Doune Castle was built in  1400 for the first Duke of Albany and provides the setting for Castle Leoch in Outlander .  It was also the set for Winterfell in Game of Thrones and Monty Python’s Holy Grail. Visit Doune Castle on a unique private tour of Outlander film locations .

Doune is one of the best preserved medieval castles in Scotland.

The Great Hall is 20 metres by 8 metres , and 12 metres high to its timber roof, again a 19th-century replacement.The hall has no fireplace, and was presumably heated by a central fire, and ventilated by means of a louvre like the one in the modern roof. No details of the original roof construction are known, however, and the restoration is conjectural.Large windows light the hall, and stairs lead down to the three cellars on ground level.

The hall is accessed from the courtyard via a stair up to a triangular lobby, which in turn links the hall and kitchens by means of two large serving hatches with elliptical arches, unusual for this period. The kitchen tower, virtually a tower house in its own right, is 17 metres (56 ft) by 8 metres (26 ft). The vaulted kitchen is on the hall level, above a cellar. One of the best-appointed castle kitchens in Scotland of its date, it has an oven and a 5.5-metre (18 ft) wide fireplace. A stair turret, added in 1581 and possibly replacing a timber stair, leads up from the lobby to two storeys of guest rooms. These include the “Royal Apartments”, a suite of two bedrooms plus an audience chamber, suitable for royal visitors.

Doune Castle has featured in several literary works, including the 17th-century ballad, “The Bonny Earl of Murray”, which relates the murder of James Stewart, 2nd Earl of Moray, by the Earl of Huntly, in 1592. In Sir Walter Scott’s first novel, Waverley (1814), the protagonist Edward Waverley is brought to Doune Castle by the Jacobites. Scott’s romantic novel describes the “gloomy yet picturesque structure”, with its “half-ruined turrets”.

The castle was used as a location in MGM’s 1952 historical film Ivanhoe which featured Robert Taylor and Elizabeth Taylor. The BBC adaptation of “Ivanhoe” in 1996 also featured Doune as a location. The castle was used as the set for Winterfell in the TV series Game of Thrones (2011–present), an adaptation of the A Song of Ice and Fire series of novels by George R. R. Martin. The castle was used as a stand-in for the fictional “Leoch Castle” in the TV adaption of the Outlander series of novels.

The cast and crew of Outlander will return to a Fife village this week to shoot scenes for season four of the hugely successful time travelling fantasy. Falkland High Street will be closed to traffic as filming gets underway with East Port, Cross Wynd and Mill Wynd also to be used by producers. The village has already replicated Inverness during the 1940s and the mid 18th Century in earlier episodes. Outlander tours can be booked online .

Falkland features some familiar sights from the TV series , including Mrs Baird’s Guesthouses ( pictured here , actually the Covenanter Hotel), the Bruce Fountain where Claire comes across the ghost of Jamie, and the building that doubles as Farrell’s Hardware and Furniture Store.

The village’s Convenanter Hotel, which doubled as Mrs Baird’s bed and breakfast in season one, will remain closed this week as shooting gets underway. Meanwhile, claims that the set for Fraser’s Ridge, where the show’s lead characters settle after arriving in North Carolina, has been built in woods near Cumbernauld have been denied.

The appearance of the couple’s rustic cabin is eagerly anticipated by Outlander fans.

A simple, wooden building has appeared in Cumbernauld Glen close to the Outlander studios. But John Gary Steel, the production manager in charge of set design, confirmed on Twitter that it is not the cabin being used in the show. The Outlander production team earlier sought permission to build a temporary set in woods outside Cambusbarron, near Stirling. However, this plan is no longer going ahead.

An Outlander fan’s guide to Scotland: 10 filming locations to visit

The TV series Outlander was adapted from a series of novels written by Diana Gabaldon

Popular TV series Outlander made use of several beautiful locations across Scotland, standing in for Claire and Jamie’s fantastical world. From spectacular castles to historic churches and mysterious woodland, any Outlander fan will enjoy a visit to these stunning spots. Outlander tours

Midhope Castle, South Queensferry

This small castle doubles as Jamie’s home, Lallybroch, in the television series. In reality, it is Midhope Castle, a 16th century tower house near South Queensferry, on the outskirts of Edinburgh. However, it is now derelict and not safe to enter. We recommend you admire the exterior from afar.

Doune Castle, Perthshire

Doune Castle near Stirling, Scotland is a medieval courtyard fortress (Photo: Shutterstock) In the Outlander universe, Jamie’s uncle, Colum Mackenzie, calls this castle home. Fans of the programme will know it as Castle Leoch, but it is really Doune Castle, near Stirling.  In reality, this is a 14th century courtyard castle, with a 100 foot high gatehouse and one of the best preserved great halls in Scotland.

Aberdour Castle, Fife

The ruins of Aberdour Castle in Fife . Aberdour Castle is portrayed as a monastery in Outlander, and its hall house is possibly Scotland’s oldest standing castle. The structure was built in the 1100s and was home to three generations of noble families. In the east range, you can find a rare painted ceiling from the 1600s.

