From Edinburgh: Private Outlander location tour

Reviewed · OUTLANDER TOURS

From Edinburgh: Private Outlander location tour

★ 5.0 · 4 reviews 9 hours From $647 Operated by Tartan thistle tours · Bookable on GetYourGuide
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Outlander fans get a hit of cinematic déjà vu.

What I like most is the flexible route and the chance to hit multiple filming highlights in one smooth 9-hour day, with a guide who can tailor the pace. Another big plus is the mix of stops—serious castle vibes, small fishing-village feel, and story-linked places that work even if you’re not a die-hard. One thing to think about: several key sites need separate entrance tickets, and food/drinks aren’t included.

This is a true private group setup (up to 6), so you’re not stuck marching to a fixed script. With hotel pickup and drop-off, you can focus on the day instead of logistics. If your party has different energy levels, the guide can typically adjust on the fly, even while you’re out driving.

Key Highlights You’ll Actually Feel During the Day

From Edinburgh: Private Outlander location tour - Key Highlights You’ll Actually Feel During the Day

  • Flexible itinerary, including changes even on the day of travel
  • Private transport in a car with hotel pickup and drop-off from Edinburgh
  • Outlander-focused sites across castles, villages, and coastal harbors
  • A guide (including Scott, as seen on recent trips) who mixes local context with show details
  • Bonus options that can be added when time allows, such as a St Andrews-style town stop or a farm for hairy coos
  • Some of the biggest anchors require ticketed entry, so plan for that budget

Chasing Jamie and Claire? These pick up more Outlander filming locations.

What Makes This Outlander Tour Work Better Than a Typical Day Trip

From Edinburgh: Private Outlander location tour - What Makes This Outlander Tour Work Better Than a Typical Day Trip
This tour is built around a simple idea: not every person in your group wants the same kind of Outlander day.

You can steer it toward filming locations like Midhope Castle, Lallybroch, Blackness Castle, and places linked to Inverness and Leoch, without locking your group into one rigid route. The value here is control. If weather turns, if you want more time for photos, or if you’re pacing a slower member of the party, the day is meant to flex.

I also like that it’s not only about “the show.” Even if Outlander isn’t your thing, you still get a classic Scottish sampler—castles, shoreline towns, and compact village streets that feel good to walk for an hour or two at a time.

And because it’s private, you avoid the usual day-trip headache: waiting, herding, and trying to squeeze in one more stop even though everyone’s tired.

Price and Value: $647 for Up to 6 (and When It’s a Smart Split)

From Edinburgh: Private Outlander location tour - Price and Value: $647 for Up to 6 (and When It’s a Smart Split)
The tour price is $647 per group for up to 6 people. On paper, that can sound steep—until you do the math for a private day with transportation and a guide.

If you go with a full group of 6, you’re effectively paying about $100-ish per person for a full 9-hour outing that includes round-trip car transport plus a driver/guide. If you only have 2 people, the cost per person rises fast, and it starts to look less like a bargain and more like a splurge.

Here’s the practical way I’d decide:

  • If your group has 4–6 adults, this often feels like good value for a private, flexible day.
  • If you’re a couple, compare it to other half-day options. You’re paying for customization and the convenience of pickup/drop-off—not just “getting to a site.”

Your 9 Hours in the Car: Comfort, Timing, and Realistic Expectations

From Edinburgh: Private Outlander location tour - Your 9 Hours in the Car: Comfort, Timing, and Realistic Expectations
A 9-hour private tour from Edinburgh is long enough to feel like an outing, but not so long that everything becomes rushed. The car matters here. The rides described on recent trips have been comfortable, and the private setup helps you avoid the stop-and-go stress that group coach tours can bring.

What you should expect day-of:

  • Pickup and drop-off at your hotel (so you don’t lose time in transit)
  • A driver/guide who manages the route and timing
  • Stops spaced so you can actually see places, not just drive past them
  • Some flexibility, including changing the order based on your interests

The main drawback is also simple: you’re in the car for a good chunk of the day. If your party wants tons of walking or a slow, unstructured pace all day, you’ll want to communicate that early so the guide builds in enough time at each stop.

