As every "Outlander" fan would know, the hit romantic time travel series based on Diana Gabaldon's novels is set in 18th century Scotland. The country's rolling hills and country charm provides the perfect backdrop for the star-crossed love affair of Jamie and Claire. Though much in the world has changed since then, Scotland has preserved its natural beauty, and the show's first season was shot entirely in its lowlands.
Now, fans can tick this item off their bucket lists, as VisitScotland has organized a tour dedicated to the show's filming locations. Here are some of the iconic places included in the tour.
Castle Leoch
Castle Leoch is the seat of Clan MacKenzie, lead character Jamie Fraser's relatives. It was shot in Doune Castle located in the village of Doune, Stirling. The imposing stone castle was built in the 14th century for Robert Stewart, first Duke of Albany and ruler of Scotland.
HBO's "Game of Thrones" also uses the castle as the set for Winterfell. Below is a photo posted on Instagram by a fan who took the tour:
A photo posted by Becky Barnes (@beckybarnesb) on Sep 18, 2015 at 10:03am PDT
Duke of Sandringham's Residence In the show, Jamie and Claire visited the Duke of Sandringham to ask for help so Jamie can return home and take his place as a laird. In real life, the stately house of more than 6,500 acres is in fact the home of the Marquess of Linlithgow, known as the Hopetoun House.
A photo posted by Becky Barnes (@beckybarnesb) on Sep 18, 2015 at 6:53am PDT
Lallybroch
A few steps from the Hopetoun House is Midhope Castle. In the show, it is known as Lallybroch, Jamie's hometown. According to Daily Mail UK, the castle dates back to the 16th century. "Outlander" only used its facade for external shots, as its interior has now deteriorated.
Cranesmuir
For "Outlander" fans, the village of Cranesmuir is home of Geillis Duncan, Claire's first friend in the fictional story. In real life, the village is known as Culross.
Fans can walk in its cobbled alleys and pretend like they're the real Jamie and Claire, as this is as authentic as 17th century Scotland can get. According to its official website, many of the streets and houses here have retained most of the original stones from the medieval era.
A photo posted by Becky Barnes (@beckybarnesb) on Sep 19, 2015 at 3:24am PDT
According to the Irish Examiner, the tour also includes stopovers at souvenir shops along the town of Edinburgh, where fans can buy jewelry and other knickknacks featured on the show.
Another highlight of the tour is a visit to Courses for Cooks, where fans can eat authentic 18th century Scottish meals, and even cook an Outlander-inspired meal of "Cock-a-Leekie."
"Outlander" season one is out on Blu-ray and DVD now. Fans might want to re-watch some scenes and be inspired to tread the places that Jamie and Claire could've walked on. Season two is expected between March and April in 2016.