Hopetoun House, Queensferry

Hopetoun House,  (a stately home near Edinburgh) stands in for the residence of the fictional Duke of Sandringham. Simon Callow plays the Duke, but the real owner of the house is Adrian John Charles Hope, Marquess of Linlithgow.  The grand house was built between 1699 and 1701 and was designed by Sir William Bruce, then extended by William Adam from 1721. William Adam also designed the English garden-style landscape park that surrounds the building. Glencorse Old Kirk, Midlothian Fans will remember that Claire and Jamie got married at this tiny Midlothian church, which was built in the 17th century. The author of Treasure Island, Robert Louis Stevenson, worshipped here, and even wrote about the kirk and its surroundings. “If my spirit returns to earth it will be found wandering through Glencorse Woods or sitting on the old bridge at Glencorse Kirk, the finest spot on earth,” he said.

Culross, Fife

The Royal Burgh of Culross in Fife . The National Trust manages this time capsule of a town, which stands in for the fictional village of Cranesmuir, home to Claire’s friend, Geillis Duncan. Culross is Scotland’s most complete example of a 17th century burgh, with a reconstructed period garden at its centre. Culross Palace is also worth a visit, with its meticulously restored 17th century interiors.

George Square and Pollok Country Park, Glasgow

Pollok Country Park in Glasgow  In one of Outlander’s scenes set in the 1940s, George Square in Glasgow serves as the location where Frank proposes to Claire. Pollok Country Park is another Outlander location, which doubles for a Highland field in which Claire gathers healing herbs.

Blackness Castle, West Lothian

Blackness Castle is a boat shaped fortress which sticks out into the Firth of Forth near Bo’ness . Blackness Castle on the Firth is used for ‘Black Jack’ Randall’s Fort William base in Outlander. The castle was originally built in the 15th century and strengthened in the 16th century as an artillery fortress. Unusually, the castle is shaped like a boat, which is how it earned its nickname – ‘the ship that never sailed’.

Highland Folk Museum, Newtonmore

Traditional building of turf and thatch, at The Highland Folk Museum . This Newtonmore museum has six replica Highland crofts, exactly like those in which tenant farmers would have lived in the 18th century. The crofts feature prominently in the scenes of Outlander set during this era. As well as the 18th century crofts, the museum also has a working 1930s croft.

Linlithgow Palace, West Lothian

Linlithgow Palace and St Michael’s Church  Linlithgow Palace, the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots, stands in for the fictional Wentworth prison in one of Outlander’s episodes. The real palace was one of the Stuart family’s main royal residences in the 15th and 16th centuries, having previously been the site of a manor house.

Read more at: https://inews.co.uk/culture/television/outlander-fans-guide-scotland-10-filming-locations-visit/

Linlithgow Palace featured as Wentworth Prison in #Outlander.
This royal pleasure palace and birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots became the backdrop for some of the most harrowing scenes of the show.
Depicted as Wentworth Prison, the prison corridors and entrance were used in episode 15 of the first series when Jamie Fraser was brutally incarcerated by his adversary, Black Jack Randall.
Built in the 1400s and 1500s, the now-ruined palace is set among the spectacular surrounds of Linlithgow Loch and Peel.
Over 50 photo gifts are available including throw pillows , greeting cards, prints, t-shirts, phone cases, mugs and lots more.
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The TV series Outlander has been a huge international success , based on the best selling novels by Diana Gabaldon, Outlander was filmed in a number of locations in castles and towns in  Scotland. On this Outlander private tour we visit various locations used for filming the hit series Outlander.

Tours start at 9.30 am . Our private group tours take up to 4 people to three Outlander filming locations.

Normal pickup point is Edinburgh city centre or the airport . Other pickup points can be arranged , subject to an additional fee .

Itinerary

The first location on this Outlander tour is the historic town of Falkland. The town is the setting for episode one where Frank and Claire Randall come to Scotland on holiday. Falkland Palace is a historic building and shops and  features can be recognised , including the town square fountain where Frank encounters Jamie’s ghost watching Claire through the window.

Doune Castle was built in  1400 for the first Duke of Albany and provides the setting for Castle Leoch in Outlander. It was also the set for Winterfell in Game of Thrones and Monty Python’s Holy Grail.

Doune is one of the best preserved medieval castles in Scotland.

Blackness Castle goes back to 1440 . The castle provides the setting for Fort William, as the original fort no longer exists.

The castle is long and narrow because of the shape of the rock on which it is situated and it is sometimes called ‘ the ship that never sailed ‘ . It guards the bay at Blackness and is only a few miles from Linlithgow Palace . The first castle was built in the middle of the 15th century by Sir George Crichton , Earl of Caithness , a member of one of the most powerful families in Scotland . King James II acquired Blackness in 1453 when he annexed the lands of the Crichtons . From then on the castle was mainly used as a prison . In 1543 Cardinal Beaton was held here for a month . Rebuilding started in the 1530s under the direction of Sir James Hamilton of Finnart who also worked at Linlithgow Palace and Stirling Castle . He was instructed to make the castle safe from artillery , and he achieved this by making the south and east walls very thick . A new tower was built at the south end . In the 1560s , in the reign of Mary Queen of Scots , a Spur was built to protect the main gate . In the 1870s the castle was the main ammunition depot for Scotland .The Castle is a popular location for historical re-enactments and has changed little in 600 years . Doune is one of the best preserved medieval castles in Scotland.

Hamlet has scenes filmed at Blackness Castle and Dunnottar Castle.
Director: Franco Zeffirelli
Starring: Mel Gibson, Glenn Close, Paul Scofield, Alan Bates, Ian Holm, Helena Bonham Carter, John McEnery

The tour spends an hour at each location .

• Travel by luxury car
• Small private group tour with a maximum of 4 people

Tour costs – £200 for up to 4 people