The Flexible Stops: What Each Location Adds to Your Outlander Day

From Edinburgh: Private Outlander location tour - The Flexible Stops: What Each Location Adds to Your Outlander Day
The tour offers a suggested mix of Outlander filming highlights. Your actual order can change, and the guide can incorporate additional available locations if you request them. Below is what these places tend to add to the day—plus the small reality checks that help you plan.

A handful of other Edinburgh outings that caught our eye

Midhope Castle and Lallybroch: The Story Starts to Look Real

Midhope Castle is one of those stops that hits right away for fans. It’s a strong “this is a show location” moment, and it’s the kind of place where you’ll want time for photos, quick walking, and just soaking in the setting.

Nearby in the suggested options is Lallybroch, which shifts the day into a more human, village-like atmosphere. Instead of only big stone structures, you get that sense of everyday life that makes the series feel personal.

Reality check: entrance tickets for Midhope Castle aren’t included in the tour fee. Plan ahead so you don’t have that last-minute scramble.

Blackness Castle: A Big Visual Anchor (Tickets Included? Not Here)

Blackness Castle is one of the best “wow” stops for Outlander fans because it’s instantly recognizable on-screen. For a lot of people, it becomes the moment they feel like they’re stepping into a scene.

You’ll typically get time to take in the site and enjoy the atmosphere at ground level, which can feel very different from watching it framed in TV.

Reality check: entrance tickets for Blackness Castle aren’t included. Build that cost into your day, and if anyone in your group hates ticket lines, let the guide know early so they can time it well.

Fort William, Inverness, and the Highland-to-Story Feel

The itinerary can include stops such as Fort William and Inverness. Even if you don’t know every show detail, these places help your day breathe. They add stronger “actual Scotland” context to the Outlander connection—so the day doesn’t feel like a string of theme-park set pieces.

In practice, these stops are also good for:

  • a change of scenery
  • a quick walk for photos
  • a moment of calm between more specific story locations

Because the itinerary is flexible, the exact time at each depends on what your group wants most. If your priority is filming highlights, these may be shorter. If your priority is variety and scenery, they can stretch a bit more.

Culross Village and Cranesmuir: Pretty Streets, Easier Walking

Culross Village shows up in many Outlander-style days because it delivers that compact, storybook feel. It’s a strong option if you want your outing to include small-street wandering without committing to lots of long, difficult hikes.

Cranesmuir is another suggested stop that keeps things connected to the series mood, with a more everyday feel than some of the castle-heavy moments.

If your party includes both Outlander fans and non-fans, this is often where the non-fans start enjoying the day too—because it feels like you’re actually exploring a place, not just visiting a set.

Dysart Harbour and Le Havre: Coastal Moments That Calm the Day

The itinerary may include Dysart Harbour and Le Havre. These are the kinds of stops that can shift your day from “destination ticking” into “slow looking.”

Even if you’re not chasing show scenes perfectly, harbor towns tend to reward simple wandering:

  • you get break time from the car
  • you can enjoy views and people-watching
  • you can take photos without needing a perfect match to a TV frame

These are also good for anyone in your group who wants less “stairs and stone” time and more relaxed strolling.

Falkland Village and Falkland Palace: A Village Stop With Ticketed Reality

Falkland village is on the suggested menu, and it can work well as a mid-to-late day change of pace. It’s the type of stop where you can grab a coffee, browse, and walk at a comfortable speed.

If you include Falkland Palace, remember: entrance tickets for it are not included in the tour fee (and it’s listed alongside other ticketed sites). So if your group wants maximum show-match moments, it’s worth budgeting and timing it carefully.

Doune Castle, Leoch, and Hopetoun House: Big Settings and Story Atmosphere

The final stretch may include Doune Castle plus sites linked to Leoch and Hopetoun House.

