Private Outlander tours Edinburgh

Tours

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Sam Heughan tweets support for Trump baby blimp

Sam Heughan, the Galloway-born actor and star of one of the most popular historical dramas to be broadcast in recent years Outlander ,  upset some of his many fans by sharing a Scotsman story on the so-called “Trump baby blimp” which was paid for by UK protesters against the US president’s visit this weekend.

The giant inflatable was not allowed to fly over Donald Trump’s Turnberry golf course when he visited over the weekend. Yet when Mr Heughan, best known for playing Jacobite clansman Jamie Fraser in the hit series Outlander, retweeted The Scotsman’s coverage of the story, it proved too much for some Americans.

One replied: “I guess when that is all you have to get attention, it’s what you do. Too many actors doing this. I have no issue with them expressing themselves, but must remember they alienate. And, it would be better if they saved for their personal circle, not the accounts fans follow.”

But the actor hit back: “My job is portray every aspect of the human condition. To understand each character. To be able to empathise means I have to understand and therefore have an opinion. You want “entertainment”, I suggest you stop watching drama. Everyone is entitled to an opinion.”

Another fan tweeted: “Sam, I am disappointed that you retweeted this. No matter your opinion of the man , you should respect the office. Since you are usually so kind to others I find it strange that you would promote hatred like this.”

Mr Heughan later thanked his fans for interacting with him. “Love your support and debate is what makes us grow,” he said. “Just dislike being controlled or silenced. We live in a democracy. (I think).” Mr Trump left Scotland yesterday after spending time at his Turnberry golf course in South Ayrshire. Thousands attended protests in Edinburgh and Glasgow over the weekend against his visit.

Read more at: https://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/culture/tv-radio/sam-heughan-under-fire-from-angry-outlander-fans-over-trump-story-retweet-1-4769518

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle meet Outlander’s Caitriona Balfe

When Harry met Catriona …..

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle mingled with some important Irish figures during their official visit to Dublin, including President Michael Higgins, Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar, and even rugby legend Brian O’Driscoll. But the couple got to meet some TV stars too. During a garden party at the British Embassy yesterday, the Duke of Sussex was photographed sharing a laugh with Outlander‘s Caitriona Balfe, who stars as Claire Fraser on Starz’s hit drama. The Irish actress wore a burnt orange short sleeve dress for the soirée, with gold statement earrings peeking out from her blunt brunette bob.

In Photos: Meghan and Harry’s Visit to Ireland
Meghan Markle Wears Green in Ireland

Balfe was joined by fellow Irish actors Moe Dunford (Vikings) and Barry Keoghan (Dunkirk, The Killing of a Sacred Deer) while chatting with Prince Harry. (Sadly there was no sign of Sam Heughan.) We wonder if the trio of thespians had a moment to bond with the Duchess of Sussex about her former acting career and seven-season run on Suits.

Book your Outlander tour online or on 07305-294773.

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Outlander tour – six film locations

Our private group tours take up to four people to six Outlander film locations – Linlithgow Palace (Wentworth Prison) ,
Castle Leoch (Doune Castle) , Blackness Castle (Fort William) ,
Midhope (Lalllybroch) , Callendar House and
Culross ( Cranesmuir )

Tours start at 10 am .  We also offer bespoke private tours with the option of choosing your own itinerary .

Tours start from locations in Edinburgh or Glasgow .

Normal pickup point is Edinburgh/ Glasgow city centre , your hotel or the airport .

Itinerary

On this tour we visit various locations used for filming the hit series Outlander. Based on the best selling novels by Diana Gabaldon, Outlander is filmed in a number of locations in castles and towns in central Scotland.

doune castle outlander

Doune Castle was built in 1400 for the first Duke of Albany and provides the setting for Castle Leoch in Outlander. It was also the set for Winterfell in Game of Thrones and Monty Python’s Holy Grail. The Great Hall is 20 metres by 8 metres , and 12 metres high to its timber roof, again a 19th-century replacement.The hall has no fireplace, and was presumably heated by a central fire, and ventilated by means of a louvre like the one in the modern roof. No details of the original roof construction are known, however, and the restoration is conjectural.Large windows light the hall, and stairs lead down to the three cellars on ground level.

Blackness Castle goes back to 1440 . The castle provides the setting for Fort William, as the original fort no longer exists.

The castle is long and narrow because of the shape of the rock on which it is situated and it is sometimes called ‘ the ship that never sailed ‘ . It guards the bay at Blackness and is only a few miles from Linlithgow Palace . The first castle was built in the middle of the 15th century by Sir George Crichton , Earl of Caithness , a member of one of the most powerful families in Scotland .

Linlithgow Palace photos , 44 print

This royal pleasure palace and birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots became the backdrop for some of the most harrowing scenes of the TV show Outlander .

Depicted as Wentworth Prison, the prison corridors and entrance were used in episode 15 of the first series when Jamie Fraser was brutally incarcerated by his adversary, Black Jack Randall.

Built in the 1400s and 1500s, the now-ruined palace is set among the spectacular surrounds of Linlithgow Loch and Peel.

Midhope Castle – Outlander’s Lallybroch

midhope castle 34
Midhope Castle

Located on the Hopetoun Estate is Midhope Castle which is the external location for fictional Lallybroch, the family home of character Jamie Fraser. Midhope Castle dates back to the 15th Century and although the exterior is relatively intact the castle is derelict inside and not open to the public ..

 

Culross

Culross, in Fife is the location for Cranesmuir. Geillis Duncan’s house is in Culross and the picturesque town square where Geillis is sentenced to burn for being a witch. Jamie and Claire rescue the thief, Tammas, in Cranesmuir when his ear is pinned to the post.

