have nominally been Jamie's Grandfather. In real life, Lovat was an interesting and colourful character, the subject of the book, "The Last Highlander."

Pass by without stopping

Old High St Stephen's Church

Church Street, Inverness, IV1 1EY

In the aftermath of the Battle of Culloden Jacobite prisoners were held in the tower of the Church. Blindfolded, they were summarily executed one by one. Since this was indeed a civil war, it was not unreasonable to believe that wounded prisoners being held at Balnain House across the river may well have witnessed brothers or other relatives being shot. You can still see the mark made by musket balls in the wall of the tower. Brutality was commonplace.

10 minutes

Culloden Battlefield

Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre, Culloden Moor, IV2 5EU

Fighting with Bonnie Prince Charlie's, Jacobite Army, Jamie Fraser, the hero of Diana Gabaldon's books and the film series, lay wounded here and was thought to be dead. The Fraser stone marking where the men of his clan fell is close to the central monument on the Battlefield. It is seldom without floral tributes.
The Visitor Centre is award-winning and well worth the time it takes to absorb all its attractions.
Culloden was the last pitched battle ever to be fought on British soil and the defeat of the Clans marked the end of the Highland way of life forever.
Post Culloden, an Act of Proscription banned the wearing of tartan, the carrying of Arms, the speaking of the Gaelic Language and the playing of bagpipes for 40 years. Virtual ethnic cleansing ensued in the King's name, levied by his son, William Augustus, the Duke of Cumberland, earning him the title, Butcher Cumberland.

1 hour, 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Culloden Moor

Culloden Moor

Kings House Stables . Jacobite Officers[ Jamie Fraser amongst their number] were rounded up imprisoned overnight, particulars taken and summarily shot in the field the following morning.

Pass by without stopping

Clava Cairns

Balnuaran of Clava, Scottish Highlands, IV2 5EU

Admission Required This 4,000-year-old burial ground is thought to be also a communal meeting place for the Pictish community which it served, perhaps even an early parliament. The three cairns are each surrounded by a ring of standing stones and these are thought to be the inspiration for Creag Na Dun in the "Outlander" books and film. The field is built on lay lines and energy conduits are believed to travel from the stones to the cairns. Two stones, in particular, attract fans, the tallest stone at number one cairn and the butterfly stone at Cairn number three which is often used as a logo for bloggers. Both have characteristics of the stones that appear in the film version of the series. It doesn't take much of a stretch of the imagination to believe that this spiritual place was the focus of many ceremonials lost to our present-day practices. This is a special visit which has a profound effect on some people.

40 minutes

Wardlaw Mausoleum

Wardlaw Road, Wardlaw Mausoleum, Kirkhill, IV5 7NB

Built originally on the end of the Parish Church in 1634, Wardlaw Mausoleum was the family burial place for the Lovat Frasers. Notable amongst the dignitaries in the crypt here is the coffin, reputedly of Simon, Lord Lovat, the Old Fox, (grandfather of Jamie Fraser of “Outlander” fame.) A recent controversy concerning the validity of the remains, reveals doubt. A forensic investigation, by Dame Sue Black, apparently reveals that the remains, which are most intact, appear to be those of a headless woman of around 30 years of age. Simon, along with two other rebel Earls, Lord Balmerino and Lord Kilmarnock were executed on Tower Hill in London. The authorities there claim that all three were buried in the wall of the Tower. The custodian of Wardlaw is seeking permission for these remains to be exhumed. Follow this on the Wardlaw website. This is a privileged visit and requires respect and decorum to be afforded to the Fraser family and the custodians of the Mausoleum.

20 minutes

Castle Leod

Strathpeffer, IV14 9AA

This 12th Century Castle has survived many travails in its long history and is today the home of the Earl of Cromartie, the chief of clan MacKenzie.
The filming of “Outlander” was completed at Doune Castle near Stirling and was named Castle Leoch. This is plainly a homage to the real-life home of the clan you were Jamie Fraser’s guardians and kinsmen.
By special arrangement we are allowed to drive into the grounds for a photo opportunity with the Castle in the background. On a number of special days in the year, as advertised on the castle’s website, it is possible to visit the Castle and meet the Chief and maybe Lady MacKenzie.
There is a very pleasant woodland walk in the grounds with some very special trees including one
planted by Diana Gabeldon who is a patron and friend of the Estate.

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Beauly Priory

Beauly IV4 7DY Beauly IV4, Beauly

Founded in 1230 by monks of the Valliscaulian order from Dijon in France and John Byset, a local landowner, the Abbey was visited by Mary Queen of Scots who was brought up in France and betrothed to the Dauphin. She is credited with possibly naming the town by remarking, “Beau Lieu” Beautiful Place.
Many chiefs of Clan Fraser and Clan MacKenzie are buried here.
The “Outlander” connection has Claire receiving advice from a female Gaelic Seer while Jamie lay wounded in the rear chapel. Ultimately this was the site of them leaving Scotland for France on a schooner anchored in the Firth.
Oliver Cromwell sacked the Priory and had stone transported to Inverness by barge to build his Citadel there.

30 minutes

Fort George

Inverness, IV2 7TD

This formidable fortress is a tangible statement by the British Government that never again will a Highland Army be raised against the British Crown. Built from 1746 in the aftermath of the ’45 Jacobite Rebellion it cost a monstrous £240,000 a huge amount of money at that time. It is still today home to the Black Watch Regiment of the British Army.
It replaces three fortresses destroyed by the Jacobite Army and named after King George’s sons,
William, Augustus and George. It is probably the nearest equivalent of the then Fort William, in “Outlander” the scene of Jamie’s torture by Captain Jack.

1 hour • Admission Ticket Not Included