This part of the day tends to be “big setting” territory—places that can feel more cinematic in person because you can actually see the scale, shape, and layout. For fans, it often creates those click-in-your-mind moments. For non-fans, it’s usually just a satisfying mix of architecture and atmosphere, even if they don’t know every episode reference.

Practical tip: if your group wants photos, these stops are where you’ll feel the time pressure most. If you know someone wants extra photo time, ask early so the guide can keep you from feeling rushed.

The Guide Makes the Difference: Scott’s Style of Tailoring

The biggest reason this tour earns strong scores is the guide approach. On recent private days, Scott has been described as both very knowledgeable and flexible—able to adapt the trip to your physical abilities and your interests.

That matters more than it sounds. A flexible route is only useful if the guide can actually translate your wishes into a real plan on the road. With a private driver/guide, you can:

  • spend more time where your group cares most
  • shorten stops where walking or crowding might feel stressful
  • swap in your priorities if you say them out loud

If your group has mixed interests—say, two people who want every Outlander match and two people who want great scenery—the guide’s ability to balance that is the secret sauce.

What’s Included (and What You Must Budget For)

From Edinburgh: Private Outlander location tour - What’s Included (and What You Must Budget For)
Included:

  • Customizable tour
  • Round-trip transportation by car
  • Driver/guide
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off

Not included:

  • Entry tickets to Blackness Castle, Midhope Castle, and Falkland Palace
  • Food and drinks

This is why I tell people to plan a basic food strategy. You’re out for 9 hours, and you can’t assume there will be a perfect sit-down meal where you’re stopping. Pack snacks if your group likes that safety net, or budget for buying food at stops along the way.

Also, bring comfortable shoes. Even a “not a hike” day trip includes walking through castle grounds, village streets, and harbors.

Who This Tour Suits Best (and Who Might Want to Rethink It)

This is a strong fit if:

  • you’re an Outlander fan who wants multiple filming highlights in one private day
  • your group includes at least one non-fan who still wants to enjoy the day through places, not just plot references
  • you value flexibility and a guide who can adjust the day as you go

It’s not a fit if:

  • you’re traveling with children under 18 (the tour isn’t suitable)
  • you rely on bringing pets (pets aren’t allowed; assistance dogs are allowed)
  • your group is only interested in one single site and nothing else—because the price is for the full day experience

Small Planning Tips That Improve the Day

From Edinburgh: Private Outlander location tour - Small Planning Tips That Improve the Day
A few quick moves make the experience smoother:

  • If you care about specific sites, tell the guide your top 2–3 priorities early.
  • Budget for entrance tickets at Blackness Castle, Midhope Castle, and Falkland Palace.
  • Wear shoes you can walk in for short bursts.
  • If your party has different mobility levels, say it upfront. The guide has shown they can accommodate physical abilities.

And if your group wants an extra twist, use the flexibility. Past groups have requested extras like St Andrews-style town time and a farm stop for hairy coos. If those ideas fit your interests, ask early so the guide can judge whether they fit your 9-hour window.

Should You Book This Outlander Location Tour?

Book it if your group wants a private, flexible day that mixes Outlander filming sites with real Scottish places—and you like the idea of a guide steering the route instead of following a fixed script.

Skip it if you’re traveling with young kids, need pets on the trip, or you only want one stop. In that case, you might prefer a shorter, ticket-focused option with fewer moving pieces.

FAQ

FAQ

How long is the private Outlander location tour?

It lasts 9 hours.

What’s the price and group size?

The price is $647 per group for up to 6 people.

Is hotel pickup and drop-off included?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off are included.

What transportation is provided?

Round-trip transportation by car is included.

Is there an entry ticket included for castles and palace sites?

No. Entry tickets are not included for Blackness Castle, Midhope Castle, and Falkland Palace.

Are food and drinks included?

No. Food and drinks are not included.

Who leads the tour?

A live tour guide is provided, and the tour is in English.

Is the itinerary flexible?

Yes. The itinerary is customizable and can be altered even on the day.

Are children or pets allowed?

Children under 18 are not suitable for this tour. Pets are not allowed, but assistance dogs are allowed.