 

Tour prices

private tour to six Outlander film locations

  • tour for 2 people   £250
  • tour for 3 people   £280
  • tour for 4 people   £310

Exclusions –
lunch

entrance tickets

refreshments

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Tour of four ancient Scottish castles

Four ancient Scottish castles feature in this tour – Drummond Castle and Gardens , Stirling Castle , Doune Castle and Linlithgow Palace

1 Drummond Castle and Gardens

Drummond Castle and Gardens – the grounds, which date back to 1630, are considered “the best example of formal terraced gardens in Scotland”. The castle was used as the Palace of Versailles in an episode of TV drama Outlander.

Drummond Castle Gardens, which are protected as a category A listed building — in contrast to the B listed castle — already attract thousands of visitors per year, and are included on the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland.The gardens — complete with peacocks — feature ancient yew hedges and the remaining beech tree planted by Queen Victoria in 1842.But the grounds — which also featured in 1995 feature film Rob Roy, starring Liam Neeson — could now see a huge boost in tourist numbers thanks to the so-called “Outlander effect”.

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Doune Castle

doune castle , outlanderOriginally dating to the 13th Century, Doune Castle near Stirling plays Castle Leoch, home to Colum MacKenzie and his clan in Outlander TV series .

It also features in the 20th century episode when Claire and Frank Randall visit the castle on a day trip. Doune has appeared several times on screen and was widely used in Monty Python and the Holy Grail. It also represented the castle Winterfell in Game of Thrones.

Once a Royal residence, Doune Castle was rebuilt by Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany in the late 14th Century.

doune castle, outlander tours

 

 

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Linlithgow Palace

Linlithgow Palace photos , 44 printThis royal pleasure palace and birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots became the backdrop for some of the most harrowing scenes of the TV show Outlander .

Depicted as Wentworth Prison, the prison corridors and entrance were used in episode 15 of the first series when Jamie Fraser was brutally incarcerated by his adversary, Black Jack Randall.

Built in the 1400s and 1500s, the now-ruined palace is set among the spectacular surrounds of Linlithgow Loch and Peel.

 

4 Stirling Castle

Stirling Castle is one of Scotland’s most impressive castles due to its imposing position and impressive architecture.

From Stirling Castle’s ramparts, visitors can take in views of the Forth Valley and Ben Lomond , as well as two of Scotland’s most important battle sites – Stirling Bridge (1297) and Bannockburn (1314). The castle is at the head of Stirling’s historic old town.Like Edinburgh Castle , Stirling sits on a volcanic rock dominating the city skyline .

stirling castle tours

Stirling Castle is not only one of Scotland’s grandest and most imposing castles, it was also a real favourite with Scotland’s kings and queens. And their investment in it demonstrated just how much they loved to use it, as well as their desire to ensure it both impressed all who visited it, and represented a statement of their power and wealth. James IV created the Great Hall, the largest medieval banqueting hall ever built in Scotland, and James V’s Royal Palace, with its lavishly decorated Renaissance façades, was a masterpiece of the period.

Major conservation work has been carried out at Stirling Castle over many years to preserve the attraction as a major national and international monument. The refurbishment of the Great Hall was completed a couple of years ago . A particular feature of the Great Hall is stained glass windows featuring clan crests . A number of banquets and concerts are held in the Hall throughout the year .

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Diana Gabaldon might write an episode of Outlander series five

The good news today is that  seasons 5 and 6 have been confirmed ( as if there was any doubt about that ), and that Diana Gabaldon may be writing at least one episode.

Creator of the Outlander book series that the STARZ show is based on, Gabaldon enjoys a bit more creative freedom with her creation than other authors and adaptations. Showrunner Ronald D. Moore made sure of this from the beginning — Gabs serves as a series consultant from time to time, as well as appearing in episode 4 from season 1.

Also also, Diana has written an episode of the series: season 2, episode 11, ‘Vengeance Is Mine’. The hope was that she would be able to write additional episodes, but continuing work on the ninth novel in the series prevented this from happening in seasons 3 and 4.

During the 44th Annual Saturn Awards, we were able to chat briefly with Diana on the red carpet before the ceremony, where she accepted the award for Best Fantasy TV Series on behalf of the show. (This is the third year running that the STARZ series has taken home the golden statue.)

Diana Gabaldon at the 44th Annual Saturn Awards
Photo by Mary Anne Butler

She mentioned that production was wrapping on season 4, and that she was very excited for fans to see where the season goes.

We asked her about the possibility of her returning to write an episode in the coming seasons, and she said that as long as her writing and editing schedule for book nine, Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone, goes well, she would be interested and available.

While Outlander will not be present at San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) this year, they will have a presence at New York Comic Con (NYCC), where at the very least, a new trailer for the upcoming season 4 is expected to drop, if not the entire premiere episode (as they did last year during SDCC).

Visit our new Drummond Castle gardens pictures gallery from Outlander tours

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Outlander Season 4 filming is expected finish soon

Outlander Season 4 filming is expected finish soon. As many suspected, the fourth season will wrap by the end of this month. In July, various members of the cast have a number of projects and conventions to attend, with the first taking place from June 30 to July 1 in Paris.

Outlander news from Private Outlander tours Edinburgh .

Filming will also start for Heughan’s new movie, Bloodshot, which will reportedly happen in South Africa. Meanwhile, Balfe will soon start filming Ford vs. Ferrari (which is still to receive an official name) with Matt Damon.

The cast and crew are onto the season finale filming now, with many night shoots taking place. It’s going to be exciting to find out when the filming wraps and if there are any photos of those final glances for seven months as the cast and crew take time off before filming Outlander Season 5.