Travel Muse: Outlander
Following the footsteps of Claire and Jamie
~ Words and image by Vickie Sam Paget, Sky Blue Content ~
Craigh na Dun or Castle Leoch may have been a figment of Outlander author Diana Gabaldon’s imagination, but her fascinating world of standing stones, romantic castles and sweeping scenery was inspired by real places. Not only that, the TV adaptation was filmed entirely on location in Scotland. So come with us as we discover the real-life Scottish sites that double for the fictional land of Claire and Jamie…
Romantic Edinburgh
Wander the atmospheric cobbled streets and narrow wynds of the Royal Mile and Edinburgh’s Old Town, where Claire and Jamie reunited after 20 years. Packed full of history, the buildings there have remained largely unchanged for centuries.
Research your Roots
Roam the streets of Inverness where Claire’s adventure unfolds on her honeymoon, and if you have roots in the Highlands like Frank did, head to the Highland Archive Centre and uncover your family’s Scottish roots.
Standing Stones
Venture beyond Inverness in search of the mysterious Craigh na Dun, which swept Claire back in time. Clava Cairns near Culloden Moor, could be just the place—it’s one of Scotland’s most evocative stone circle sites.
Ancestral Lands
The romantic and unspoilt towns of Strathpeffer and Beauly are where the Mackenzie and Fraser clans once lived. Relax in the rolling hills of their picturesque ancestral lands or explore the ruins of ancient Beauly Priory, a burial site of many Fraser chiefs—and where Claire met the seer.
Dramatic Landscapes
A journey along the Caledonian Canal and Great Glen is a romantic one, offering a magical mix of native Caledonian pine forest in Glen Affric, glistening lochs and enchanting moorland. Enjoy it on foot or from horseback, as the newly-weds did after their wedding.
Culloden Battlefield
Culloden Battlefield, where Claire and Jamie said their goodbyes, is not to be missed. Soak up the rich history and haunting atmosphere and pay tribute to those who lost their lives in the last battle ever fought on British soil.
Images: ©Sony Pictures Television
This travel feature first appeared in Canadian Traveller magazine.
