By Veronica Forand
I just returned from a ten-day journey through Scotland. I had a car and lots of enthusiasm. Although my mother, my daughter, and I have read Outlander, by Diana Galbaldon, none of the other seven people had ever seen the series. This did not deter me from guiding everyone to some of the locations from the book and the television series.
Our first stop was Duone Castle. Outlander fans will recognize it as Castle Leoch, the seat of the MacKenzie Clan. The audio tour of the castle even includes specifics of filming at the castle. In order to convince your non-Outlander friends and family to accompany you, the castle was also used as Winterfell in Game of Thrones, and most of the movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail was filmed there.
When we drove further into the Highlands, we took a tour of Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle. This is the area where Claire sees the “Water Horse.” I didn’t see Nessie while there, but the views are spectacular. Head into Inverness after the tour. The town is built alone the banks of the River Ness. This is where Claire and Frank went on their second honeymoon after WWII.
Only minutes from Inverness is Culloden. The visitor center provides an amazing 360 degree experience where the English and the Clansmen battle in the field. You’re in the center of it all. Afterward, we walked onto the battlefield. The paths are fairly flat and not too strenuous around the park. The surrounding mountains in the area make the place impossibly beautiful.
My travels moved on to St. Andrews and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, but there are so many other locations from Outlander to see. Click here for a link to a pdf that provides more locations from Season one and two.
Make sure you dress in layers and for rain. I think Scotland can be compared to Seattle for weather. It rains a lot, but on those glorious days when the sun shines and the Highlands are in full view, you’re transported into a magical world.
Veronica Forand is an attorney and award-winning novelist. She spends half her life in a daring adventure and the other half hiding out with a coffee and a good book. Find her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or at veronicaforand.com.
So cool. Did you touch any rocks while you were there?
No stones, but actually ate Haggis- loved it!