Outlander Classic Tour 2024

We have been running these guided Outlander Tours for over twenty years now, and are delighted at their success. As well as 'Outlander sites', we put the story into context and explore a little of what life was like for a Highlander in the 18th century.

We include a few places not associated with the story - historic places that consistently delight our clients: the brochs at Glenelg, Glencoe and the Isle of Skye.

Each tour is for a maximum of six people, travelling in a nine seater vehicle.

Arrival Dates are as follows:

If you are a group of three or more looking for an Outlander Tour and there is no space available for your chosen dates, please email us at enquiries@clansandcastles.com and we will see if we can lay on another tour or else arrange a trip just for your group.

Month Arrive Meet Guide Last Night Places Left
April Sun 21 Tue 23 Mon 29

                                     Sold Out

May Sun 19 Tue 21 Mon 27 1
June Sun 9 Tue 11 Mon 17 2
July Sun 7 Tue 9 Mon 15 1
August Sun 4 Tue 6 Mon 12 4
August Sun 18 Tue 20 Mon 26 1
September  Sun 1 Tue 3 Mon 9 1
September Sun 15 Tue 17 Mon 23 1

Tour Details

The general outline of the tours is as follows...

Arrival Date.

Experience teaches us that people prefer to give themselves a full day to recover from the flight, adjust to the time zone and explore a little on their own. We are therefore including two nights at a chic Bed and Breakfast close to Edinburgh city centre before you meet your tour guide.

A taxi from the airport will cost about £25.

Arrival Day Plus One

Time to get out and about... see Edinburgh Castle with your free pass (allow at least two hours), the Royal Mile (we provide you with a guide of 'Outlander places') and perhaps the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

Day One with the Tour Guide

We all meet in the foyer at 0915 and head north. First stop is Falkland in Fife, used in the TV series for Inverness. Next, see what it looks like to stand in the dock and be accused of witchcraft (you'll just have to imagine the baying crowd!).

After lunch we are in the Highlands and on our way to the Highland Folk Museum to see the traditional village used in the rent gathering scenes. The next two nights are at a charming B&B in the Highland town of Nairn.

Day Two

We start the morning with the magical bronze age Clava Cairns and stone circles.  Then the new visitor centre at Culloden offers a detailed explanation of the battle, the background to the conflict and its brutal aftermath. Then we head by Inverness to the Fraser of Lovat clan lands, including a visit to the tomb of the 11th Lord Lovat ('The Old Fox') and Beauly Priory (where Claire met Maisri the prophetess).

That evening, you will have the chance to hold a claymore, targe and dirk yourself and learn more about the life of a clansman and his traditional dress.

Day Three

We head west by Loch Ness and Glenmoriston (where Prince Charles Edward hid for three weeks in 1746) and by Glenshiel, past super-picturesque Eilean Donan Castleto the dramatic Mam Rattigan Pass (fantastic views) and over to Glenelg. Here we see the best examples of brochs on the Scottish mainland.

The local inn provides an excellent lunch. The only remaining turntable ferry in Europe takes us across the narrows to Skye. That night is at a small hotel on Skye.

Day Four

Cameras out today and we pray for good weather as we see 'Kilt Rock', look across to the pillar known as the 'Old Man of Storr', wind up to the dramatic Quirang viewpoint and across to Uig. This landscape is not much changed from the 18th century and helps us understand what life was like then.

Lunch is at Dunvegan, where a visit to the magnificent castle and gardens of the Chief of Clan MacLeod is included. That afternoon we hear from a local (though internationally-known) storyteller.

Day Five

We take the ferry across the Sound of Sleat to Mallaig, then drive the west coast by Loch nan Uamh (from where Prince Charles Edward left in September 1746) and Glenfinnan (where he raised his standard in August 1745), to Fort William (sadly almost nothing left of the original fort).

Heading inland we see Glencoe (famous for the massacre of the MacDonalds in 1692) Rannoch Moor and, if time, the Falls of Dochart and stay nearby.

Day Six

TV locations day. First up is Doune Castle, (Castle Leoch of course). Then to Culross, a fascinating 16th century time capsule, used for Cranesmuir and other places. From here we head to Blackness (Fort William) and Midhope (Lally Broch). That night you are staying in a splendid castle outside Edinburgh.

Day Seven

We start the day with a private tour of the church where Jamie and Claire were married. Then onto Hopetoun House (Duke of Sandringham's house and several other locations) and then a optional visit to Craigmillar Castle, used for Ardsmuir in Season Three.

The experience of several years has taught us that there are always individual things (like shopping!) that people absolutely have to do on the last afternoon and so the group gets depleted. We have therefore decided to end the tour in mid afternoon in Edinburgh. Last night at the same B&B where you started.

Day Eight

Depart


Price, Transport, Guide, Accommodation and Shopping

The cost of the tour is GBP £3250 (USD $4000 at the time of writing).

The tour is priced for people travelling on their own. If you are happy to share a room, there is a reduction of GBP £400 per person.

The tour will be for a maximum of six people travelling in a nine seat vehicle.

Breakfast is included throughout; lunch is not included. Dinner is included for one night. At the other overnight stops there is a range of bar and restaurant meal options.  

Luggage: we suggest a cabin sized case plus hand luggage for easy access at your seat.  If you are continuing your trip please ask us about left luggage facilities in Edinburgh. 

There will be plenty of opportunity to buy souvenirs but this is not really a tour for serious shopping!

What's Included?

  • Bed and Breakfast for nine nights
  • Dinner on one night
  • Services of tour guide for seven days
  • Entry to Edinburgh Castle
  • Entry to castles and sites specified 
  • Entry to Culloden
  • Storyteller on Skye
  • Jacobite weapons presentation
  • Entry to Dunvegan Castle and Gardens

Not included:

  • Air Fares
  • Lunches, drinks and snacks
  • Dinners except for one night
  • Trip insurance

We ask for a non-refundable deposit of GBP £500 per person.

The balance is payable thirteen weeks prior to the start of the tour.

Occasionally, if a listed attraction becomes unavailble, we exchange it for an equivalent.  

The tour is for a minimum of three guests (or four if all are singles). If less than three have booked on, certain elements of the tour may not be available. Details on request. 

Many sites on this tour involve short walks along unpaved paths or up uneven steps. Please let us know in advance if you have any mobility restrictions.

Cancellation

We strongly recommend that you take out trip insurance in case of unforeseen circumstances.

Exchange Rates

At the time of writing the exchange rate is approximately $1.23 USD to one pound sterling (GBP). We use www.xe.com for our calculations and this means that:

  • The GBP £3250 holiday cost is currently USD $4000
  • The GBP £400 per person reduction for sharing is currently USD $490
  • The GBP £500 per person non-refundable deposit is currently USD $615

Now What?

If you would like to know, more about the trip then send an email to me, Diana Gray.

OR

If you would like to go ahead and book a place, you can make your non-refundable deposit of GBP £500 below...

Note - please use Ref: 'OUTL' and in the notes put the date of the tour you wish to go on.