Cycling Outlanders Film Locations

During the day arrive at the pretty village of Callander on the edge of the Trossachs National Park. If you have time take a short walk to Bracklinn Falls set in the hills behind Callander or relax beside the River Teith and watch the world go by.

Today’s first ride on your Outlander experience takes us to Loch Katrine. Lochs Katrine’s backdrop was used in scenes in season 2. Today’s ride has a few distance options, once at Loch Katrine you can decide to return to Callander, take a boat trip to the far side of the Loch, and then cycle back or continue as far as you wish on the Loch’s private road before returning. The private road takes you into some wonderful remote landscapes where you will struggle to hear any sounds of transport. Absolutely breath-taking!

Today’s ride might be taken at the end of your week’s cycling as we may position the two nights in Callander at the end of the tour depending on the availability of accommodation.

Today you set out by bike in a northerly direction following the National Cycle Network. You will pass the stunning Leny Falls before the valley opens out to wonderful views over Lochs Lubnaig. A short climb and descent bring us to the little village of Strathyre an ideal place for a coffee stop. We now continue along the valley towards Lochearnhead where we leave the cycle path and follow the minor road to the south of Loch Earn. We continue to Comrie along the valley. Here you could visit the Cultybraggan Camp, a 2^nd world war army barracks. Now as we leave Comrie we climb towards Drummond Castle and its garden which you shall see is one of Europe’s finest formal gardens. In Outlander season 2, the gardens are shown as the ornate park and orchard of the Palace of Versailles in France. During your visit look out for the two beautiful copper beech trees which were planted by Queen Victoria in 1842.  After a visit, it is a short cycle, mostly downhill to Crieff.

We now continue east by bike to Perth, the largest town in the county. Although no film locations today there is much to see and do in and around Perth. Lovely riverside walks, visit Scone Palace the crowning point of Scottish Kings and Queens just a few miles outside. You could also visit the Black Watch Castle and Museum located in Balhousie Castle. It shows the history of the famous Scottish army regiment.

We have now finished our route through Highland Perthshire as we make our way eastward into the Kingdom of Fife. On route, we pass the historic Village of Falkland.  Falkland has been used for various scenes in series 1, 2, and 4. It was filmed for series 1 to show scenes of the 1940s and in seasons 2 and 4 for the 1960s. The Covenanter Hotel stood in for the cosy Mrs. Baird’s Guesthouse. The Bruce Fountain featured when the ghost of Jamie looked up at Claire’s room.  The Fayre Earth Gift Shop doubled as Farrell’s Hardware and Furniture Store and lastly, Campbell’s Coffee House and Eatery was Campbell’s Coffee Shop in the show. You can also visit Falkland Palace was a royal palace of the Scottish Kings. It was one of the favorite places of Mary, Queen of Scots, providing an escape from the political and religious turmoil of her time. The Palace in one form or another has been on this site since the 12^th century.

Now we head south to the coastline beside the River Forth.  Depending on when you arrive at your hotel you could decide to cycle a bit further to Aberdour and visit Aberdour Castle a 12th-century castle used in season one of Outlander. The Castle doubled as the fictional monastery where Claire and Murtagh took Jamie to recover after his ordeal at the prison; the Old Kitchen and Long Gallery were used for filming.  However, before you reach your hotel you shall cycle past Dysart harbour used in season 2. The picturesque harbour of Dysart, with the Harbourmaster’s House, was transformed to portray the French port of Le Havre in the 1740s where Jamie and Claire landed when they escaped to France.

Today is a busy day for film locations!  Firstly you will pass Aberdour castle before reaching the three bridges crossing the mighty Forth river. You will cycle across the middle bridge, the former main road crossing now closed to most traffic, on your left shoulder you can be amazed at the red Forth railway bridge, it was completed in 1890 and is a UNESCO World Heritage site designed by English engineers Sir John Fowler and Sir Benjamin Baker.  After your crossing you cycle west, firstly cycling through Hopetoun House Estate. The house dates from the 17^th century and various parts of the house have been used as film sets.  The Duke of Sandringham’s stately home (season one), the Hawkins Estate (season two), the spare room in Jamie and Claire’s Paris apartment (season two), the stables as Helwater (season three) and the backdrop for streets in Paris (season two).  Another key filming location on the Hopetoun Estate is Midhope Castle, which features as the exterior of Jamie’s beloved Lallybroch.

Now you continue beside the Forth to Blackness Castle which was used in seasons one and two.  This 15th-century fortress provided the setting for the Fort William headquarters of Black Jack Randall, as well as featuring in the heart-wrenching scene of Jamie’s incarceration.

You continue the short distance now to Boness, where the KInniel railway was used in season one. You can also continue to Royal Burgh of Linlithgow, where you find Linlithgow Palace. The entrance and corridors of this fabulous ruined palace were used as Wentworth Prison where Jamie was imprisoned. The Palace was once a favoured royal residence of the Stewart kings and queens and the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots.  

Your last ride follows the Forth river towards Stirling the ancient capital of Scotland. If you have time visit the castle or Wallace monument before continuing to Doune. Doune castle was used in season one, The castle substituted for the fictional Castle Leoch, home to Colum MacKenzie and his clan in the 18th century. It also featured in the 20th-century episode when Claire and Frank visited the castle in ruins on a day trip.  A short distance from Doune is Deanston Distillery used in season two. The distillery provided the setting for Jamie’s cousin’s wine warehouse on the docks of Le Havre.   After your visit, you will continue the last few miles to Callander.

Depart after breakfast.